Los Angeles Angels Promoting Steve Geltz Could Be a Big Move

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are in a very strange spot right now. With all of their big names on the 25-man roster, an unknown named Steve Geltz could play an important role in determining if the season is lost or not.

They have the likely MVP in Mike Trout. Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter have produced big time after slow starts. Mark Trumbo had an amazing first half and is still solid despite slowing down after the All-Star Break, Jered Weaver is a Cy Young front-runner and C. J. Wilson is having a good season.

When they added Zack Greinke to the mix, not only did they seemingly lock up a playoff spot, but they looked like the most formidable team in a short series.

The Greinke deal was made on July 27th. The Angels had the third best record in the American League that day. They were four games behind the Texas Rangers and looked ready to make their big move in the standings.

Instead, they have lost nine of the last 14 games. They trail Texas by seven and are in third place, a game and a half behind the Oakland Athletics. Four teams are ahead of the Angels for the two Wild Card spots. With only a month-and-a-half to play, the Angels could very easily miss the postseason completely.

The main culprit to this unexpected slide? The Angels bullpen has been simply grotesque, last night's five-and-two-thirds shutout innings from Jerome Williams not withstanding.

With Jordan Walden and Scott Downs dealing with health issues, Jason Isringhausen and LaTroy Hawkins showing their age, David Carpenter sent to the minors and closer Ernesto Frieri blowing a critical game against Texas, their relief core has been thin and ineffective.

The Angels need to address this gaping wound and do so before a two-game loss column deficit becomes a five-game margin with a month to play.

And the likelihood of finding a key reliever post waiver wire deal is thin. No doubt the Angels could acquire Heath Bell from the Marlins in exchange for some Knott's Berry Farm jam. But he might not even be an improvement.

Which brings the Angels to Steve Geltz. If they can not go outside of the organization, they can certainly promote from within.

The 24-year-old right hander played his third season for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. He struck out 37 in 25-and-one-third innings in relief to a 0.36 ERA. He was not with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, but that is beside the point.

The Angels have a pitcher with the capability of striking out more than a batter an inning with control in their system. It makes no sense for him to toil in Triple-A when a desperate need is threatening the parent club's season.

The worst case scenario is that he is not ready and he gets bombed.

The best case scenario is he turns out to be like Francisco Rodriguez in 2002. He could be that talented pitcher that nobody has a scouting report for and mows everyone down.

The worst case scenario is that he is terrible and the Angels bullpen becomes ineffective.

Well, that describes their pen now. Might as well give the kid a shot.