Josh Hamilton Controversy Has Masked Angels' Real Problems in Poor 2015 Start

In a sense, the Los Angeles Angels should thank Josh Hamilton. They are, at least in some ways, lucky that practically all of the focus on them over the past few weeks has centered around the Hamilton controversy.

If not for all the noise over the fallout of the former MVP's disappointing relapse, surprising non-suspension and subsequent trade back to the Texas Rangers, folks might actually be talking more about the Angels' poor start to 2015.

Even now, with Hamilton already good-riddance'd, the Angels don't seem to be able to drop the topic.

"The one thing that I think is sad, and I’m a little bit disappointed in," manager Mike Scioscia said of Hamilton Tuesday, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, "is the fact that there wasn’t any accountability, most importantly, to his teammates."

Is Hamilton at fault for how things played out during his time in L.A., where he struggled mightily, battled injuries, admitted to relapsing and essentially became persona non grata despite a massive $125 million contract? You bet. But what good is it to continue to harp on Hamilton now that he's gone?

Granted, 9-11 is hardly a sky-is-falling record through the first three-and-a-half weeks, and it's not as if anyone is really expecting the Houston Astros, currently 13-7 and in first place in the AL West, to run away with the division, let alone win it.

But this is an Angels team that captured the West by 10 games—and won an MLB-high 98—in 2014. And while, yes, it's still early, there are some, let's say, less-than-encouraging signs coming out of Anaheim that have nothing to do with the now-departed Hamilton.

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Let's start with the offense, which was the driving force behind the Angels' superb season last year.

In 2014, L.A. led the sport in runs scored, averaging 4.77 per game. So far in 2015? The offense has managed just 3.85 per, placing the Angels not only below league average (4.23 R/G), but also in the bottom 10.

Here's a glance at their numbers and ranks in a few noteworthy offensive statistics:

STATISTIC	ANGELS	MLB RANK
BA	.226	24
OBP	.291	26
SLG	.348	26
R/G	3.85	22
wOBA	.285	25

Aside from reigning AL MVP Mike Trout (.926 OPS) and underrated leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun (.878), care to guess who the regular with the highest OPS is? Try Johnny Giavotella at .776. No one else is north of .700.

While Albert Pujols is going to pick it up (.203/.289/.365), at age 35, he's also getting to the point in his career where his performance could fall off abruptly and drastically.

The lineup clearly misses Giavotella's predecessor, Howie Kendrick, who provided his usual steady production in 2014 and—think the Angels haven't noticed?—is now triple-slashing .297/.358/.527 on the other side of town after being traded to the Dodgers.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Even worse? Los Angeles has gotten next to nothing out of Matt Joyce, its biggest offensive acquisition from this past offseason. Traded for reliever Kevin Jepsen, the outfielder/designated hitter has gone just 9-for-60 (.150) with but three extra-base hits, all doubles, and—get this—one run scored.

No wonder the Angels have the worst left-field production in all of baseball, with a shield-your-eyes .386 OPS. That's OPS—not OBP.

Hey, what position does Hamilton happen to play? Oh, yeah: left field. Yet owner Arte Moreno was more than willing to say good riddance by picking up some $68 million that remains on Hamilton's tab—and send him off to the division-rival Texas Rangers, no less.

Maybe the move was for the best, but Hamilton, once recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, certainly can't do any worse.

Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

At least the Angels' arms have been better than their bats. Slightly.

Los Angeles' team 3.86 ERA and 1.27 WHIP both rank 14th in MLB. But much of that can be attributed to its capable bullpen (3.19 ERA, 1.16 WHIP).

Like last year, the rotation has its question marks and concerns, as indicated by its 4.23 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.

After struggling yet again in giving up six earned in seven innings Tuesday night against the Oakland Athletics, nominal ace Jered Weaver will enter May with a 5.83 ERA through five turns and without a win for the first time in his career in which he's made at least three April starts.

After him, 2014 rookie revelation Matt Shoemaker remains a regression candidate, especially after allowing 11 runs on 19 hits in his first 15.1 frames this year.

The good news is left-handers C.J. Wilson (3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) and Hector Santiago (2.28 ERA, 8.4 K/9) have started well so far, although both have been inconsistent and erratic in recent years.

That leaves the biggest X-factor in the rotation—if not the whole team—in hard-throwing righty Garrett Richards, who has to prove he can be the ace-in-the-making he looked like last season before major knee surgery (and the resulting recovery process) kept him out until the middle of April. It's too soon to tell so far through two starts, one solid and one so-so.

JOHN FROSCHAUER/Associated Press

The Angels aren't in bad shape in the standings right now, as they sit in a second-place tie with fellow slow starters, the Seattle Mariners, whom many considered the top team in the West coming into the season, and a half-game up on the always-competitive Oakland Athletics.

Meanwhile, whether they're contending or spoiling, Hamilton and the Rangers would love to make things tough for L.A.

Oh, and about those Astros, who are doing what they're doing without getting much of anything on offense out of George Springer, Chris Carter and Evan Gattis (although each of them did homer Tuesday). If their hot first few weeks are for real and they are positioned to contend sooner than most anticipated, well, the Angels will have an even tougher fight on their hands.

That should be the focus—and should have been all along. Except the hubbub over Hamilton grabbed headlines and masked the fact that the Angels have looked like a mediocre club that hasn't played anything like its 2014 version so far.

"We can all just kind of go on and get back to baseball," as Calhoun put it to DiGiovanna after Hamilton was jettisoned.

Good idea, because as it looks right now, the Angels have their work cut out for them, not only to get better, but also to keep up in the division as they try to defend their crown.

With Hamilton finally, mercifully purged from the picture, the attention now turns back to L.A.'s on-field performance, and the team needs to be better. If not, everyone is going to take notice, and sooner than later.

Because you-know-who isn't around to distract from a sluggish start—or blame—anymore.

Statistics are accurate through Tuesday, April 28, and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.

To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter:@JayCat11.