Angels Lose to the Astros as Fans Lose their Minds

“Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby

Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around…

…Buttercup, don’t break my heart”

This has to be the least-liked song by any fan base in the history of team sports. Any team sport! But sadly… it’s a fitting song to play during the 7th inning stretch so far for this edition of the Los Angeles Angels.

Was getting swept by the Houston Astros the nail in the coffin for the Angels 2013 season? Well… maybe. You have to figure the Angels need 95 wins or so to even have a shot at making the playoffs. But to get there, they’ll have to win at a .673 clip the rest of the way. Not impossible by any means, the talent is there, but you cannot get swept by the likes of the Astros. You just can’t!

But sadly, that’s just what happened last night. Following the loss, the team held yet another closed-door meeting, after which Angels first baseman/Medicare spokesperson, Albert Pujols reiterated that there’s still a long way to go and the Angels haven’t been eliminated from the playoffs yet. You’re right, Albert, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t play the game with passion, with fire!

Personally I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I know part of the playing the game is maintaining your composure and concentration so you can hit, catch, and throw a 9 inch circumference, leather-wrapped ball, but somewhere in there, you have to be able to mix in intensity and heart. I know one thing… this calm, patient approach clearly isn’t working.

Maybe the biggest thing this team is lacking is legitimate leadership. Someone the team can rally around and someone who is the true face of this franchise. Mike Trout certainly has the ability to be that guy, but to be fair… he’s just 21 years old. His time to be “that guy” will come. Those that should be leaders like Pujols, and Josh Hamilton, simply aren’t getting it done. What’s worse is the calm demeanor they show after every failed at bat, every big moment in the game.

Now I’m not saying to go all Milton Bradley out there and throw a fit every time something goes wrong… but I would like to see one of these guys get tossed after a ridiculously bad call. Lord knows the Angels have seen more than their fair share of bad calls this season.

Our machine is broken… call the repairman.

Some of the Angels old guard, like Tim Salmon and Mark Langston show that fire as commentators. After getting swept by the Astros last night, I listened to Tim Salmon’s comments on the post game show. He placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Angels 3, 4 and 5 hitters and went so far as to say if they’re not embarrassed by this, something’s wrong with them. We all know exactly who he’s talking about and I couldn’t agree more. Man I got fired up listening to King Fish talk. I wish he was in on that closed-door meeting. Hopefully the middle of he order guys see that and it lights a fire in them like it did me.

What’s most frustrating for me as a fan of this team is how the Halos can come off a stretch where they win 10 of 12 games and then completely lose focus when playing a clearly inferior opponent like the Astros. This just screams of a lack of mental toughness and leadership, real leadership!

The team used to have that kind of leadership in right field, but decided to go in a different direction this season. It’s definitely looking like when Torii Hunter left the Angels, he took the team’s heart and soul with him.

There are some exceptions, like Jered Weaver… He’s the unquestioned Ace and leader of the pitching staff, but he can only be out there 20% of the time.

However… there’s still hope… As bleak as things look right now, the Halos still have plenty of games versus the rest of the AL West. If they can manage to play to their potential and get rolling there’s still a shot. But that window of opportunity is closing more quickly than a collapsing stone wall in an Indiana Jones movie.

This team needs a heart transplant ASAP! Someone needs to step up and become the unquestioned leader among the everyday players. Who’s going to step up and take that mantle Torii Hunter left? The easy answer is Albert Pujols, but only if he can become that feared machine of destruction again… Time to step up Albert, if not just for your team, for yourself… your legacy is at stake.

Welcome Back, Ace!

How hot are the Angels right now? So hot they pick up a half game on the Ranges when they lose. After Sunday’s loss to the Dodgers, the Halos still managed to pick up a half game on the Rangers after Texas lost both games of a doubleheader against Arizona.

And this hot streak could not come at a better time. Last night the Angels got their Ace back and he looks as good as ever. Jered Weaver was perfect through four innings and we were officially on “Weaver Perfect Game Watch 2013” as Victor Rojas and Gubi stopped talking about the lack of Dodger hits or walks during that fourth inning. Man, I love that those guys respect the unwritten rules of the game!

Though the offense did stumble a bit against Hyun-Jin Ryu a couple games ago, you have to give credit where credit is due. Good pitching will always beat good hitting. And that night Ryu was on…

Russel

Ryu

Although it’s entirely possible the Angels hitters were simply confused by Ryu, not his pitching necessarily, but because he bears a very striking resemblance to the character Russel, from the movie Up. Seriously… It’s uncanny!

Even with that shutout, the Angels have averaged over 6 runs per game since May 18^th. And all this with Josh Hamilton still hitting under .220 and Albert Pujols still hitting .250. When those guys really get going, which you think they have to at some point… Look out!

Another interesting note on the Angels offense this month, and yet another very interesting note for Angels baseball messiah Mike Trout, he’s scored 27 runs in the month of May, one run shy of matching the club record for runs scored in May set by Vladimir Guerrero in 2004. Just as interesting… both Trout and Vladdy did it wearing the number 27!!! AND NEITHER PLAYER WAS 27 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME!!!! Spooky… I know. Well, not that spooky. The young Trout has two games to break that team record and I’m betting he gets it done.

And what about that starting rotation? Angels pitching appears to be turning the corner. In fact, if you throw out CJ Wilson’s 5^th inning against the Dodgers last Monday in which he suddenly lost his focus and execution on the mound, shocker, they’ve been very good. In fact, so good that Scioscia will be running with a six man rotation this week and no decision has yet been made as to who’ll be returning to the bullpen next week. Wait, what if the Angels go with a six man rotation for another week? Would that be a bad thing? I’m OK with it as long as a minimum of two of those starts go to Weaver.

In reality… I’d still bet you see Joe Blanton take a turn in the pen, unless Jerome’s next start is a bad one and Blanton does put up another strong start.

Before playing today’s final game of this freeway series with the Dodgers, the Angels are currently sitting 8 ½ back of the Rangers in the West, and 6 ½ back of the last wild card spot. All things considered with the horrible start they had… that’s not so bad.

If they keep this up they’ll be over .500 by next week, and right back in the playoff hunt.

Now if we could just get that damned month of April fixed this team will be tough to beat for years to come.

Apr 26, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) delivers to the plate against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON – Having dropped three of their last four against the Baltimore Orioles at home, the Angels are looking to squeeze a few wins out of a road trip to Houston’s Minute Maid Park (poor pun intended). The Houston Astros (the newest members of the AL West Division) have received a less than warm reception from their new American League counterparts. And that’s putting it gently. The Astros are currently 8-23 (.258) and are 11.5 games back in a competitive AL West division that currently has their in-state rival Texas Rangers leading the league.

Looking at the numbers, the Astros have allowed 5.1 runs per game ranking them 28th in baseball. Their 8 wins and 23 losses ranks them 30th in MLB. Houston has also posted a 4.68 team ERA which ranks them 28th – sound familiar, Angel fans? If Jerry DiPoto hasn’t sent a “Thank You” card to Commissioner Bud Selig for shipping the Astros west, he probably should. The Halos would be in dead last in the division if it wasn’t for Houston coming over during a period of rebuilding. I often wonder – imagine if the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins played in the same division? First to the bottom wins! Sorry, I digress.

It’s evident that the Angels are licking their wounds after three frustrating losses at the Big A against Buck Showalter‘s black birds. The Halos 11 wins and 19 losses rank them 26th in MLB. Mike Scioscia and company desperately need to add to the win column – and a three game series at Houston couldn’t come at a better time.

Now this all comes with a caveat: the Astros are a team that can surprise from time to time. When they aren’t striking out, Jose Altuve, Marwin Gonzalez, and Ronny Cedeno can all hit (anyone remember ESPN’s Opening Night Baseball when the Astros beat up on the Texas Rangers 8-2?). With an unreliable rotation and an inconsistent offense, the Angels best not take this team (or any team for that matter) lightly.

Notes: The Angels are still without ace Jared Weaver and closer Ryan Madson. To add insult to injury, CF Peter Bourjos is still out with a hamstring injury. Triple-A call up J.B. Shuck has filled in nicely in LF as Mike Trout was shifted into center. Granted Trout is a center fielder by trade, but does anyone else get the feeling that he could play just about anywhere?

Game One:  C.J. Wilson (3-0, 4.04 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound Tuesday against Jordan Lyles (0-0, 3.6). Lyles is appearing in only his second start of the season. Game time: Tuesday, May 7, 8:10 PM EDT, Minute Maid Park.

Game Two:  Joe Blanton (0-5, 5.97 ERA) is scheduled to start against Bud Norris (3-3, 3.89 ERA) in the second game of the series. Although most fans cringe before he takes the hill, Blanton has thrown two recent quality starts without a win.

Game Three:  Jason Vargas is probable against the Astros Lucas Harrell in the rubber match on Thursday.  Vargas is 1-3 and has lowered his ERA from  6.75 to 3.72 – his recent complete game shut-out against the Orioles was encouraging after a series of rough starts to begin the season.