Clutch Shuck Drives Angels to Sweep of Brewers

I should be happy whenever the Angels win. Actually, I should be ecstatic. But, truth be told, I’m more frustrated by the Angels road domination the last nine games. Like, in need of Cialis frustrated. Too much? Where was this two months ago when it could have mattered? Where was this a month ago when they could have made some noise in the Wild Card race? Where was it?

As recently as two weeks ago, the Angels had the eighth worst record in baseball. That translates to the eighth pick in the draft next year. Now? They have the 13th worst record. Only the ten worst are protected. That protection is vital when you factor in the Angels’ free-spending ways. Maybe this offseason wont include as many purchases with a Visa Black Card. But, do you trust this team to not spend money on Free Agents? Yeah. Me either.

Now that you are sufficiently depressed, let’s move on to how awesome Mike Trout is.

He’s crazy awesome. Stupid awesome. Too awesome for the Angels to not at least open up talks with his agent about a contract extension. Or at least offer him a bonus for being so damned perfect. Trout went 3-3 today with a walk and a run scored. He singled, doubled and tripled. The walk was intentional because Mike Trout scared the Brewers. His fWAR as of yesterday was 8.8, chances are, when we wake up, it will be above 9.0. I am now accepting donations for a kickstarter to help keep Trout an Angels player for life.

But this is baseball, and the Angels are not called the “Mike Trout’s.”

Kole Calhoun went 2-4 with two RBI’s on the night. J.B. Shuck had the clutch bases clearing double in the seventh that drove in Hank Conger, Luis Jimenez and Josh Hamilton. That double down the right field line that pinball’d it’s way to Norichika Aoki, got the lead back for the Angels, and the bullpen made sure that it stayed that way.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson was not the stellar starter that we have seen in recent weeks, but he was good enough to get through six innings allowing three runs while striking out three and walking two. Cory Rasmus followed Wilson with a scoreless seventh handing a two-run lead over to Dane De La Rosa.

As good as De La Rosa has been for the Angels this season, he was just as shaky tonight. A leadoff walk followed two batters later by a single and another walk had the bases loaded with one out. Noticing the struggles Dane was having, Mike Scioscia brought in Ernesto Frieri to convert a five-out save. Frieri responded by retiring the next five hitters in order, four of which went down by way of the strikeout.

The Angels fly back home tonight and will open up a four-game series with Rays at 6:05 PM PST when Garrett Richards takes the mound against Chris Archer. Light up the halo. All frustrations aside, it’s nice when this team performs up to it’s potential.