LA Angels get boost from 2 players not named Trout

Yunel Escobar celebrates after hitting his first home run of the season for the Angels. He went 2for 4 with two RBI's. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Yunel Escobar celebrates after hitting his first home run of the season for the Angels. He went 2for 4 with two RBI's. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

When you talk about the LA Angels the first thing that pops into most people’s minds is Mike Trout.  The 2014 MVP and back-to-back All-Star MVP is having another fine season, but it is two other Angels that are quietly putting up All-Star numbers.

When The LA Angels traded hard throwing reliever Trevor Gott and minor league prospect Michael Brady to the Washington Nationals in exchange for third baseman Yunel Escobar almost everyone in Halo Nation was up in arms as many were hoping to sign David Freese. While others were hoping for the Angels to make a big splash and acquire a big name free agent or trade for someone like Evan Longoria.

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However, despite some defensive shortcomings, Yunel Escobar has been a Godsend for the LA Angels. Not only is he filling the need at third base admirably, he has plugged an even bigger hole from the past two seasons, which is the lead-off spot. Escobar has so far this season has put up All-Star like numbers hitting .310 with three homers and 19 RBI’s.  He also has a .361 OBP and a .410 slugging percentage.

Escobar has scored 32 runs which is one less than he did the entire 2014 season despite playing in half as man games.  Escobar has 81 hits already and 17 doubles both of which put him on pace to shatter his career highs in both categories.  He has been a table setter for Mike Trout and Albert Pujols as well as Kole Calhoun.

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Calhoun is another player flying under the radar and having a stellar season for the LA Angels.  He has been hitting close to .300 all season and is currently batting .286.  Calhoun has hit nine home runs and driven in 38 RBI’s.  He also has an impressive OBP of .363 and slugging percentage.  Not to mention that he is still playing his Gold Glove right field defense.

Both Escobar and Calhoun are worthy of All-Star consideration and have been the unsung heroes for the Angels this season allowing Trout and Albert Pujols to both have close to 50 runs batted in (47 and 45 RBI’s respectively) and were not even halfway through the season. If it wasn’t for all the injuries and inconsistency at other positions the Angels might have the best offense in the league.

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Hopefully the bottom of the line-up can pick up the pace and it will take a lot of the pressure off the starting rotation to have to be close to perfect in order to win a game.  The Angels are in the middle of the AL in team batting average at .259 (7th) and have scored 304 runs (tied for 8th in AL).  The LA Angels have scored two runs or less 23 times this season and are 1-22 in those games compared to 30-17 when they score three or more runs.

So here’s hoping for continued success for Escobar and Calhoun.  Hopefully the rest of the offense will pick up the slack in the second half of the season.