The LA Angels have much improved defense despite the numbers

For those you who have watched the LA Angels play this season you have seen many sparkling defensive plays both in the infield and also in the outfield. In addition improved caught stealing numbers by Angels catchers.

However when you look at the statistics so far through 11 games the LA Angels have the 5th most errors in baseball making nine errors so far.  These numbers are deceiving as they are able to get to more balls than last season.

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The key upgrades include Danny Espinosa at second base who replaces below average fielder Johnny Giavotella.  At catcher Martin Maldonado has got a cannon for a right arm so much so that opponents have only attempted two stolen bases on him and he has caught one of two.  Last season he gunned down 20 of 50 would-be base stealers which was one of the best rates in the national League. Carlos Perez is no slouch as he has caught three of seven base stealers this season.

In left field the Angels have two above average defenders that they added in left field in Cameron Maybin and Ben Revere.  Maybin and Revere have only made one error thus far this season and with their speed they can get to a lot more balls that the Angels revolving door in left field could not as well both are much better offensively than the combined .214 Angel left fielders had last season.

One thing worth noting is that in Revere and Maybin the Angels have two centerfielders which means they are used to covering a lot of ground. Add that to a potential Gold Glove candidate in Mike Trout and a former Gold Glove winner in Kole Calhoun and you have one heck of an outfield defense that will save a lot of runs for the Angel pitchers.

The same can be said in the infield as the Angels have three players who were natural shortstops in Danny Espinosa, Yunel Escobar, and Andrelton Simmons.  Shortstops are known for having the best range of anyone in the infield.

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It has already shown some this year. as there have been multiple instances where Espinosa has either gone deep in the hole to get a ground ball and he also has the arm to make a strong throw to first.  He has also gone into shallow center or right center field to track down a ball something Giavotella was not capable of doing.  We don’t even to mention all the amazing plays that Andrelton Simmons has turned in this season.

Next: Who's on first for the Angels?

As the season goes on defense will be a definite strength for the Angels, now if they can just get the starting pitching together this team could be special. We will just have to wait and see.