Angel players and fans happy to see Mike Trout back in action, but will it matter?

The Angels did everything they could to stay in the wild-card hunt while Mike Trout was on the disabled list for six weeks. When Trout came back Friday they were only three games out of the top spot in the wild-card race, but …

Friday, July 14th, 2017 was a day Angel fans and the team were waiting for Mike Trout was finally ready to return. All the inconsistency from the offense, pitching rotation issues, and everything else that has ailed this year’s team would magically disappear, the stars would be aligned and the Angels would make a magical run to the playoffs.

While this still may happen, the early returns of Mike Trout’s return do not indicate that. In a three-game weekend series with the Tampa Bay Rays, the leaders in the wild-card race, the Angels offense with Trout laid an egg. Thanks to C.J. Cron‘s heroics Sunday, the Angels were able to salvage one game of the three-game set with the Rays.

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However, the offense still seems stagnant even though Trout is back. Trout has done his part going 4 for 12 (.333) but he has nothing to show for it as he has not scored any runs or driven in any either. The starting pitching was solid in two of the three games as well as Ricky Nolasco and Parker Bridwell held the Rays to just three runs in 14 innings. However, due to the aforementioned lack of offense both pitchers had nothing to show for it getting no-decisions.

I know this is only three games, but the Angels are starting to run out of time with only 67 games left in the season. It is definitely not too late, but it soon could be if the Angels don’t get their act together. Getting rid of Danny Espinosa (although I hate to see a nice guy like him go) was definitely a step in the right direction. However, his replacements (Cliff Pennington and Nick Franklin) are not much better.

Seeing C.J. Cron hit an opposite field pinch hit homer and Luis Valbuena have a two-homer games was also encouraging. However, consistency will be the key.

“I think this gives us a chance to lengthen our line-up and hopefully Cam and Kole will set the table for Mike and he will in turn set the table for the people behind him,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said of the impact of Trout’s return. “There is always an adjustment period when you have been out for awhile, but Mike feels good and he is ready to go and he will make the necessary adjustments when he needs to.”

The Angels offensive woes have been deep as only two players beside Trout are hitting over .250, Andrelton Simmons (.291) and Yunel Escobar (.287). On the same token only two players other than Trout have more than 10 homers, Albert Pujols (14) and Kole Calhoun (12).

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Scioscia weighed in on the team’s offensive struggles. “Getting hits with guys in scoring positions has been plaguing us all year,” Scioscia said. “We have to start controlling the batter’s box better. Some guys have been struggling and obviously we need for them to pick up their game and that’s what we are trying to do.”

Mike Scioscia was not the only one who was glad to see Trout back in the line-up.

“It’s great to have Mike back, we are ready to get back to it,” Kole Calhoun said.

Next: Will Mike Trout make a difference?

Hopefully the Angels offense will start to put things together soon. if they can it will be a fun next two months. If not it will be another disappointing season in Anaheim.

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