Breaking down the LA Angels line-up for 2018

Could Pujols slip to the 5th spot in the line-up?

As I mentioned in the previous line-up spot, Albert Pujols did not have a very good 2017 season.  It is a distinct possibility that he could be dropped to the fifth spot in the batting order.  Not sure if Iron Mike will have the cojones to do so, but it may be the best move for the Angels as a team.

The move could be on a part-time basis at first, maybe only when Pujols and Ohtani play on the same day, or it could be a complete demotion for Pujols. We will have to see how Mike Scioscia wants to play things.

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If the Angels do not decide to go the route of demoting Pujols from his customary clean-up role, then the most likely candidate to fill the fifth spot would be right fielder Kole Calhoun.  Calhoun would be good in this spot for a couple of reasons.  First and foremost he is a left-handed bat with some pop, although he too had a abysmal 2017 season which saw Calhoun hit a career-low .244.  However Calhoun still hit 19 homers and drove in 71 runs and in the fifth spot he could be the beneficiary of a much-improved Angel line-up.

Shohei Ohtani could find himself in this spot some of the time as well especially if Pujols is in the line-up and does not move out of the clean-up spot.  The point being, the Angels have some options here as well.