5 Hopes For Los Angeles Angels in 2018 that could lead to World Series

The last couple of years has been tough for the Los Angeles Angels and their fans as the team has suffered through two sub .500 seasons and a plethora of injuries. Hopefully 2018 will be a much better year.

The Los Angeles Angels had some good things happen in 2017 despite the end result. The events of the last two months have made Angel fans everywhere at least cautious optimistic for the 2018 season.  The biggest thing for me is that the team has filled multiple holes that they have had for a few seasons now.

Yes, 2018 is looking much better than any of the past three years have looked going into Spring Training.  There is no longer gaping holes in the Angels line-up as there has been over the past three years.  In addition the pitching staff looks to be better than it has been in that time period as well.

So I have put together a list of my top five hopes for the Angels team for 2018 which if they all happen we will see the Angels playing meaningful baseball in October. Without further adieu here they are.  Enjoy!

5.  Angels outfield becomes most productive in baseball

The Los Angeles Angels have potentially one of the best outfield trio in team history.  Defensively ti probably is the best outfield the Angels have ever had as left fielder Justin Upton has been a Gold Glove nominee multiple times as has center fielder Mike Trout, and Kole Calhoun has won a Gold Glove in 2015.

All three players also have the potential to hit 25 or more home runs a piece and drive in at least 90 runs.  Upton and Trout have done that have done so in four of the past five seasons.  Calhoun has a little way to go in both categories, but the potential is there, especially with such a potent line-up surrounding him.

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If Calhoun can bounce back from a career-worst season that saw the ‘Red Baron’ hit only .241 with 19 HR’s and 71 RBIs that will go a long way in improving the Angels offense. This a hope I have as Kole is a good guy and you can’t help but want to seem him succeed.

4. Ian Kinsler has a bounce-back season and solidifies the lead-off spot

Ian Kinsler has been one of the top second basemen in baseball over the past 10 years hitting 234 homers, driving in 834 runs with a career .273 batting average.  However, 2017 was largely forgettable for the four-time all-star as Kinsler’s average dipped to .236 with 22 homers and 52 RBIs.  All but the home run total were career-lows for Kinsler with an injury-proved 2010 season where Kinsler only played 103 games.

Kinsler is now going to most likely be the Angels lead-off hitter in 2018 and his success will go a long way in jump starting the Angels anemic offense.  If Kinsler can get on base at a good clip and set the table for Trout, Upton, and Pujols which will be very important.

Kinsler will also team with Andrelton Simmons to for a very formidable double-play combination on defense as well.  The addition of Kinsler will  make Simmons even better.

3.  All the Angel pitchers coming off UCLtears stay healthy and come back strong.

It is well documented that the Los Angeles Angels have been the most snake-bitten team in regards to arm injuries over the past couple of seasons.  A total of six current starting pitchers have suffered at least a partial UCL tear in their pitching elbows in the last two seasons. All but one are on schedule to be ready to pitch in 2018.

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The big question will be one, can they all stay healthy for the full season, and two will they be able to be effective.  Tyler Skaggs, Andrew Heaney, and Garrett Richards all came back from their injuries late in 2017.  However, only Richards pitched effectively down the stretch as Heaney and Skaggs struggled mightily.

The Angels need both Heaney and Skaggs to be at the top of their game to help the Angels contend for the AL West and/or a wild-card spot. In addition the Angels are hopeful that Nick Tropeano and J.C. Ramirez return in top form from their UCL tears as well.  Matt Shoemaker also had a nerve impingement that forced him to be shut down in July 2017.  He too is on schedule to be ready by the start of 2018 as well.

The Angels proposed six-man rotation will help alleviate some of the wear and tear of the season which could go a long way in keeping everyone healthy.  This will be a huge key to the success of the team in 2018.

2.  The Angels bullpen kept them in the race in 2017, and 2018 they will be just as good if not better.

The Angels have lost a few pieces from a bullpen that for most of the season saved the team and a mediocre starting rotation.  Gone is closer Bud Norris, set-up man Yusmeiro Petit, and also Jesse Chavez is gone from the Angels pen.

So how are the Angels going to make-up for these loses and build an even better pen?  First of all, the Angels have all the pieces to make a strong bullpen.  Blake Parker and/or Cam Bedrosian will make a strong one-two punch as a set-up man and closer depending on which shows up and pitches better this Spring.  My thoughts are that Parker should be the closer and Bedrosian should set him up along with Kenyan Middleton.

The trio of hard throwers should anchor the Angels bullpen.  Not to mention the Angels traded for Jim Johnson who was an elite closer four years ago and has potential to do so again this season.  In addition the Angels have Noe Ramirez who pitched well down the stretch.

The Angels also have a lot of pitchers that could be plugged in to different spots.  So we will have to see what happens.