LA Angels Midseason Report Card: Ian Kinsler

 The MLB All-star break is here, Halo Hangout will be handing out their midseason grades on how the LA Angels’ players have done thus far.

There’s an axiom in pro sports that there’s no such thing as a bad one-year contract. The LA Angels better hope that’s true, because this last season of Ian Kinsler‘s contract has been a rough one. Along with Zack Cozart, Kinsler was supposed to solidify the Angels infield around Andrelton Simmons, as well as chip in offensively. While Cozart has hit poorly with good defense before getting hurt with a season-ending injury, Kinsler has hit poorly  with good defense, but continues to stay in the lineup.

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How bad is bad? Kinsler’s .218/.279/.372 batting line is among the worst in the majors this season, and his .650 OPS ranks 150th out of 162 qualifiers for the batting title. His defense, while still solid, can’t make up for the terrible offense. With David Fletcher on the 25-man roster now and holding his own, it’s more and more apparent every day that Kinsler already has a replacement is place. That’s why there’s no such thing as a bad one-year contract.

One of the best attributes Kinsler has is his clubhouse presence.  Kinsler has a wealth of post-season experience and can help mentor younger players like David Fletcher.  However, the post-season seems like a long shot for the Angels.

Mid-Season Grade: D+

Second base is among the weaker positions in the American league, and Kinsler’s defense has remained consistently excellent. The Angels aren’t on the hook for his future, so that’s good news for the organization.

Next: David Fletcheris holding his own for the Angels.

The bad news is that they’re still on the hook for his present, and that includes Kinsler hitting .194 over his last 19 games. At 36 years old, it looks like Kinsler’s career as a major league regular is just about over. It was a good career, underrated for how brilliant he was defensively, but that’s not going to help the Angels win anything this year.