LA Angels: Trevor Cahill Bounces Back and Two Other Take Aways from 2-1 Loss in Seattle

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 02: Trevor Cahill #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 02: Trevor Cahill #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
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SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 02: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scores on a groundout by Kevan Smith #44 in the second inning at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 02: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scores on a groundout by Kevan Smith #44 in the second inning at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

The LA Angels finished up their two-game set with the Seattle Mariners with a 2-1 loss. Before they head back to Anaheim to face the Rangers, here are three observations from the loss.

Quick Hits

  • The LA Angels took an early lead in this one, with Jonathan Lucroy scoring in the second inning. It was only the third time the Angels had a lead so far this season.
  • Per reports, David Fletcher is the Halos’ emergency catcher should they ever need one in a game, taking his role as a utility player to an entirely new level. He has his own gear, which is a power move from the Angels’ sophomore.
  • Mike Trout still doesn’t have a home run. That isn’t necessarily concerning, but with Bryce Harper annihilating baseballs on the East Coast, it’d be nice if Trout could join the party.
  • No Angels other Kole Calhoun, who has one, has hit a home run either. Their single home run is tied for dead last in the entire league.
  • Luis Garcia allowed an eighth inning home run to Dan Vogelbach that wound up being the game-winning hit. It was the second consecutive night the Angels’ bullpen had allowed a home run after not allowing any runs in the Oakland series.

ICYMI. Observations from Last Night's Loss in Seattle

Handful of Halos Still in Major Slumps

Apart from the lack of home runs, several everyday players are still slumping through the team’s first six games. Zack Cozart still only has one hit on the season. Justin Bour wasn’t in the lineup due to him being a non factor against left-handed pitching. Peter Bourjos and Kevan Smith are both still hitless as well.

While some players, such as Jonathan Lucroy, have been hitting well, this offense is playing as poorly as it has in Mike Trout’s entire tenure with the Angels so far. If not for his record extension, “Trade Mike Trout” headlines would be swirling around the internet right about now.

This team has no sense of an offensive identity right now, and there isn’t much that can be done about it until reinforcements arrive via Justin Upton and Shohei Ohtani.

SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 02: Trevor Cahill #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 02: Trevor Cahill #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Trevor Cahill Bounces Back in Seattle

Maybe I was a little too hard on Trevor Cahill. Unlike his Opening Day start in Oakland, Cahill was a dominant pitcher on Tuesday night. He didn’t look anything like he did in his last start, and put together what could be considered the best start by an Angels pitcher so far this season. He finished the night with one earned run, five strikeouts, and three hits in six innings pitched.

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The problem in Oakland was that he was allowing a lot of fly balls, which would turn into home runs. In his second start, most of the batted balls were on the ground, and contact was relatively soft. His entire repertoire of pitches was in full effect, and he used his full arsenal brilliantly throughout the game.

Cahill put an emphasis on his cutter in his second start, which proved to be absolutely vital to his success. After throwing just six cutters in his Opening Day start, Cahill used the pitch 18 times Tuesday night, per Jeff Fletcher. If Cahill can continue to use his cutter as effectively and plentiful as he did on Tuesday, it will bode well for him as the season goes on.

Another key to his start was that Cahill consistently found the strike zone in Seattle. While 70% of his pitches in Oakland were strikes as well, Cahill seemed to be fooling hitters much more this time around, which led to his five strikeouts.

ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 12: Francisco Arcia #37 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tags out Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers at home as he tried to score from second on a hit by Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers in the third inning at Angel Stadium on September 12, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 12: Francisco Arcia #37 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tags out Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers at home as he tried to score from second on a hit by Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers in the third inning at Angel Stadium on September 12, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Halos Have a Chance to Change Their Early Season Narrative

1-5 stings. No matter how you put it, this Angels team has not been good enough in any way.

However, while their record is obviously lackluster right now, the Angels have a good chance to rebound this weekend. They host the Texas Rangers for the first home series of 2019 this weekend, and the four game set will be a chance to potentially be a winning team by this time next week.

Obviously a sweep of any team is difficult, but the Rangers are one of the least talented teams in the entire American League. They are in the depths of a rebuild, and present a golden opportunity for Angels’ hitters to get in rhythm. The pitching staff has a chance to build confidence as well against a poor lineup from the Rangers.

The Rangers currently have a better record than the Angels, sitting a 3-2 after a win against the Astros on Tuesday. Despite the difference in wins, this Angels team has more talent on their roster than the Rangers. It will be the first home series since Mike Trout signed his extension, and the energy at The Big A will be as electric as ever.

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In front of their home crowd, the Angels might just be able to turn things around this weekend. After lackluster performances in their first two series this season, a strong showing in front of the Anaheim faithful might be just what the team needs to gain some mojo in the clubhouse and gain some momentum.

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