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LA Angels The Good, The Bad, and The Second Half Preview

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 shakes hands with Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after defeating the Minnesota Twins 7-4 in a game at Angel Stadium on May 10, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 shakes hands with Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after defeating the Minnesota Twins 7-4 in a game at Angel Stadium on May 10, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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The relationship between Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun has blossomed throughout the 7 years they have played together
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 19: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates their victory with Justin Upton #8 and Kole Calhoun #56 during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

THE SECOND HALF

Much of this may depend on the next three weeks. This is one of the easiest parts of the Angels’ schedule this season: 19 games, 14 home games. Mixed in with six games against the first place Astros and Dodgers are 13 games against the terrible Tigers, Orioles, and Mariners before the July 31st non-waver trade deadline.

Without starting pitching, it’ll be up to the offense to try and win games. The team is still a game under .500. Even a good stretch may leave them on the outside looking in at the WC, so it’s very likely that the Angels will be sellers at the end of July. Teams seem to have expressed interest in Brian Goodwin and Justin Bour, and Eppler’s shown that he’s more than willing to swap relievers for anything with a pulse and a hint of talent.

Prediction

The Angels will be sellers, and we’re going to see a lot of guys starting who probably shouldn’t be starting big league games. The offense will improve, and at some point, the Angels will give Ward and Thaiss a chance to sink or swim. It’s unlikely that Bour and Goodwin last the season with the team.

The Angels have been an 80-win team the past two seasons. This season looks to be more of the same, but the shape of it is different. Unlike the bloated budgets of previous seasons, this is a younger team with Fletcher and Rengifo and Ohtani and Canning, one that’s going to be more financially sustainable in the long run.

In the short run, however, that will be cold comfort. They’ll eek out some respectability, but this is not a playoff team. Not yet.

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