LA Angels Moments of the Decade #9: The Best Team in Baseball

When LA Angels fans think of the 2014 season, they likely think of the disappointment that accompanied the team’s first round sweep via the Kansas City Royals.

And while that was one of the harshest on-field realities of the decade, let’s not forget how truly phenomenal those days with the LA Angels as the best team in baseball were.

At 98-64, the Halos had finally done what nowadays seems impossible: they had a winning with Mike Trout as the center piece. Those few days between the final game of the 2014 regular season and the American League Divisional Series were as glorious as any we had as fans this decade, which makes this the #9 moment of the 2010’s for the Halos.

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One thing I remember distinctly about this season was that the trio of awful free agent signings had solid contributions. Yes, only Albert Pujols had an exceptional season, but CJ Wilson and Josh Hamilton made noticeable contributions as well. Hamilton was the MVP frontrunner after one week of the season (before getting hurt sliding into first), and had solid months of June and July once he returned. The team also had a 61.8% winning percentage when Hamilton played.

CJ Wilson had a poor overall season. A 4.51 on the season is bad no matter who you ask. However, for me personally, CJ Wilson was someone I enjoyed watching throughout the year, and was a much better pitcher when at The Big A. He was 9-2 in 15 starts at home that season, owning a 3.82 ERA. I also think his ERA that season was inflated by a handful of really poor starts. He had more games allowing one run or less (11) than games with more than four runs allowed (7).

Another huge note on this season was at the end of the year, Mike Trout was the obvious choice for MVP. Everyone who watched baseball knew it, and that only added to the euphoria of being the best team in the entire MLB.

Kole Calhoun also finally stuck on the roster as the everyday right fielder in 2014, and gave the Angels great results in the process. His arrival made the transition away from Torii Hunter easier, and we could tell he’d be a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

In the moment, this was a truly magical feeling, and the team’s best chance to win a World Series this decade. Looking back, it was the ultimate tease of what the Angels have been chasing ever since. This season could have ended as the best moment of the decade, but falling short at #9 seems fitting enough for the 2014 season.