Angel Fans be patient and trust the process, it will work out.

Ever since the LA Angels signed Anthony Rendon the cry for pitching has been at a fever pitch. Anyone who follows the Angels or baseball knows that they need pitching in the worst way. So do I, but those of you clamoring for it, calling for Eppler’s and Moreno’s head on a silver platter. I have one word for you: RELAX!!!!

Now if you are like me, a lifelong Angels fan, it is hard to sit back and wait.  From 2003 to 2009 it wasn’t as bad as the team was still making the playoffs almost every year and twice they came within a few games (2005, 2009) of making it back to the World Series.  However, since 2010 the Angels have made the playoffs one time and were promptly swept, and the last four seasons they have finished under .500 and well out of the playoff race so it has been much harder to as they say : ‘Trust the Process’.

Early this decade the team was challenging for the division and a playoff spot (2011,2012, and 2015 they finished over .500 within striking distance of the post-season), and the Angels even made trade deadline moves to acquire both Zack Greinke and Dan Haren. They also signed big name free agents Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, and Josh Hamilton unfortunately those did not end up well, but they were still try to improve the team.  From 2016 – 2019 the Angels free agent signings and acquisitions through trades were not very good with only the Andrelton Simmons trade and the Justin Upton deal working out fairly well.

Before you go questioning the Upton trade we had a revolving door in left field before acquiring him at the end of 2017, and we lost two lower-level prospects the main one was a first round draft pick Grayson Long who has now retired from baseball. Upton, when healthy is a pretty good left fielder. Maybe not in the field, but at the plate.  (I don’t think he was totally healthy last season even when he came back).

The reason why I bring this up is the fact that the Angels have tried to improve at different times through trades or free agency, but unfortunately some these moves did not pan out.  Billy Eppler knows what he is doing and is trying like heck to get players, mainly pitchers to help the team be successful next year.

Although some of the biggest names are not there now like Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strausburg, and Madison Bumgarner, there are still viable options out there in free agency mainly Dallas Keuchel and Hyun-Jin Ryu.  There is also still a possibility of a trade being made as well if it makes sense and we don’t have to give up too much of the farm to do so.

There are still two months before Spring Training starts so let’s see what is done between now and then.  If on February 20th when Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training, you don’t like what the team has done to improve during this off-season then criticize all you want.  I will be right there with you. But remember the old adage “Patience is a virtue” or “Good things come to those who wait”.  That is my hope in this case and I still believe Billy Eppler will get the job done.