3 reasons 2022 will be better than 2021 for the LA Angels
Let's face it; the LA Angels didn't have the best 2021.
They did have some great moments, especially when watching the best individual season in baseball history from Shohei Ohtani unfolding right before their eyes.
2022 has the chance to have much more success as an overall team than 2021 did, however. There are three reasons in particular for why 2022 is set to be a better year for Angel fans than 2021 was.
No. 3 reason 2022 will be better than 2021 for the LA Angels: Coaching stability for the pitchers
The LA Angels pitching staff struggled last year, and lots of that needs to fall on Mickey Callaway. There were multiple Angel pitchers playing well in 2020 when Callaway was coaching them, but due to his sexual misconduct, he was kicked from the team. He really let those pitchers down, as all that development they had seen in 2020 went to waste as they couldn't continue with the coach that was helping them progress.
Just randomly having to go through a pitching coach change is a great way to have players' growth stunted. They had to grow accustomed to a new coach, and for the situation Matt Wise was dealt, he actually did just fine.
He at least provided stability to the coaching staff in a challenging year where he had to work with many new faces coming up to the Big Leagues due to injuries. The hits kept coming for Wise, but his determination shined through.
Now that the team will have their coach throughout the season, they will have the chance to progress, and not have their rhythm broken up.
No. 2 reason 2022 will be better than 2021 for the LA Angels: More intel on how to use Shohei Ohtani
The LA Angels overall did a good job managing Shohei Ohtani's workload this past year. That being said, he did have to miss his last start of the year, as well as have another start delayed due to fatigue. He still hit every day, but there were a couple more starts we could have had out of Ohtani.
Now, however, that Matt Wise and Joe Maddon have a better idea of how to use him this year, they'll be able to potentially sit him from the batting lineup a few more days during the season, or maybe not have him play in the outfield after starts, and figure out that sweet spot where we can get the most out of Ohtani's talents on the mound.
Again, the Halos did a good job managing him this year. Some of the starts he missed had nothing to do with fatigue or a lack of durability (such as when he missed a start due to him getting hit with a foul ball in the dugout). The Angels will, however, be even BETTER with it next year, and that's something to look forward to.
No. 1 reason 2022 will be better than 2021 for the LA Angels: Health
The LA Angels will be getting so many key players back from injury in 2022. That includes Patrick Sandoval, Justin Upton, Anthony Rendon, and the great Mike Trout. Those are three MASSIVE contracts coming back to use, as well as a Sandoval who is the third-best starter on the team.
Those guys being back is going to have a major impact on the team. In Sandoval, we're getting a pitcher who posted a 3.62 ERA last season before he hit the IL, along with a 9.7 K/9 rate and a 124 ERA+.
In Upton, we're getting a player who hit .326/.420/.600 (1.020 OPS) in the month before he got hurt.
In Trout, we're getting the guy who has been the best player of the last decade and was having the best year of his career before he went down last season. The three-time AL MVP was so dominant in the 36 games he played that he still was selected as the All-Star Game starter despite missing over half of the first half.
And in Rendon, they're getting a bounce-back candidate who's still young and still plays good defense, even when his offense isn't going the way we wish it to. Even if he continues to slump next year, he'll be an upgrade over what we had there in his place.
The Halos will be a better team next year. They have the two best players in baseball healthy and in their primes, and many other key players coming back from injury. They'll have more stability in the coaching staff, and a division that's winnable with the lineup that the Angels have.