5 Angels players the fans are losing their patience with

2) LA Angels fans are losing their patience with Aaron Loup

The Angels already admitted defeat with one of their offseason signings from the 2021 offseason after Designating Ryan Tepera for Assignment. Tepera had not been pitching well, but I felt like he was a better option than Aaron Loup, who remains an Angel.

Loup is currently on the IL nursing a hamstring injury but is expected to be back soon. When that happens, I'm not sure how long the leash will be. The Angels got rid of Tepera, I can't imagine they'd be afraid to do the same with Loup who has a similar contract to Tepera.

This season, Loup has an ERA of 7.00 through his 11 appearances and nine innings pitched. He blew the game on Opening Day in Oakland, and also was responsible for a loss in Milwaukee in late-April. He's allowed an earned run in five of his 11 appearances, and simply doesn't look good in any situation the Angels throw him in. Even when used in a lopsided game against the Cardinals who were in the midst of a massive skid, Loup allows them to get back in the game by allowing two runs while recording just two outs.

He's supposed to be a left-handed specialist but has allowed lefties to slash .438/.471/.563 against him this season. Small sample size sure, but it's pretty ridiculous at this point. His leash should not be long if the Angels are serious.

3) LA Angels fans are losing their patience with Jose Suarez

If there was a worse starting pitcher than Jose Suarez through six starts I don't even want to know who it was. That's how bad this young lefty was for the Angels to begin this season.

I was intrigued by Suarez's finish to the 2022 season. I knew his flaws of only pitching well against good teams and having difficulty facing hitters for a third time, but I assumed he'd get better as a 25-year-old coming off of his best stretch in the majors. Unfortunately, I couldn't have been more wrong.

Through six starts the Angels lefty has a 9.62 ERA. He had been booed off the mound by Angels fans multiple times this season, and looked like an absolute disaster. Strikeouts are down, hits are up, home runs are up, walks are up, everything pointed in the wrong direction.

Suarez allowed five home runs in one start at home against the Athletics. Yes, the 10-37 Athletics who feel like they're trying to lose every game. He earned another start after delivering five scoreless innings in Milwaukee only to fall flat at home against Texas and allow seven runs in 2.2 innings of work.

In a game the Angels had to have to win the series against their division rival, Suarez was handed a 3-0 lead and blew it instantly. It's undoubtedly the most disappointing start for an Angel this season.

While I don't think it's likely Suarez is DFA'd, I do think a move to the bullpen is coming whenever he's activated off of the Injured List. There's no logical argument to throwing him back into the rotation.

4) LA Angels fans are losing their patience with Luis Rengifo

Luis Rengifo was one of a couple of bright spots from the 2022 Angels. He had his issues, but hit 17 home runs. He was hitting in the middle of the order virtually every day, and enjoyed a breakout season offensively.

This season has been a different story. The switch-hitting utility man is slashing .214/.321/.286 with two home runs and 15 RBI. He looks like a completely different player.

Last season, Rengifo showed solid power but a lack of plate discipline. This season, he's been drawing walks, but not hitting for power. He drew 17 walks in 511 plate appearances in 2022. He's already drawn 16 in 131 plate appearances this season. Walks are good, walking instead of hitting isn't. He has just two home runs and two doubles this season after 17 home runs and 22 doubles in 2022.

As a switch-hitter, Rengifo has been given a solid amount of starts against right-handed pitching. He wasn't good against righties even in his breakout season, yet Phil Nevin likes to start him any chance he gets. Rengifo has responded by posting a putrid .574 OPS against righties.

Not only has Rengifo been frustrating at the plate, he provides no defensive value. He's played everywhere except for first base, pitcher, and catcher, yet he does not have a single position where he has a positive mark in DRS and he ranks in the 35th percentile in outs above average. Rengifo has also been at the center of some awful mental mistakes we've seen the Angels make this season.

He's out of options so it's unlikely we see DFA'd, but 2023 has been a major disappointment for Luis Rengifo.

5) LA Angels fans are losing patience with Brandon Drury

There was one series in which Brandon Drury looked like the best hitter in baseball. With the Oakland A's in town, Drury had one of the best series an Angels player has had in recent memory. He had nine hits in 15 at-bats including four home runs, two doubles, one triple, three walks, and 12 RBI. It's just Oakland, but we haven't seen anyone else do THAT against any particular team.

Drury had seven extra-base hits in that series. He has seven extra-base hits in the 19 games since that series. In that span he's slashing .203/.231/.365. Before that series he had just four extra-base hits in 20 games. He was slashing .179/.208/.269 in that span. Drury has had some clutch hits like the RBI triple to give the Angels the lead against the Astros earlier this month, but for the most part, he's been a complete no-show offensively.

Drury is slashing .231/.268/.449 with seven home runs and 23 RBI. Outside of that Oakland series he's been practically a .200 hitter with limited power. It's been a disappointing start to his Angels career following a Silver Slugger Award in 2022.

Can Drury turn it around? Absolutely. I have more faith in him than anyone else on this list right now. The unfortunate thing is he continues to hit in the middle of the order when he simply hasn't earned it. Even yesterday, what's the rationale for hitting Drury fifth against a righty over Jared Walsh who we know tattoos righties?

One ridiculously good series against a pathetic Oakland team isn't enough for a guy who plays virtually every day. He has to step it up or will lose his spot as the primary second baseman to someone else who will.