Matching LA Angels players with their Los Angels Rams parallels

The Los Angeles Rams are in the Super Bowl, as I'm sure many LA Angels fans are happy about.

I know some Angels fans may not be fans of the Rams, but rather the Chargers, Raiders, or even other teams. Some may not be NFL fans at all. But when I think about the Rams, I see a lot of qualities in some of their players that I see in Angels players.

Hopefully, the Angels themselves will end up in the championship. It would be a long-time coming for a deserving fan base.

Matching Raisel Iglesias with his Los Angeles Rams parallel: Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. reminds me of LA Angels closer Raisel Iglesias. Iglesias was brought over via trade, just like how Beckham was brought over to LA via trade.

Both trades weren't touted as the moves that they ended up being. In OBJ's case, many thought that he was the problem in Cleveland. Many thought that he was all talk, and one of the most overrated players in the game.

As for Iglesias, everyone seemed to always rush to how good our lineup was supposed to be in 2021, and forgot how good our closer was going to be. All the attention was on Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Anthony Rendon.

Iglesias ended up being our second-best player this past season, just like how Odell really rose to the occasion after his trade as well. Beckham has caught 19 catches for 236 yards this postseason after many questioned whether the trade would work or not.

Matching Shohei Ohtani with his Los Angeles Rams parallel: Cooper Kupp

LA Angels' two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani is actually a lot like Cooper Kupp. Both were expected to play well this year, but then they went out and had all-time great seasons. They overperformed what were already lofty expectations.

We all know that Ohtani had the best season in sports history, and we also need to acknowledge the type of season that Kupp had. Kupp was the Offensive Player of the Year, going for 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Those both led football.

Catching 145 balls this season, he also averaged 114.5 yards per game. Those two led the sport as well. While Kupp may not have been Ohtani, he was still sensational.

He still had one of the best seasons anybody's ever seen a receiver have. No wideout has ever had as many yards as Kupp just put up. He was second in all-time receptions in a season.

Like Kupp, we know Ohtani is the best in the game at what he does. Give him some lineup protection next year and watch him soar to even greater heights. Just like how Kupp thrived once he got a star QB, Ohtani just needs a bit better of a situation around him, and he could be playing for a championship too.

Even though they play different sports, there are absolutely lessons to be learned by the Angels, from the Rams.