Showing posts with label American League West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American League West. Show all posts

Friday, May 07, 2010

The Angels are not getting it done in the American League West

The Angels are horribly inconsistent and cannot get anything going at this point - they are my team and it is early, but it isn't fun watching a baseball team that can't consistently get off the mat. 

The Mariners were depending on one Milton Bradley to be a middle of the lineup force - so they suck too with Bradley taking his ball and going home. As much as I'd like to be a contrarian and root for Bradley the player and perhaps the person, his mood swings have made him an unsympathetic figure in my eyes. As much as he maybe calling out for help, it maybe time to cut the cord on his MLB playing career. 

Meanwhile in the rest of the suddenly 'weakened' American League West, the A's are emerging as a scrappy bunch who looks like they may stand out - I don't know if they have enough pitching and offense, while I think scrappy guys like Adam Rosales, Cliff Pennington and Kurt Suzuki can only take the team so far. 

However, unlike the 'Moneyball' era A's teams, my perception is the current A's are a more balanced team - with their ability catch the ball, run and perhaps do more than wait for the three-run home run from a Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada or Eric Chavez. 

Can it be conceivable the A's and the Texas Rangers will be the two teams in the AL West battling for the division title - the Rangers' lineup can score lots of runs and if their pitching holds up, it makes them a team with some staying power. It looks like Vlad Guerrero is getting some of his mojo back and if healthy, maybe a comeback player of the year candidate.

Torii is playing well, but the rest of his Angels' squad isn't coming together anytime soon.

Maybe the slumping Godzilla needs a rest. 

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Bandwagon jumping time





The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were the first Major League team to clinch a playoff berth in 2008 - with a 4-2 win against the New York Yankees on Wednesday afternoon.

Hopefully they can use the rest of the regular season to heal up and deliver on a promise lacking [despite winning the American League West four times in the last six seasons and being in the playoffs] - Francisco 'K-Rod' Rodriguez is so close to the saves record of 57 and hopefully he can do something about tying [and breaking the record] before the upcoming weekend is over.

Besides watching K-Rod go for the saves record, I'm intent watching Brandon Wood, who at 23 is still evolving as a Major League Baseball player - right now, he is playing different roles from being a 5 o'Clock hitter, a windmill during games and a jumbo sized shortstop who maybe turning a corner as far as building upon his immense power potential.

It is going to be a festive time for Angels' baseball fans [whether you are a 2002 fan, 1986 fan, 1982 fan, 1979 fan or a 'somewhere in-between' fan] - as long as the team finds itself the only team standing during the postseason.