thoughts: swept by sox, cliff lee, bench plugs

Geez, lately I've had to start most of my posts with apologies for being MIA. I started my internship this week, so I don't expect that practice to stop, unfortunately.

Anyways, I'll try my best to keep up with Angels news (I didn't find out about the Cliff Lee trade until 5pm!) and post during the weekends.

Also, the shocking trade today and recent (lack of) play by the Angels have thwarted my attemps to post about Kaz. I've got most of the post formed in my head, so it'll be up shortly.

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The last two series have been absolutely discouraging. After the high of winning the Texas series and really the way the team won those games, their play against the Royals and the ChiSox was disgusting, to say the least.

It's unacceptable for the Halos to lose a series to the Royals. Not only are the Royals woefully bad, the Halos have a history of absolutely crushing them. I'd like to thank them for making the Angels' scorching hot June/July last year possible. Remember what I wrote about the Halos needing to take advantage of opportunities? Well, playing a bad team whilst the Rangers played the respectable WhiteSox, qualifies as an opportunity. But its not only that the Halos lost the series and the chance to gain ground, it was the way the team lost those games. Really, how do you manage to score only one run against a Royals starting pitcher not named Zack Greinke? How do you get no-hit by Bruce Chen for 6+ innings? At least the boys showed up for national tv (perhaps they didn't want to get embarrased in front of the whole nation), pounding out 11 runs.

But things didn't improve much in Chicago. I get that the White Sox have a really good pitching staff. But I also understand that the White Sox are not an elite team. They have a respectable lineup with Rios and Konerko, but they also have the likes of Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones. Not to mention the fact that AJ and Quentin are underperforming. Winning one of the four games was a modest expectation. The Angels couldn't muster anything, despite the fact that Peavy pitched less than 2 innings. When I checked the score on Thursday, all I needed to know was the fact that the Angels managed two (two!!) hits. John Danks is very good, but that's just pitiful.

Perhaps these transgresions could be overlooked if they were isolated events. But its merely a repeat of the horrors of May. The Angels can't afford to slide into another slump, much less sleepwalk through games against "lesser" opponents.

What's becoming increasingly apperent is that this team isn't very good. At least they're not playing that way. Probably the most frustrating part is that they have the opportunity to be good. They're just massively underperforming. Up and down the lineup (Torii and Howie may get some slack here), across the bullpen, in the field, and in the heart of the team (the rotation minus Weave), mediocrity is poisoning the promise of the team. It's been a rollercoaster season but unless the Halos can string together a hot streak, they'll be just disappointment and unfufilled opportunity.

Right now, the Angels are ambivalent on whether they are contenders are not and whether they're buyers or sellers. I'm favoring standing pat either way. I don't think the farm can withstand any subtraction and I don't think the Halos could actually, significantly, upgrade. On the flipside, I don't think the Halos could offer any expiring contracts that would net much - especially since most of them are unappealing. I don't believe in blowing up the team - the Halos have what it takes to win next year (heck, this year too, if they can just stop underachieving).

This team has got to look at itself and do some soul searching. Everything they need is right there.

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I was quite shocked when I went through my usual routine of baseball websites.

Cliff Lee to the Rangers!??!
Quite possibly the worst outcome, I thought.

Of course, I've gotten caught up on what really happened, and I've calmed down. I have been hoping that he'd be picked up by the Twins, or perhaps the Mets. But if the Yankees have gotten Lee? That would be all kinds of unfair. A Yanks rotation of CC, Hughes, Pettite, Lee and AJ would be... well, terrifying. So while, I'm sure RedSux and Rays fans are breathing a sigh of relief, the Rangers acquiring Lee isn't all rainbows and butterfies for Halo fans.

The Rangers getting Lee is still a pertinent problem. The Rangers have a great lineup, full of healthy and talented players that are performing above or at their expected levels. Their bullpen has been good (certainly better than the Halos') with Oliver, O'day, Francisco and Neftali. Their soft spot looked to be their rotation. Look, Colby Lewis and CJ Wilson have been really good (and much better than anyone predicted). But neither is really an ace. Perhaps they could bring up Holland, but that's a lot of pressure to put on a young kid. Adding Lee is a brillant (and necessary) stroke by Texas. Daniels recognizes that this is the year for the Rangers and he's going after it. Texas certainly has got the farm system to do it. After getting Bengie and Lee, there's some chatter that he's looking for a 1B to replace Smoak.

Ah, Smoak. Here's where the M's-Rangers deal is tough to swallow. Not only does the addition of Lee damage the Angel's hopes this year, but a talent like Smoak going to the M's quite certainly damages the Angels' hopes in the next years. The Rangers definitely gave up a lot to get Lee (it was a necessary trade!) and that just makes the M's all that much better. The Halos are getting squeezed from both sides. sigh.

But here's some optimism: Baseball is not like Basketball. A "trumvite" of great (or good) players, will not make a baseball team a contender. While Lee going to the Rangers makes a good team better, its not the same effect of LeBron joining DWade and Bosh in Miami. The Rangers can still be beat this year with a little luck and the Angels playing up to their potential. The M's can still be beat in subsequent years the same way the Halos have left them in the dust this year.

I hope that the Halos take this trade as a wake-up call. The Rangers are not going to fold. All those AL West flags in left field are nice, but that doesn't mean that'll give you one this year. Those days of dominating the division are over, are they ready to rise to the challenge?

At least, now the fans know not to underestimate the Rangers.

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Remember back when Aybar was injured and I said that the infield depth couldn't take much more? Yeah, shortly after that Izzy was put on the DL, BWood was brought up and the Halos were able to weather through Aybar's short absence from the lineup.

The infield has been intriguing (or, depending on your outlook, a mess) for much of the season. BWood's struggles, Kendry's injury, tryouts for 1B, Naps's on-the-job-training, and Aybar's and Izzy's injuries. In Aybar's absence, BWood had a craptacular game on 6/24, though he finally got a triumphant moment when he hit a grand slam on 6/27. Aybar's started shaky in the leadoff spot, but has really taken off lately. Howie similarly got off to a rough start, but has finally been productive in the 2-spot. Mathis and Wilson both were on the DL and unfortunately Mathis left his short-lived hitting skills there. After Kendry was lost, 1B has been a wince-and-hope-he-doesn't-get-tested position, though Naps has proved competent. Izzy has been mostly MIA with various ailments, unable to fulfill his super-sub role.

Through all of this, Frandsen has been a godsend. He's hit (though he's cooled off - his AVG is threatening to dip below .300), he's cut down on his errors, and he's integrated himself seamlessly into the clubhouse. Seriously, he's this year's Matt Palmer - a career minor leaguer, plucked up this year, and almost miraculously finds a way to contribute to the Halos in their area of greatest need.

I just hope that the Angels don't get used to one showing up every year. It seems like the FO has been pushing their luck with their "internal options" of McAnulty, Aldridge, and Ryan. Yes, each performed well in the minors and/or spring training, but they're trying catch lightning in a bottle. Be happy that you found one in Frandsen!

Adding in either or both of McAnulty or Aldridge into any lineup with Wilson/Mathis/Willits is just cringe-worthy, especially when coupled by the deficiencies of the regulars. I understand that regulars need some rest and that injuries and underperforming require Sosh to mix and match. I knew that the Angels' depth was a house of cards and that it won't bode well to rush whatever youngsters are in Salt Lake. Unfortuntely, it doesn't make me feel any better about it. We're stuck with them for now...