Series Rewind: …or Maybe Not – A’s Take Series from Angels

An Angel series loss to the Athletics in which the Halos needed to finish the half strong but clearly did not.

Game 1 – Angels 6, Athletics 5

Game 2 – Athletics 15, Angels 1

Game 3 – Athletics 5, Angels 2

Los Angeles Angels of AWESOMENESS

• The mental day off for the Angel veterans worked for at least one of the two players, Bobby Abreu.  Bob collected five hits over the three games and two of them were home runs (plus a double, two walks and zero strikeouts).  Hopefully he doesn’t let the All-Star break spoil what is looking to be the start of a much needed hot streak.  As for Matsui, he wasn’t nearly as hot, but he did get two hits on Sunday, so all hope is not yet lost on that front.
• Erick Aybar continues to be one of the few bright spots in the Angel line-up and he really lit it up with his game-winning homer on Friday.  From the way he stared that blast down the instant he hit it, you could see just how confident and comfortable he has been at the plate lately.  Then again, maybe guys who have just hit only their third homer of the season probably shouldn’t be admiring their handiwork so much.

Los Angeles Angels of FAIL

• Scott Kazmir should be embarrassed to even show his face in the Angel clubhouse anymore and I really am not trying to exaggerate here.  The only thing I am trying to do is stop myself from letting loose a string of profanities.  It seemed pretty likely before the series that this was his last chance to save his rotation spot and not only did he fail, he failed in spectacular fashion.  Instead of showing Scioscia that he can grit through his struggles, he gave up the most runs in a single game by an Angels pitcher EVER!  Just one more time for effect… EVER!!!!!!!!!!!  At a minimum you have to think that he will have his next start skipped since the Angels don’t need a fifth starter until July 24th, but that game is going to be against Texas and I can’t imagine they want him pitching in such a critical game.  Then again, that does give the Halos two weeks to find someone to replace him either from within or via trade (paging Dan Haren, report to Anaheim, stat!).
• Kazmir’s grease fire of a start ruined this series for the Halos.  They needed a series win, at least, in this three-game set and got off to a good start by gritting out that extra inning victory on Friday night.  But whatever momentum they got from that big win was stopped, set on fire, pissed on and then set on fire again when Kaz decided to audition to pitch in this weekend’s Home Run Derby.  Naturally, that butt whipping led to the Angel bats coming out flat (again) the next day costing the Angels the series.  Thanks again, Scott.  The damned shame of it all is that the Angels got a gift from the Baseball Gods in the form of the Orioles sweeping the Rangers in Arlington while also spoiling Cliff Lee’s debut (and I have a whole rant on that situation ready for tomorrow).  LAA could be just 2.5 games back right now and feeling good about themselves, but instead they’ll spend the break licking their wounds and saying their prayers for being only 4.5 back.
• We can all agree that the Angels need to trade for another bat, but let’s not lose sight of their bullpen issues.  Fernando Rodney nearly cost them the game on Friday and it looks like he is in the midst of one of his trademark slumps.  Check Rodney’s history, inconsistency has always been a problem but it isn’t a week-to-week thing, it is a month-to-month thing.  The Angels needed help as it is, but now they just need another live arm to cover their ass in case Rodney can’t snap out of this funk soon.
• The Angels need to demote Paul McAnulty immediately.  For whatever reason, Mike Scioscia just can’t stop starting him even though his average is down to .056.  Even Brandon Wood must think this guy is terrible.  Sosh needs to be saved from himself before he wastes more starts on this clown, so Tony Reagins better see to it that he is on a plane to Salt Lake by the end of the All-Star Game.
• It was bound to happen, but Kevin Frandsen has finally cooled off.  He is now 1-for-July after this series and his batting average has dipped under .300 for the first real time as an Angel.  The question now is if this is the real Frandsen emerging or just a bump in the road.  Hopefully he can bounce back soon, because the Angels don’t need the added burden of having another stiff at third base, not with Maicer Izturis still a bit away from returning.

Angel A-Hole of the Series

Like you even had to ask.

Really, I don’t even want to talk about Kazmir anymore.  What kills me is last month I actually had some readers get mad at me for being to hard on him, so I tried easing up for awhile.  A fat lot of good that did.  Hopefully Mike Scioscia won’t ease up on Scott either now and keep him off the mound until he can get his act together.