It was barely a week ago that the Angels were flying high off of a four-game sweep of the Tigers as they headed into a three-game set with the Rays. Now they head into Tampa Bay to face the Rays again after another sweep, just not the good kind.
After being swept by the Yankees, the Angels limp into Tropicana Field with the weight of a five-game losing streak on their back. And believe me, you don’t want to be carrying anything on your back. Seriously, that’s what arms are made for. The Halos have fallen back under .500 after getting to as many as four games over .500 following their last victory. Their last victory which was eight days ago against the Rays, right before they ran into Chris Archer. I told you guys we should have poisoned his lunch. I told you.
Can the Angels turn it around this series? Well, actually, it’s no longer a question of “can they” but more a statement like “they need to.” We’re entering the third month of the season and, although there is still a lot of baseball left, the Angels now find themselves in third place behind both the Astros and the Rangers. The Astros are stumbling themselves, but with two teams to jump over, the Angels path to the postseason gets harder with each loss.
Game 1: Matt Shoemaker vs. Nate Karns
Shoemaker has had a ton of rest over the last week thanks to Mike Scioscia shuffling the Angels rotation to accommodate the two off days that the Angels have had over the last week. Hopefully, Shoemaker used the extra time off wisely and tried to figure what exactly is the reason he has been mostly ineffective this season. If he didn’t, then, he should be flogged for not caring enough about his wife’s excretory system.
In his last start, Nate Karns should have ended up taking a loss. Instead, he took a no decision when Hector Santiago coughed up the Angels lead and then the Angels subsequently went on to lose that game in extras when Huston Street gave up a home run in the tenth (jerk). No, I’m not bitter at all. Why do you ask?
Game 2: Jered Weaver vs. Erasmo Ramirez
Man, did Jered Weaver stink in his last start or what? Granted, it was in Yankees Stadium, and I have seen little league baseball fields with larger dimensions. But, damn, how about a groundball or two, big guy? Weaver did have a sub-two ERA coming into his last start, and he was victimized by 150 or so foot short porch in right field, so maybe we shouldn’t be concerned. But we’ll no better after his start on Wednesday against the Rays.
Ramirez is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA over his last three starts, which is good for him and the Rays. But he is also 4-2 with a 5.10 ERA over 14 appearances (seven starts), and that is good for the Angels. For his Major League career, Ramirez’s numbers are more in line with his season totals this year and not with what he has done over his last few starts, which is also good for the Angels. Hey, two out of three ain’t bad.
Game 3: Garrett Richards vs. Tobe Announced
Last year, on May 30th, Garrett Richards recorded two first inning outs against the Oakland A’s and gave up five runs. After that, he went 9-2 with a 1.79 ERA. Some of us have been a little concerned about his performance so far this season. But, maybe he just need to hit rock bottom before he became awesome again. I would rather that he didn’t do that, but I won’t nitpick so long as he NEVER DOES THAT AGAIN!
I have nothing on Tobe Announced. There is no scouting report, no statistical history, nothing. Dude is a ghost. Like Sidd Finch or something. Maybe it is Sidd Finch, which would be terrible if this were 1985. But it’s not, it’s 2015, and Finch is probably, what, 50 by now? That could bode very well for the Angels.
The Angels need to get on a winning streak again in a very bad way. Or, if anything, they at least need to get back to winning series. They (mercifully) don’t have to deal with Chris Archer this series, and they have already shown that they can handle Nate Karns. Ramirez isn’t anything special, and no one knows what lay in wait for them come Thursday. But now might be their best chance to shake whatever funk they are in and get back to winning baseball games. Trailing one team in the standings was bad enough. Trailing two teams, Is just asking for Scioscia to make bold moves for the sake of making bold moves. Don’t let Mike make bold moves, Angels. Don’t do that.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
