Series Takeaways: Angels Gain a Game on First Place Astros

The Angels had an opportunity to make a statement in this series. They had an opportunity to finish this three game set as close as two-and-a-half games out of first place. They had an opportunity to remind the Astros exactly who they were messing with. Instead, the Angels grinded out two wins, and got smoked in one game. The end result of taking two out of three from the Astros? Gaining only one game in the standings. Man, that is really anti-climatic. But, in reality, I suppose that…

Boxscore Breakdown – Game 1: Angels 4 – Astros – 3

Boxscore Breakdown – Game 2: Angels 3 – Astros 13

Boxscore Breakdown – Game 3: Angels 2 – Astros 1

1.) The Cubs apparently want Starting pitching and have contacted the Angels. They can have C.J. Wilson.

Through 15 starts, Wilson has allowed four or more runs in six of his starts. That’s 40% of his starts. Barely a month and a half ago, I was waxing poetic about C.J.’s turnaround this season. But now, woof, he’s just a less infuriating version of last season’s C.J. Wilson. Actually, he may be more infuriating this year. Last year, we expected bad whenever he took the mound. It was that kind of season. This year, he has been good enough for enough of the season that, when he blows up (and, boy, does he blow up), it is actually more of a letdown. His full no-trade protection ended after last season, and his name has already popped up enough in trade rumors that to say that he is not on the block is pure delusion. Cash-in while you can, Dipoto. And if you can turn a 35 year-old C.J. Wilson into a Javier Baez or a Kyle Schwarber, so much the better.

2. ) Andrew Heaney: Be still, my heart.

I see you, Heandog, I see you. We definitely need to work on Mr. Heaney’s nickname, but that seems to be the only thing that needs work. The 24 year-old needed only 83 pitches to get through his 2015 debut, and he did it during a warm day game against a team that over the past two weeks has combined for a .273/.341/.506 slash line. He held them to one run, struck out five and I would have let him go longer, but we all know how Mike Scioscia works. Although, I imagine that if Scioscia saw yesterday’s game going 13 innings, he would’ve given Heaney another inning as well. Live and learn, Mike. Live and learn.

Or don’t. Whatever.

3.) Albert Pujols wants everyone to know that he still exists.

Albert Pujols has a .905 OPS right now. The last time he had an OPS that high was in 2011 when he was a Cardinal. His SLG% is .570. The last time it was that high was in 2010, also when he was still a Cardinal. His OPS+ is 153. It hasn’t been near 150 since he was a…wait for it…a Cardinal. He has struck out 27 times this season and walked 23 times. His May slash line was .271/.301/.533, and I could have lived with that for the balance of the season. That’s an ISO of .262, and that’s a lot of power. His June slash line is .333/.419/.815.

Sure, his HR/FB rate is probably unsustainable at it’s current 33.3% for the month of June, but his season rate of 22.8% is only four points above his career average (18.5%), and it is a number that he has approached before (22.5% in 2003 and 2006). And I am not alone in thinking that Albert Pujols may be in the middle of his last great Act as a baseball player. Jonah Keri seems to think so as well.

With an off day today, the Angels can enjoy some R and R before they kick off a weekend series in Seattle. The Angels have gone 3-1-1 over their last five series, and if they just keep winning series, the rest will take care of itself.