Hello, winning. I have you missed you so much. After dropping six straight games to the Astros and Dodgers, and three straight series starting with the Rangers series on July 24th, the Angels have won four of the last six games and their last two series. At the same time, the Astros are sputtering. The ‘Stros have lost three straight and and seven of their last ten games. The combination has the Angels once again knocking on the door of first place as they sit only a half a game back of the first place Astros.
Strangely enough, the Angels have managed to get by while Mike Trout has seemingly forgotten how to hit baseballs. So far this month, Trout is slashing .125/.243/.219 with only one extra basehit, that extra basehit being the home run he smacked on his birthday. This isn’t exactly a new thing though. Trout usually sees his production drop from July to August, albeit, not to this degree. Maybe the homer happy confines of U.S. Cellular Field will be enough to pull him out of his 4-32 skid.
Game 1: Matt Shoemaker vs. Chris Sale
Regression to the mean is a wonderful thing when it works to the positive end. And, in Matt Shoemaker’s case, that is exactly what has happened. He hasn’t a allowed a run in his last three starts, and has struck out 27 hitters in the 19 innings spanning those starts. Old schoolers still aren’t impressed though since Shoemaker is 0-3 during that span. It’s all about those pitcher wins, Matt.
The Angels had to face Ace after Ace pitcher over their losing streak, and under normal cirumstances, I would be lamenting having to face Chris Sale. Except Chris Sale hasn’t exactly been Chris Sale as of late. With a 1-2 record and an 8.31 ERA over his last three starts, Chris Sale has been decidedly hittable. He has allowed seven runs in each of his last two starts, one of which came against the offensive challenged Red Sox.
Game 2: Hector Santiago vs. Carlos Rodon
Regression to the mean is no fun when it hits an All-Star who was pitching over his head. The only thing keeping Santiago’s ERA under three was his incredible start to the season. Over his last three starts he is 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA. In his last four starts he is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA. I am not saying that Hector Santiago’s true talent level is that of a pitcher with a 5.00 or 6.00 ERA, but it’s definitely not that of a pitcher with a 2.00 ERA.
For his rookie campaign, Carlos Rodon has gotten knocked around a bit. at 4-4 with a 5.00 ERA, you would think that his numbers are inflated due to possibly a bad start to his pro career. Except that he is 1-1 7.53 ERA over his last three starts. The struggles of Sale and Rodon could be just what the Angels offense ordered. Or the opposite could be true with this team’s struggling offense.
Game 3: Andrew Heaney vs. Tobe Announced
Regression to the mean is just mean when it happens to a rookie. Andrew Heaney was doing splendid until the regression monster wielded it’s power. With only nine strikeouts over his last seven innings (Heaney was never a big strikeout pitcher, but that is Jered Weaver territory), a 1-1 record with a 4.24 ERA over his last three starts, Heaney hasn’t been nearly as effective as he was before this rough patch. I’m not saying that everyone should be worried, I’m just saying that maybe he’s not the future ace some people thought that he would be.
At 51-58, the White Sox are the kind of team that the Angels should be beating up on. But with Mike Trout struggling, this offense is decidedly vulnerable. And we can’t expect David Murphy to carry this team the whole way. A series against a couple of struggling pitchers in a hitter friendly park could do the trick. At least, I hope it does. I don’t want to live in world where Mike Trout is a mere mortal.
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