The Angels are within 3.5 games in the AL West in what I think is the only interesting and competitive race left with over a month to go. With all respect to the AL Central (5 games) and NL West (6 games) and the respective wild card races (8.5 in both leagues), the only race that’s both interesting and fun with over a month left in the season could come down to the most explosive offense in baseball (Texas) against the best rotation in the AL (3.36 ERA of the Angels). It’s an interesting race because a little over a week ago the Angels were down 6 games but have since shrunk the margin to 3.5. How have they done it? Switching to a bit of a four man rotation.
Joel Piniero was skipped a few times in recent weeks in an effort to give the Angels the best chance to catch up. I love the move as the playoff race is too often concentrated in September when in reality, the outcome can be determined long before the season’s final month. Dan Haren, Jared Weaver and Ervin Santana need to be pitching as much as possible for the Angels to have a shot at catching the offense/bullpen of the Rangers.
I was a little surprised (as was the rest of the baseball community) when earlier this year, 19 year old Mike Trout got the callup from AA. He struggled at first hitting .163 while playing most of July. He just got the call back up and has shown some serious pop. He’s hit 4 homers including the two last night against the Mariners and has a .404 average in his second go round (this time at age 20).
The Angels are clearly in win now mode and are showing it. Pitching guys on three days rest, calling up 19 year olds when most of the baseball world prefers to let those guys show off their talent to AA managers rather than the games’ fans. This type of attitude, ferver, and excitement about a playoff opportunity are something that most organizations fail to show. I’m tired of teams sacrificing wins in the name of playing mediocre veterans or of organizations rebuilding for the future. You play to win the game and that’s something the Angels organization understands.
I’ve just talked myself into a newfound Angels fanhood. Mike Scioscia knows what he’s doing as do the higher ups: They are trying to win as many games as possibile. Not tomorrow, not next year: today AND tomorrow, and the next day, and next year. With that attitude, the Angels will continue to keep winning even while saddled with a few bad contracts or veterans expecting playing time.
Stat of the Day: Each year, about 60 percent of NCAA revenue (that’s all revenue, not just money from rights agreement) is distributed to Division I members. For 2009-10, the total was a little more than $433 million. And to think, it’s a non-profit….
-Sean Morash
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