Boxscore Breakdown #3: A whole new world – Angels 5, Mariners 3

This is a world I am unfamiliar with, for the first time since 2008, the Angels have actually WON their opening series. I don’t know what the Angels are going to do now that they aren’t going to be digging themselves out of a hole right off the bat. I’m not even sure if I know how to do a Boxscore Breakdown for this kind of a situation. I’m not kidding. This is the first time the Angels have won their opening series since I started this blog.

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1WIUKtylmG6rmf9_O8ct6yfQgOGnb-lIrmFVnS7NOT0U/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /] RE24 is a funny thing. Albert Pujols a massive two-run homer but ended up trailing Aybar for the team lead in RE24 despite Aybar’s biggest contribution being a grounder that Robinson Cano clanked into a two runs instead of two outs. Aybar did add another single later, but I’d like to think Pujols would’ve still had a larger RE24 if only because of how expertly he pimped his homer. After those two comes Johnny Giavotella and his three-hit performance which is threatening to turn him into a cult favorite already. The reigning cult favorite on the team, Kole Calhoun, took the collar and the RE24 caboose as a result of getting BABIP’d for the third game in a row.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1WIUKtylmG6rmf9_O8ct6yfQgOGnb-lIrmFVnS7NOT0U/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] It was a good day to be a Mariner lefty as Cano, Seager and Miller all had big days. Morrison was the only real exception, but he’s a horrible person, so I think we can all be OK with that. The righties had a harder time for the M’s, especially their newest ones. Nellie Cruz went posted an oh-fer and, most importantly, went down swinging in the eighth when Smith was on the ropes. That big contract already looks great, Seattle. (Yeah, I know, stones and glass houses. I get it.). Rickie Weeks also failed in the clutch, so we can really all should thank Seth Smith for coming up lame and not being available to play in this game.

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1WIUKtylmG6rmf9_O8ct6yfQgOGnb-lIrmFVnS7NOT0U/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] Matt Shoemaker calmed some fears in this start as he picked up five strikeouts after a spring in which he failed to miss many bats. Alas, he did struggle with the longball still, getting taken deep twice. For Seattle, the mastery that Hisashi Iwakuma once had over the Halos is long gone. He had a pretty poor outing though he did somehow manage to salvage it enough to work six full innings.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1WIUKtylmG6rmf9_O8ct6yfQgOGnb-lIrmFVnS7NOT0U/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] WPA is a lie! Joe Smith and Huston Street had the exact same WPA, but Smith was shaky as hell. He really only had one well hit ball that went for a double, but he clearly was not on top of his game in this one. The more important development here is that Mike Morin got the call to work the seventh, confirming that he is that new Jepsen (and I mean that in a non-derogatory way).

The Mariners bullpen allowed some runners, but was generally pretty good and did well to keep Seattle within striking distance.

Defensive Dynamics
This time the defensive gaffes were on the side of the Angels as Robbie Cano booted a potential double play ball so badly that two runs were able to score. Cano is actually one of the better Mariner defenders, but his blunder is a helpful reminder that Seattle isn’t that strong of a defensive club either. To the best of my recollection, the Angels were fine on defense in this one, but I also watched most of this game on Gameday because of th stupid local blackout rules on MLB.tv.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1WIUKtylmG6rmf9_O8ct6yfQgOGnb-lIrmFVnS7NOT0U/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /] After the Cano error, the Angels pretty much had this thing wrapped up… or at least they almost did. The win expectancy flipped almost completely over to Seattle’s side during Joe Smith’s eighth inning adventure.

Halo Hero

This one could’ve gone in a few directions, but Pujols gets the nod seeing how it isn’t every day that you tie a great like Ted Williams on the all-time home run list.