Game Preview 5/16/12: Up to the offense – White Sox @ Angels

 

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Chicago White Sox (17-20) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (16-21)

Pitching Probables: CHI – Gavin Floyd (3-3, 2.53 ERA)  LAA – Jerome Williams (3-1, 4.19 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT; TV – Fox Sports West; Radio – KLAA 830

Yesterday was an interesting day for the Angels, to say the least.   After the Angels put a solid, all-around, team effort into beating the Oakland A’s, the Angels’ hitting coach of 13 years was released and replaced.  Triple-A Salt Lake hitting coach, Jim Eppard, has now joined the coaching staff in Anaheim as the Halo’s brand new hitting coach. Since the Angels are about moving forward, I will too.

The baseball world has turned their eyes to the struggling Angels once again. This time, however, all eyes are on Eppard and how he will affect the Angels’ offense.  It wouldn’t be realistic to think that one man can simply come in and make the line up the most destructive line up in baseball, over night. But what I am hoping to see is a pair of fresh eyes analyzing and adjusting the hitter’s issues. Welcome aboard, Eppard. 

The Angels have another odd, two-game series ahead of them and they are two games they could use. As the Angels inch closer and closer to a .500 record, every single game counts. 

We saw hot bats from Mike Trout and Albert Pujols last night. Alberto Callaspo is even making contributions to the Angels’ offense. 

The bullpen is looking decent right now and pitchers are getting the job done. Run support helps from time to time. 

The White Sox are coming off of a tough loss to the Detroit Tigers after giving up a 6-0 lead in the late innings. The Halos are facing a team with a very similar record, but are also facing a touch pitcher in Gavin Floyd. Floyd’s last outing consisted of 7 2/3 scoreless innings and has put on incredible performances in his last few starts. 

The struggling Angels offense faces a tough match up with Floyd on the hill tonight, but as long as the defense prevents the Sox from scoring runs, it is (once again) up to the offense to win the Angels this ballgame. 

Can’t win without runs, after all.

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