What a difference a couple of weeks make. I had the guts to declare the Angels season starting slump as over on May 27 when no one in the "real" media would, and now here we are. After 60 games, we're 32-28 and in first place in the AL West (0.5 games up on the Rangers). After 60 games last season, we were 31-29 and 3.5 games back of the Rangers...and we won the division. Hm. All this hub bub was about nothing bub. Beating the A's 4-2 yesterday was just icing on the cake for our sixth straight win.
Prior to the game, the Angels starting drafting for the future. We had five picks in the first round, which is all about solid front office work as Brandon pointed out. I don't mean to jump ahead of myself, but we drafted the second coming on Babe Ruth with our first pick. The Gatoraid High School Player of the year, Kaleb Cowart is a freaking mega stud. He's headed to Florida State next fall, but he sure left his mark on the scouts before leaving. He hit .654 with 11 jacks and 59 RBI, adding 36 steals without being caught stealing once. Add to that a 10-1 record on the mound with a 1.05 ERA and 116 punchouts in 73 innings pitched. Good gravy! Get ready Orem!
Okay, okay, I guess I have to start giving respect to Scott Kazmir. He has now won 3 straight, and last night was pretty acceptable. Super Kaz pitched 6.3 innings of 1 run ball with 5 hits, 5 Ks, and just 2 walks. A quality start! Against the A's! Alright, Kaz, I'll give you some love. This was finally a start to get excited about. Jepsen, Rodney, and Tito finished the game out, with BFF getting his 8th save of the year. Fernando is still filling the role I prescribed for him previously as the new old Shields, and the pitching continues to thrive despite being vastly overlooked thanks to the amazing coming around offense. Let's give the mound dogs some love.
But even I'll admit that the bats are the story. 8-1 since Kendry's freak injury, this squad is coming together at the right time. Just yesterday, El Comedulce blasted a 2 run bomb in the first, Aybar tripled home a run and then scored from third on a HK infield single. Bobby Wilson was the only Angels to have a multi hit game (2 for 3), but the boys spread it around to put 6 hits on Sheets. Because of that, we only stranded 4 on base. I know this is greedy, but can I request a little more offense tonight?
Big Baby Jered Weaver (5-2, 2.74) doesn't really need it, but he'd like it. Our ultra ace goes toe to toe with Vin Mazzaro (1-0, 6.08). Mazzaro is a recent AAA call up and allowed 3 runs and 9 hits in 3.3 innings in his only MLB work so far. That's not making me kick rocks (worried) one little bit. Weav has allowed just 1 earned run in his last 16 innings. Should we all call Vegas and put money on this Halo victory?
I'm going to heaven, if we get consecutive win #7.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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