Angels roundtable: Shohei Ohtani-led team can challenge Astros for AL West title

The Angels are in first place.

OK, the 2022 season is barely in its third week, however for a franchise that hasn’t made the postseason since 2014, it’s an encouraging begin. Recent off taking two of three video games in opposition to the Astros in Houston, the Angels (8-5) return to Angel Stadium on Friday for a homestand that features three video games in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles and 4 in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians.

With Instances baseball editor Hans Tesselaar serving as moderator, Instances employees author Mike DiGiovanna and assistant sports activities editor Steve Henson mentioned all issues Angels after the season’s first 13 video games.

Supervisor Joe Maddon wasn’t too involved when the Angels opened the season dropping three of 4 to the Astros. “My takeaway is that we’re very near Houston,” he mentioned of the workforce that has performed within the World Sequence three of the final 5 seasons. Since that collection, the Angels are 7-2. So, is Maddon appropriate?

DiGiovanna: Sure, and successful two of three in Houston this week with out Mike Trout, who was nursing a bruised left hand and is predicted again Friday night time, proved it. That doesn’t essentially imply the Angels will overtake the Astros and win the division, however their lineup, rotation and bullpen are deeper and extra balanced than they’ve been in years, they usually’re adequate to a minimum of to problem Houston for the title.

Henson: Hate to puncture the optimism of spring with chilly numbers, however the Angels completed 18 video games behind the Astros in 2021, three video games behind them within the abbreviated 2020 season, 35 video games behind them in 2019, 23 video games behind them in 2018 and 21 video games behind them in 2017. That’s lots of floor to make up and successful two of three in April doesn’t do greater than carry them a step or two nearer to the dominant workforce within the AL West.

There’s loads to love concerning the offense. The Angels entered Thursday main the main leagues in runs (65) and tied for the lead in dwelling runs (16) and stolen bases (11). What do you want concerning the offense?

DiGiovanna: That they’re not one-dimensional. They’re not relying totally on the lengthy ball. They scored 13 runs in wins over the Astros on Tuesday and Wednesday with out hitting a homer. They’re manufacturing runs with pace, situational hitting and aggressive baserunning. They’re “passing the baton,” as managers prefer to say, taking a stroll or advancing a runner with an out and trusting the batter behind them to come back by means of. And so they’ve been productive with comparatively modest contributions from Trout (.267, two homers, three RBIs) and Anthony Rendon (.200, one homer, 4 RBIs).

Henson: The Angels do have a multifaceted offense and a deep lineup. Get everyone wholesome — for as soon as — and it’d be enjoyable to look at this workforce punish opposing pitchers. As Mike factors out, Trout and Rendon aren’t sizzling but. Additionally, spark plug David Fletcher has been injured, Shohei Ohtani has only a .288 OBP from the leadoff spot, and children Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell ought to solely get higher. Determine in budding famous person Jared Walsh and surprisingly prolific Max Stassi and, sure, the Angels simply would possibly slug — and run — their approach to nipping on the Astros’ heels.

What concerning the beginning pitching, particularly what they’ve gotten so removed from Noah Syndergaard?

DiGiovanna: Syndergaard has been excellent, going 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his first two begins regardless of not approaching triple digits along with his fastball. His velocity ought to enhance as he regains energy and stamina in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure, so there is no such thing as a purpose to assume he gained’t workforce with Ohtani to offer the Angels two dominant front-of-the-rotation starters. Michael Lorenzen’s outcomes have been blended, however his stuff seems good and he seems sturdy sufficient to transition from the bullpen to the rotation. Left-hander Patrick Sandoval’s eight scoreless innings have been laborious, nevertheless it’s clear his fastball-changeup mixture will play. The opposite two younger lefties — Reid Detmers (8.59 ERA) and Jose Suarez (5.19 ERA) — have struggled.

Henson: The highest of the rotation of Ohtani and Syndergaard seems locked in. The unanswered questions come deeper. Lorenzen has but to show he can stand up to a starter’s workload; he made solely 28 begins in 297 appearances coming into the season and 21 of these got here as a rookie in 2015. Sandoval and Suarez present flashes of effectiveness then wrestle. Detmers, a first-round draft choose, has upside and he’d higher attain it rapidly if we’re speaking about contending in 2022.

The Angels invested huge cash to improve the bullpen. Cash nicely spent so far?

DiGiovanna: Undoubtedly. The bullpen as a complete ranked twenty fourth in baseball with a 4.34 ERA coming into Thursday, however the three arms wherein the Angels invested most closely — nearer Raisel Iglesias, left-hander Aaron Loup and right-hander Ryan Tepera — have mixed to surrender three earned runs and 4 hits, hanging out 18 and strolling two in 18 1/3 innings for a 1.47 ERA. Iglesias has been dominant. Loup has not given up a success in 6 1/3 innings. Tepera rebounded properly after two of his first 4 pitches had been hit for homers within the season opener. Mike Mayers seems higher after a shaky begin. Austin Warren has been stable. If Archie Bradley (6.75 ERA) regains his type, the Angels have the makings of a deep and efficient bullpen.

Henson: Ditto undoubtedly. The bullpen was the main focus of offseason acquisitions, and so long as everybody stays wholesome it ought to be a energy all through the season. Setup relievers who may enter a sport early when the scenario requires it have by no means been extra worthwhile. Bradley, Tepera and Warren fill the invoice. And let’s not neglect rookie Oliver Ortega, who has regarded good to this point.

Jo Adell is congratulated within the dugout after his dwelling run in opposition to the Texas Rangers on April 15.

(Michael Ainsworth/Related Press)

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What ought to they be involved about after 13 video games?

DiGiovanna: Angels hitters entered Thursday with 129 strikeouts, tied with Cincinnati for many within the main leagues, they usually had been caught stealing eight instances, greater than twice as a lot as some other membership. Adell has proven prodigious energy potential, however he has 20 strikeouts and one stroll in 43 at-bats and his protection [as a corner outfielder] has been shaky at instances.

Henson: Lack of beginning rotation depth has dogged the Angels for years and that hasn’t modified. Starters are costly and dangerous to signal. Creating them by means of the farm system is by far the popular route and the Angels have made progress there. But when the lineup hits to its potential and the Angels are in a pennant race because the commerce deadline approaches, we all know the place the main focus might be to enhance.

OK, we’ve gone this far with no Shohei Ohtani query. On Wednesday, he was good for five 1/3 innings in opposition to the Astros. He gave up just one hit and struck out 12 in six innings. How quickly earlier than his throws a no-hitter or perhaps a good sport?

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DiGiovanna: In all probability very quickly, contemplating how dominant his swing-and-miss stuff may be and the way weak some opposing lineups are. The one impediment may be Ohtani’s pitch counts, that are normally pushed up by his excessive strikeout totals. I commend Maddon for saying he wouldn’t have pulled Ohtani from an ideal sport, however will he really feel the identical approach if Ohtani has a no-hitter by means of seven or eight innings and is approaching the 120-pitch vary? I believe not.

Henson: Yeah, it was attention-grabbing to see Maddon take the anti-Dodgers stance on permitting a pitcher to chase perfection. Ohtani is actually able to throwing a no-hitter and wouldn’t shock anybody if he achieves it. Mike is appropriate in noting that his excessive proportion of swings and misses drive up his pitch rely. A mixed no-hitter with Loup and Iglesias wouldn’t be so dangerous anyway.

Apart from dominating on the mound Wednesday, Ohtani additionally had two hits and two RBIs. He’s batting solely .236, however that determine is at .300 in his final seven video games. Are we seeing indicators he might have one other historic season as a pitcher and a hitter?

DiGiovanna: For positive. Ohtani is a supremely gifted pitcher and hitter, and with good well being he’ll proceed to play at MVP ranges. He’s already seeing extra pitches to hit with Trout and Rendon, who sat out most of 2021, batting behind him, and I believe he’ll be much more productive if the Angels can discover a competent leadoff man and drop Ohtani to the second spot.

Henson: Solely an excessive glass-half-empty-guy would venture something apart from unprecedented achievements from Ohtani. Getting Fletcher off the injured checklist and into the leadoff spot would bump Ohtani down the place he belongs within the batting order. I believe a house run title is an actual chance this season. And I’ll stick my neck out and say he’ll lead the AL in triples once more.

Angels supervisor Joe Maddon walks off the sector after arguing a name in a sport in opposition to the Texas Rangers on April 15.

(Michael Ainsworth / Related Press)

In a sport in Texas final week, Maddon opted to have the Rangers’ Corey Seager deliberately walked with the bases loaded. What did you consider the technique?

DiGiovanna: I used to be not an enormous fan of this transfer as a result of it was so early within the sport and it denied Warren, a younger right-hander who has already proven some mettle in high-leverage conditions, an opportunity to problem one of many sport’s finest left-handed hitters.

Henson: Fast historical past on strolling batters deliberately with the bases loaded. This was the third occasion since 1940 and each got here with two out within the ninth inning. The primary: Supervisor Buck Showalter of the Yankees walked Barry Bonds — completely comprehensible — and the following batter struck out to finish the sport. The second: Joe Maddon — attention-grabbing! — walked Josh Hamilton and the following batter struck out to finish the sport. I’m with Mike on this. It occurred too early and, anyway, why not simply pitch Seager sliders down and in and fastballs up and away? He’d both strike out or stroll.

Angels followers should be comfortable proper now. Will they nonetheless be comfortable in October?

DiGiovanna: Happiness is such a relative time period. … I don’t know. However they need to be “happier,” as a result of their workforce may have both made the playoffs or made a severe run at a playoff spot, and that may be an enormous improve over the previous seven years.

Henson: And in the event that they don’t make the playoffs — once more — they’ll enhance their temper by bouncing across the nook to the Happiest Place on Earth.