Angels Score 10 Runs, Tacos for Everybody! (48/81)

Over the years, the Angels have had many different sponsors for when they score 10+ runs in a game and win. In the past they've had Hooters provide 10 free wings if the Angels score 10 runs, Claim Jumper was in it in the past, and now Chronic Taco gives fans who show their ticket within 7 days after the game a free taco. It may not seem like much, but Chronic Taco makes some delicious tacos, and they'll put anything you want on it. My recommendation: go baja-style fish tacos. Click here to find a location near you.

Anyway, back to the game: Angels pounded on the Kansas City Royals 11-6 on a warm Wednesday afternoon at the Big A.

Third base coach, Dino Ebel (above) might need to get a padded glove for his hand soon with all those Angels players giving him hard high fives as they round third base after their home runs.

The Angels are 7th in the majors with 115 home runs this season, a big step up from last year when they finished 14th and in 2010 when they finished 13th. The Angels have always had decent power, but you never thought of them that way.

The Angels have historically been a small ball-hitting team, but with the emergence of Mark Trumbo's explosive bat, Mike Trout's insane mix of speed and power, and the addition of Albert Pujols, they're starting to get noticed around the league for their power.

After 99 games this season, the Angels are 3rd in batting average (behind Texas and St. Louis), 9th in RBIs, 5th in hits, 7th in doubles, and are in the top half of major league baseball in every offensive category. Gone are the days when Angels struggle to score 3 runs. With the offense clicking like this, the Angels can actually stay in shoot-outs with teams like the Yankees and Rangers, a good advantage to have when moving to the post-season.

Pujols Homers, Angels Lose (20/81)

Albert Pujols now has a home run in every game since Mickey Hatcher was removed as the team's batting coach. Coincidence much?

Let's not send Jerry Dipoto "Thank You" cards yet. The Angels could not figure out Chris Sale and lost to the White Sox 6-1 in an afternoon game yesterday at the Big A. The only two bright spots in the game were Mark Trumbo going four for four (444?) and...

Pujols homering in back-to-back games. Even though it was the only run the Angels scored yesterday, it was a big deal. At this rate, if Pujols homers once in every game for the rest of the season, he has a chance to hit 126 home runs and save his season. I mean, that's what we're paying him for, right?

Don't Look Now, But the Angels Have a Two Game Winning Streak (19/81)

The Angels won their second game in a row by stomping on the visiting Chicago White Sox tonight, and beating them 7-2.

It was Peter Bourjos bobblehead night tonight, and White Sox second baseman, Gordon Beckham, couldn't wait to get his hands on one (above).

Here's the rundown from tonight's game:


Albert Pujols hit his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to center field, and hopes to be turning a page. However, his other three at-bats were nothing spectacular, but let's see where this goes.

Longtime Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher was fired last night, and the original 2002 World Series coaching staff now has only two remaining members: Mike Scioscia and first base coach Alfredo Griffin. The Angels are now 1-0 under new hitting coach, Jim Eppard, and fans couldn't hope for a better start than that.

To clarify, Hatcher was not the problem for the Angel's hitting woes this season or any of the previous seasons in which the Angels underachieved offensively. However, since he was  unable to solve the problem, he becomes expendable. General Manager, Jerry Dipoto talked about bringing some fresh air into the clubhouse, and I think that's just what the Angels needed. Eppard has been with the organization awhile and has worked with guys like Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout, and Howie Kendrick in the minors where they were tearing it up offensively. I think he'll bring a great feeling of familiarity to the guys and get them relaxed. It's like sharing the dugout with your old Little League coach now in the majors.

Also, unlike Hatcher, I think Eppard, 52, still has all his teeth.

Interesting note, Jerome Williams is undefeated at Angel Stadium. Since joining the team late last year, Williams has made seven starts at home and has won each one of them. Also, as an Angel, the guy only has one bad start. Quit the talk about Barry Zito being the best fifth starter in baseball, the underrated Williams is shutting opponents down.

Pujols Hits His 1st Home Run (16/81)

That was really the only noteworthy thing for the blog that has been a week late.

Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 as Jerome Williams picked up his third win of the season.

Since that magical home run last week, the shot that we thought would be the answers to all our prayers, the Angels have done nothing but get worse. To be continued in the following blog.

Trout Swims Upstream (15/81)

Not quite as catchy as "Salmon," but it'll do.

The 20-year-old speedster hit his first home run of the season (the first for an Angels leadoff hitter) and stretched, what would've been a single for a lesser man, into a double as the Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 at home last night.

When Mike Trout got called up after the release of Bobby Abreu, he was destroying minor league pitching with a .403 batting average. It's easy to say expectations for the rookie have been pretty high. While he hasn't been playing terribly, tonight was a great start to showcase what he's capable of for the year.

This isn't Trout's first time up in the majors, as he was called up last season and managed to hit 5 home runs in 123 at-bats (that's 5 more home runs in close to the same amount of at-bats as slugger Albert Pujols has had this year), but only managed a .220 batting average.

Mike Scioscia noticed tonight's, as well as last night's two hit performance.

"It's coming," said Scioscia. "He's getting more comfortable up here, playing every day. He gave us a big lift tonight."

CJK

C.J. Wilson got the start tonight and went 8 innings while striking out nine. He is now second on the team in strikeouts with 39 behind Jered Weaver's 45.  Of the two major off-season acquisitions by the Angels, Wilson is definitely carrying his own weight with a 2.61 ERA and 4 wins. Every single one of Wilson's starts has been a quality start for the Angels this year (min. 6 innings pitched giving up 3 earned runs or less).

An Angels 1st Baseman Homers!

But it wasn't Pujols. Mark Trumbo hit his fourth home run of the year after getting the start at first base with Pujols getting the day off. Trumbo has been hitting great this year and continues to give Scioscia reasons to play him every day.

Pujols' Day Off

After 27 games of struggling, Albert Pujols received his first breather. I've been saying it for awhile now, and Scioscia took the words right out of my mouth.

“I’m just going to give him a little breather,…” Scioscia said. “Sometimes when you’re trying to find something and you’re pounding your head against the wall,… if you take that half-step back and take that half-step to the right, there’s that huge door.”

Here's hoping Pujols cleared his head, maybe went to Disneyland or watched the Avengers, and comes back refreshed today.

Btw, the Angels are now 1-0 without Pujols.

CJ Throws Away His First Home Start (7/81)

The Angels hit, but couldn't score, and the Angels fell to the Oakland Athletics 4-2 last night. The Angels have lost every series this season, falling to the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and now the A's. What is happening to this team that was supposed to strike fear into opposing teams?



CJ Wilson had a rough inning in the fourth. The Angel's best pitcher through the first 12 games lost his control, walked the first two batters he faced, then threw away a dribbler to the mound that lead to two runs scoring.

Wilson must've been going on autopilot when he fielded that hit ball because he could have easily got the runner at third base, but instead elected to turn and throw towards first. The throw was short and Albert Pujols couldn't play the ball with the runner barreling down the line. The two batters Wilson had walked earlier, scored easily, and the lead held up to win the game.

Baseball is one of the most precise sports to ever exist. Sometimes all it takes is one throw to win or lose a game. Unfortunately, it didn't go the Angel's way last night, but there were some positives to take away.

It's Going, Going, Going...

...and ALMOST out of here! Pujols did his best to quiet the critics about his lack of home runs last night by smashing 3 doubles. He missed his first home run of the season by inches, and you could tell that he really wanted to get that one out of the way by the way he stopped at second base.

Trumbo was also making his bid to be in the lineup every day by hitting a ball so hard off the wall, he only got a single out of it. Trumbo also walked in the game, showing more plate discipline early in the season than he did all of last year. With his improvement at the plate and working with 1st base coach, Alfredo Griffin, at third base every day, Trumbo is working harder than anyone on the team to earn his spot.

Not So Good

Pujols only has 4 RBIs in the season, but a .300+ batting average. It's not his fault. Angel's leadoff hitters have been atrocious this year, and Howard Kendrick doesn't walk very much. Kendrick is still swinging to find a consistent groove.

I'll be going to the game tonight, and we've got great seats. Expect LOTS of pictures tomorrow.