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.

Will Smith Gets Jiggy With the Halos (47/81)

Sorry for the late post. I missed the game the other night as it was date night, and things have been really hectic on the job front right now. I'll usually try to get the posts out the day of or the day after at the latest, but you know how it is. Without further ado, let's get jiggy with it.

Kansas City Royals rookie and former Angels farmhand, Will Smith, faced former teammate Garret Richards and shut down the Angels with two-hit ball over 7 innings, the longest start of his career, to beat the Angels 4-1.

Smith, drafted in 2007 by the Angels, was sent over to Kansas City along with pitcher Sean O'Sullivan in a trade that brought over third baseman Alberto Callaspo in 2010. Smith only has 5 major league starts and is sporting a 2-3 win/loss record, a 6.26 ERA and 18 strikeouts after Tuesday's game. His start versus the Angels was easily the best major league start of his short career so far.

It's too early to say who this trade will benefit more in the long run, but Callaspo has really been turning his season around recently and has been productive in the month of July with 17 hits, 2 home runs and a .329 OBP.

Kendrys Morales to the Rescue! (46/81)

With 2 outs, the bases loaded, and the score tied at 3-a-piece, Kendrys Morales stepped up to the plate, pinch-hitting for catcher Bobby Wilson. The once powerful first baseman/designated hitter had been struggling and been the subject of many trade rumors recently, hit a line drive over right fielder Jeff Francoeur and drove in 3 runs, including the speedy Peter Bourjos from first base. The clutch hit ended up being the factor as the Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3.

Before the season started, the Angels weren't sure Morales ankle was going to be fully healed to start the season on the roster. As he progressed according to schedule, the Angels kept playing him more and more in Spring Training as the Cuban defector continued to rack up hits. When the season finally started, Morales was in the starting lineup, completing his comeback from a horrific freak ankle injury that cost him a season and a half away from the game.

Leading up to this point, Angels fans held a fear in the back of their head, something that they didn't want to believe but knew it was entirely possible: after missing so much time away from the game, would Morales be able to pick up where he left off, or would he be a shell of his former self? As the season has progressed, we've noticed a lack of power and production in our cleanup hitter. These warning signs have been partially hidden by the emergence of Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo as much as they were forgotten about with Albert Pujols early season struggles.

Jerry Dipoto has not forgotten. As the trade deadline nears, he has made Morales expendable, a key part of any trade that would bring a quality starting pitcher to the Angels rotation. Will the Angels end up moving Morales? Maybe, but we as fans need to be prepared for that and not hold this sentimental value of a guy who has been a decent player, but hasn't shown the explosive offense he was capable of in 2009.

The Angels have never been a team to dwell on past successes especially if they notice a decline. Look at guys like Chone Figgins, John Lackey, and Francisco Rodriguez. They were stars with the Angels and fan favorites, but the Angels had to go against the wishes of their fan base in order to improve their team because they knew these guys were not the answers. I know its hard to trust the front office after deals like Vernon Wells, Gary Matthews Jr., and Scott Kazmir, but we've got to know that these guys know what they're doing.

Haren and the Angels Receive First Loss (2/81)

Today I was lucky enough to attend my first Angel game of the year, and my first day game since before the infamous periwinkle days. Even though the Angels suffered their first loss of the season and lost all hope of becoming the first team to ever go undefeated, it was probably one of the most beautiful days of the year.



Layla and I got to the game around 12:45 and snuck in Albertos California Burritos. Not counting the traditional stadium nachos or Angel Dogs, bringing in outside grub like a Cali Burrito is hands down better (and cheaper) than any of the other food you're going to get at the stadium. We got there early enough to take our seats and grab a few brewskies.

Today's promotion ended up being Angel's fleece blankets. I feel like the Angel's PR team really dropped the ball with the calendar placement of these blankets, but they ended up being pretty useful for covering our blazing hot seats during today's 80+ degree day game. After snapping a few pictures and watching my one of my favorite Angel's video packages of all time, we were ready to start the game.

Haren's Rocky First Start

We knew the Angels were going to get in a big hole early with the way Dan Haren opened up the game. He was leaving the ball over the middle of the plate, and the Kansas City Royals were just punishing him with easy singles. It was baffling to watch these hitters put together strings of hits on a guy who had looked so dominant during Spring Training. Not one to let things get to him, Haren still managed to buckle down, put some life on his fastball and strike out 5 batters, but it wasn't enough as he couldn't miss bats and ended after 5 and a third innings.

Kendrys Morales Doesn't Miss A Beat

The real story today is not the Angels' loss, but the fact that they're best hitter from over two seasons ago has finally gotten himself healthy enough to play, and is picking up right where he left off. Many critics, myself included, thought the two year layoff would have a big impact on Morales' numbers. Would he be able to still hit the ball with power? How would his approach change after missing two seasons? Was 2009 a fluke offensively for the guy?

It's too early in the season to answer these questions, but the big fella is off to a great start to the 2012 season. After watching him stroke the ball to both sides of the field today, you can tell that he still has his eye on the ball, and he's not pulling off pitches like the rest of his teammates.

Angels Early Hitting Woes

Last year, the Angels lead the league in being shut out 50 times before the 5th inning. This year they already have two in their first two games.

This has been the theme of the last two years. This revamped offense was supposed to change that, but after two games, the Angels look exactly the same as previous years (if not slower). Today, Manager Mike Soscia baffled us by taking out his best offensive hitter from last season, and giving his fastest player a day off. I can understand why Mark Trumbo was absent from the lineup after his mistakes at 3rd base last night, but Peter Bourjos is the catalyst of your offense. He's the one who gets things started, scores runs, steals bases and generally gets in the heads of pitchers because they have to worry about someone who isn't the batter.

Soscia, instead, sent Vernon Wells to center and Albert Callaspo to 3rd base and the pair went a combined 0-9 for the day. Late in the game, Callaspo came up with runners in scoring position with one out, but was left in despite Mark Trumbo leading the team in both RBI's and home runs last year. Needless to say, Callaspo did not have a positive impact offensively in this game.

And what the heck was up with Bobby Abreau? Yeah he got a nice double down the line that scored some runs and provided the only excitement of the day, but the dude has morphed into Garret Anderson in left field (except even SLOWER). I couldn't tell if it was lack of motivation or a player knowing the limits of his body, but it sure didn't look like he was trying very hard to run down balls in the gap or shallow line drives.

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