Los Angeles Angels: The Angels have a good shot at the postseason

2017 has been an interesting year for the Los Angeles Angels. Yet, they have a fairly good chance of playing in October.

The 2010’s have been rough for the Los Angeles Angels. Despite posting 85 or more wins in four seasons since the turn of the decade, the team has only been able to make the postseason once. That lone postseason appearance came in 2014 when they led the MLB in wins with their 98-64 record.

Even then the team did not have much success. Coming up against the wild card Kansas City Royals, the Angels were swept in three games; losing the first two in extra innings and losing game three 8-3 after allowing three runs in the first inning.

The last time the Angels won a playoff game was October 22, 2009. This game in a game five victory over the New York Yankees. They then proceeded to lose game six and lose the series four games to two.

Some of this has been bad luck on the Angels part, some of this has just been a lack of depth. The team has constantly battled injuries and has failed to show the depth that the Dodgers showcased last season. Last year the team did finish with 74 wins, the first time they won less than 75 games since 1999.

With the best baseball player on the planet, Mike Trout, you think the team would be better than they are. Hypothetically Trout should be able to put the team on his back, and he has, but not to the extent of a postseason birth. Trout is the heart and soul of this team, and that is why many fans panicked when he hit the DL with a thumb injury.

The Los Angeles Angels haven’t really missed a beat, however. Since Trout’s injury, the team has gone 10-9, whereas before they were 26-27. They are playing .500 baseball with or without him, and take that as it is, but it is promising.

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It is promising to see that this team is showcasing some depth that hadn’t been there before. The pitching staff is again taking hits with injuries. While their statistics aren’t the greatest, the Angels pitching staff is doing enough to give the Angels the chance – all they need to do is keep the game in reasonable reach and allow the offense to go to work.

In fact, despite 2017 not really being anything special, the Angels are still very much in wild card contention. Let’s face it, the AL is extremely weak this season.

The NL has four teams with 40 wins, the AL has one, and this thinness is evident as the Angels are only one game back of the second wild card spot with a 36-36 record.

It may be too soon to celebrate, but the team has a realistic chance of landing that wild card spot. Baltimore has played terrible as of late, and the Twins are finally seeming to hit planet earth. Texas has been as hit and miss as anyone, and the Rays seem to lack the “it” factor to make it throughout the season.

For once, the injuries are in the Los Angeles Angels favor. If the team can keep up with their best player and almost entire pitching staff out, imagine what they can do when they’re healthy.

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Overall, it is just June and you don’t want to get your hopes out of reach of realism. The Angels have the talent, they just need to piece it all together. If they can solve their own puzzle, we may see them squaring off in the wild card game come October.

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