Los Angeles Angels: Santiago, Pujols, Calzone!
By Ryan W Krol
Fans hold up the new Calzone sign for the Angels’ Kole Calhoun in the sixth inning Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.
Photo by KEVIN SULLIVAN / Orange County Register — 6/2/15
The Los Angeles Angels take on the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.
The Angels snapped a 5 game winning streak, and are in the midst of a 16-10 stretch over the last month. Here are some stories floating around the Big A.
Stepping Up His Game
Hector Santiago may be a hidden gem. There is just something about his mound presence, his delivery, and his work ethic that strikes me as having the makeup of a frontline starter. The only question is whether this is just a dominant stretch? One great season? Or is Santiago taking a step in his development as a starter.
Santiago is in the middle of a stretch of five straight quality starts, dating to May 7. During that span, in 33 1/3 innings, Hector has a 1.35 ERA and a .190 batting average against him. His last start — hurling 7 1/3 shutout innings on three hits with seven strikeouts against the Tigers — was his best of the season so far.
In 2014, Santiago struggled in the first half. Mainly with his control and pitch count efficiency. He had a real hard time getting through the sixth inning, often leaving games with runners on base. One thing that really helped with this was the overhaul of the bullpen.
The acquisitions of Jason Grilli, Joe Thatcher, and Huston Street deepened the bullpen to a point where relievers like Kevin Jepsen and Fernando Salas were taken out of high pressure situations, and would start innings fresh for starters who could not make it past the fifth or sixth innings. Santiago’s outings were a frequent occurrence with this. And it worked. Manager Mike Scioscia would just cut Hector off after five or six innings, and then let the bullpen do the rest.
This was huge for Santiago’s development, as it allowed him to focus rather than be stuck furthering his young career in defensive mode. Now it may be paying off.
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Plus, with three more years of team control, the Angels would have another relatively cheap young starter on their hands. This, of course, plays right into GM Jerry Dipoto’s strategy of building depth with young, controllable starting pitching.
Many pitchers labeled as future aces have flamed out. Others thought to be a number three or four, suddenly came roaring out the gates one day and became bulldogs. Santiago could be the latter. Or he could just be having one of those seasons. Either way, it’s fun to watch. And it would be great for Hector Santiago and the Angels to see him progress into a top starter for them.
The King Is Rising Again
With a fourth-inning solo shot on Tuesday night, Albert Pujols is at 534 career home runs, tying Jimmie Foxx for number 17 on the all-time home run list. It was Albert’s sixth homer in the last six days, including a two homer game on Monday night. And after Foxx it’s Mickey Mantle, who sits at 16th with 536 career home runs.
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This stretch quickened Albert’s home run pace this season to 43, and would be his highest total since 2009. That total would also have him at 563, which would tie Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson for 13th all-time.
Albert was once heralded as a possible candidate to break the all-time home run record, once held by Hank Aaron, and now by the controversial Barry Bonds. That may not be in the cards anymore; however if Pujols averages 20 homers over the final six years of his current contract, he could finish fourth on the all-time list, behind Bonds, Aaron, and Babe Ruth.
Sign Holding Fans Introduce the Calzone
The fans who brought Angels’ fans ‘Matsuiland’, ‘Toriitown’, and ‘Hamiltown’ unveiled their latest gimmick in the right field stands at the Big A during Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. On the same night as the Kole Calhoun visor giveaway, fans held up new letters that spelled: ‘C-A-L-Z-O-N-E’.
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Once told he was ‘too small and too slow’ to make it to the Majors, Calhoun has become a fan favorite for his all-out hustle style of play. This and his approach to the game has reminded many among the Angel faithful of a combination of two previous fan favorites in Angel red: Darin Erstad and David Eckstein.
Calhoun has added a much needed offensive boost from an Angels farm system that has been ‘perceived’ to be thin with high impact talent. However, the Halos defied the naysayers once again by producing what could become a perennial All-Star someday. He has displayed some ferocious power at times, and might actually reach the ‘Calzone’.
Facts and Figures
Santiago’s 1.94 ERA since April 15 is 4th in the Majors.
Angels starting pitchers are 2nd in the AL in innings pitched.
Here are some notes on the Angels over the last couple of weeks:
As recently as last Wednesday, the Angels’ sputtering offense was 29th in the Majors in OPS . But then the Halos bats launched 13 home runs during their recent 5 game winning streak, with five in one game.
Angels have won 16 of C.J. Wilson‘s last 20 starts at the Big A.
Three of the Angels’ diving catches last month were featured on ESPN’s Top 10 plays of May.
Johnny Giavotella leads the Angels with a .517 batting average and 9 go ahead RBI’s in high leverage situations.
Monday night was the first time in Angels history that they hit five home runs in the first two innings of a game.
Wheeling and Dealing
Recent transactions dating back to May 16:
June 2: Selected the contract of LHP Edgar Ibarra from Salt Lake Bees. Optioned Alfredo Marte to Salt Lake Bees. Designated CF Gary Brown for assignment.
June 1: Sent 1B Marc Krauss outright to the Salt Lake Bees.
May 30: Recalled Efren Navarro from the Salt Lake Bees. Optioned RHP Vinnie Pestano to the Salt Lake Bees.
May 29: Signed free agent RHP Cesar Melendez to a minor league contract. Signed free agent RHP Geovanny Acosta to a minor league contract. Miami Marlins claimed RHP Chad Smith off waivers from the Angels.
May 28: Placed LF Collin Cowgill on the 15-day disabled list (sprained right wrist), retroactive to May 26, 2015. Activated CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Selected the contract of LF Alfredo Marte from the Salt Lake Bees. Designated 1B Marc Krauss for assignment.
May 27: Acquired CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis from the New York Mets for cash. Designated RHP Chad Smith for assignment.
May 26: Optioned 1B C.J. Cron to the Salt Lake Bees. Recalled 2B Grant Green from the Salt Lake Bees.
May 24: Placed RHP Mike Morin on the 15-day disabled list (left oblique strain). Recalled Cam Bedrosian from the Salt Lake Bees.
May 15: Signed free agent CF Jared Mitchell to a minor league contract.