Locked On Angels - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Angels

With Garrett Richards slowly moving his way back into the rotation, Andrew Heaney and Tyler Skaggs have had to shoulder the load and help the Angels tread water. Imagine in spring training if I told you Felix Pena and John Lamb would both be members of the starting rotation. What would you guess the Angels' record would be? Below .500? Completely out of the playoff race? More than likely, it'd be both. Yet, despite a sort of Murphy's Law effect on this roster when it comes to injuries, the Angels remain the next closest team to a playoff spot in the American League, albeit with some work to do moving forward. Studs and Duds of the Weekend are also revealed, as well as a Shohei Ohtani update. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Angels provided an update on Shohei Ohtani's progress from his Grade 2 UCL sprain, stating they were "optimistic" about his recovery to this point. Mike Scioscia did still state that Ohtani would be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks, leaving his pitching future still up in the air as far as this season is concerned. Scioscia did at least mention that Ohtani swinging a bat does not effect his sprained elbow ligament, which bodes well for his placement in the lineup later this season, even if he does not pitch. The Halos could sorely use his presence in the middle of the order very soon. Tuesday also provides a Down on the Farm report, with updates on Jo Adell and Jose Suarez. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Andrelton SImmons returned from a trip to the disabled list, he entered a very unfamiliar lineup from when he left. Garrett Richards, Nick Tropeano, Zack Cozart, and Jim Johnson all were sent to the DL just before the weekend, leading to a couple of rough losses for the Halos in Oaklan, dropping 2 out of 3 to the Athletics. Now, the team finds themselves 8 games out of a playoff spot, despite having the 6th best record in the American League. As bleak as things look, the path to a full rebuild isn't rosy either, leaving Billy Eppler with only one logical route... Studs and Duds from the weekend are also revealed in today's episode, before previewing the quick two-game set against the Diamondbacks. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all held our collective breaths when Garrett Richards exited his last start in Seattle early. Pending the severity of his hamstring injury, the Angels may be looking for help in the rotation. The Friday Mailbag is here! Your questions answered on the show. Who replaces Garrett Richards in the rotation? How does this effect Richards' and the Angels' offseason plan with the right-hander becoming a free agent? Do Billy Eppler's trade deadline plans change? All that and more so tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, it was Garrett Richards leaving after just two innings pitched. Next, Zack Cozart leaves with a shoulder injury. After a Mitch Haniger walkoff home run, the Angels were left in shambles in Seattle. A sweep at the hands of the Mariners puts the Halos a full 7 games out of a playoff spot in the American League, despite a respectable 37-32 record. While the team was playing fairly decent heading into this western showdown, the sweep leaves the team and fanbase feeling awfully pessimistic about their chances moving forward, especially with the ailments to Richards and Cozart. In order to stay in the hunt, the Angels will be looking for a lot of unsung heroes. Thursday's episode also features the Gear Grinder, focusing on infield shifts and ways to combat them. How about being a complete hitter and using all fields? Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Trout hit two mammoth blasts to take the MLB lead in home runs at 23, and yet that still was not enough to propel the Angels to victory in Seattle. With another loss and potential sweep looming, the Halos could find themselves 8 games back in the loss column after the series. Yes, we are in mid-June. Yes, there are still 90+ games to go. But the mediocre play over the last two months has limited the Angels offensively, allowing the Astros and Mariners to further separate themselves. Problem is, this was supposed to be a veteran-driven team, with guys like Ian Kinsler, Zack Cozart, and Kole Calhoun adding even more juice to the lineup.  Wild West Wednesday examines the state of the AL West. Even though the Angels entered Seattle winners of 7 of 9, they have lost ground in the division over the past two weeks, as no one can slow down the Astros and Mariners. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Going into their series in Seattle, the Angels were an impressive 7-2 in their past 9 games. However, they hadn't made any ground up against the Mariners and Astros, who continue to lead the AL West. That fact made Monday's series opening loss very tough to stomach, as the Angels wasted a 2 home run effort from Mike Trout, succumbing to the wizardry of Wade LeBlanc and his 85 mph cutter. As injuries continue to mount and the team hovers on the fringes of playoff contention, now is the time for Billy Eppler to make a move and invigorate some life into this franchise. With the Royals in full rebuild, a package centered around a premium prospect like Jahmai Jones or Brandon Marsh could be the key to landing Mike Moustakas and Kelvin Herrera. Part 2 of our draft class analysis continues as well, this time with special guest Brent Maguire of The Athletic. Maguire sits down with the podcast to share his thoughts on the Halo draftees, including what he likes about first rounder Jordyn Adams. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Friday, news broke of the UCL injury to Shohei Ohtani and his possible need for Tommy John surgery. Over the weekend, the Angels' rotation proved they could withstand the loss of the right-hander this season. Ohtani slowly began to assert himself as the dominant force in the rotation, but the emergences of Tyler Skaggs, Andrew Heaney, and Jaime Barria should prove to withstand the loss of the prized right-hander. Garrett Richards must also continue to improve and work late in games, but the talent is certainly there to survive. The biggest question lies in the offense's ability to be consistent at the plate and provide support when needed. Taylor Ward of 247 Sports also joins the podcast to share his thoughts on the Halos' 2018 draft class. Studs and Duds of the Weekend also feature strong performances from Jose Fernandez and Albert Pujols. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all just assumed it was just a blister. We all figured he'd be back soon enough, even taking a few at-bats in the Halo lineup. We were all wrong. Shohei Ohtani felt stiffness in his elbow following his last start, and the Angels immediately sent him to get examined. A Grade 2 UCL sprain is what they found, and after undergoing a PRP injection and stem cell treatment procedure, Ohtani will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks. While Billy Eppler and the Angels are hopeful that their prized right-hander will not need Tommy John surgery, the news does not bode well for Ohtani to pitch again this season.  This special episode focuses on the fallout from the devastating news. How does the rotation stack up? Which players will need to step up in his absence? Is the offense capable of carrying the team to a playoff berth? Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Friday Mailbag episode features plenty of juicy questions, notably focusing on the trade deadline and where Billy Eppler can supplement this current roster. While there can be some fixes at positions across the diamond, the bullpen remains the biggest area to improve moving forward. In Baltimore, a trio of available arms seem to make an awesome fit in Anaheim. Other questions in this week's mailbag feature the short and long term solutions in right field, as well as whether Shohei Ohtani can sustain his level of play both pitching and hitting.  As the Angels head north to Minnesota, the episode highlights the upcoming series and why the Halo offense will need to step up in order to take home a series victory before a big series against the Mariners. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next to Mike Trout, it can be argued that Andrelton Simmons is the most important player on the Angels' roster. With his trip to the disabled list due to an ankle sprain, the Angels must find a way to win games without their gold glove shortstop. Not only is Simmons considered the best defensive player in the game, over the past two seasons, Andrelton Simmons has been a force at the plate, racking up a .330 average this season and OPS north of .800. The general consensus seems to be that the shortstop will be able to play as soon as his 10-day trip ends, though no clear timetable has been released. In his place, Zack Cozart will takeover the main shortstop duties, with some combination of Luis Valbuena, Jefry Marte, and Kaleb Cowart at third base. Perhaps David Fletcher may get a call from Salt Lake? Thursday's episode also features the Gear Grinder, focusing on Mike Scioscia's most recent usage of the bullpen and how his decisions ultimately paid off. Where's the love for the Halos' longtime manager? Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Angels' starting rotation has quickly become the strength of the organization, especially after the latest performance from Andrew Heaney. Since switching over to the 1st base side of the pitching rubber, Heaney's ability to jam left-handed hitters and get right-handers to swing over the top of breaking pitches has been remarkable, leading to a sensational run of performances in his last 8 starts. With the upsides of Garrett Richards, Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Skaggs, this starting rotation may be exactly what Billy Eppler envisioned all along. However, the Seattle Mariners continue their winning ways, and they become the focus of Wild West Wednesday. The episode concludes with a brief look at the Angels' Day 2 draft selections, littered with collegiate right-handed pitchers. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some things in life we take for granted, like air-bags. Or 4G internet wherever we go. As Halo fans, we do a pretty good job of appreciating Mike Trout, and he delivered yet again on Monday. Buoyed by a 3-hit effort from Trout, the Angels' offense led the way against Kansas City, with contributions from Justin Upton, Albert Pujols, and Jefry Marte as the team combined for 14 hits. The complete team effort helped save a lackluster performance from Nick Tropeano, and is the type of effort that we expected from the team after all of the big offseason moves. Now the Halos, winners of 3 of their last 4, seem to be gaining some semblance of momentum in their quest to chase down Seattle and Houston. Monday was also draft day in baseball, and the Down on the Farm Report focuses on the Angels' first two draft picks. Both high-upside, athletic selections who figure to need plenty of seasoning before reaching Angel Stadium. Tune in to the latest episode! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, Jamie Barria on Friday night. Then, Garrett Richards attacked hitters on Saturday. On Sunday, Tyler Skaggs polished off a superb weekend from the Angels' starting rotation. If not for a controversial play not falling the Angels' way on Saturday, the Halos could have emerged from the weekend with a sweep over the Texas Rangers. The trio listed above combined for 19 innings without giving up an earned run while racking up 21 strikeouts. While the offense slowly rounds back into form, this starting rotation has shown the ability to carry the team. If this team clicks in every facet, watch out American League. Studs and Duds of the weekend are also revealed in today's episode, followed by a preview of this week's series against the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After another loss in Detroit to close out a disappointing road trip, many Halo fans are understandably frustrated with the Angels' play lately. However, hope is on the horizon with the Rangers and Royals visiting Anaheim. The Angels are plagued by many issues after more than two months this season. Kole Calhoun has struggled mightily at the plate. Ian Kinsler, while showing signs of coming back, has been underwhelming at second base. Injuries and inconsistency have decimated both the starting rotation and the bullpen. And yet, a team with Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Andrelton Simmons leaves plenty of room for optimism with more than 100 games still to play. Your questions also get answered in this Friday Mailbag episode, so tune in and find out why the Angels are still very much in the playoff hunt this summer. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices