Locked On Angels - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Angels

Yesterday, we discussed if Mike Trout should move up to the leadoff spot in the order due to the struggles of Ian Kinsler at the plate. Those concerns were not exactly quelled in the first game of a 2 game set in Colorado. Ian Kinsler had a tough 0-4 day, dropping his batting average to a season low .187 on the season. Up until Tuesday's game, it hadn't appeared to hamper the Angels' offensive output, largely due to the hot streak of Trout and Andrelton Simmons, and the turnaround of Justin Uption. But many veterans in the Halo lineup have failed to contribute consistently at the level they are capable of, such as Ian Kinsler, Kole Calhoun, Luis Valbuena, and others. Also this Wednesday, a journey through the entire American League on Wild West Wednesday, taking a look at where the Angels stand with the rest of the circuit. Enjoy! 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

Ian Kinsler is off to a tought start in 2018, with his batting average falling below the Mendoza Line. With Mike Trout lighting the baseball world on fire, should Mike Scioscia consider batting MLB's best player in the leadoff spot? Despite Kinsler's struggles, the team has not skipped a beat as a team offensively, averaging 7 runs per game in Seattle after bludgeoning the Orioles' staff for 3 games before that. However, perhaps now is the time to experiment and give a few struggling Halos the opportunity to find their strokes. Kole Calhoun and Ian Kinsler have gone on notable cold streaks, with Zack Cozart showing some signs of life after a few tough weeks. A lineup with Mike Trout starting things off could spell early doom for opposing pitchers, or perhaps mess with the mojo of the rest of the lineup. Tuesday also means the Down on the Farm Report, featuring three guys who have been dominating the upper levels of the Angels' system. Jesus Castillo and Griffin Canning are scorching on the mound in Mobile, while David Fletcher leads the Pacific Coast League in hits. Also, congratulations to Jabari Blash for earning his Halo debut on Sunday! 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

Albert Pujols checked another milestone off the list, roping a single to right field on Friday for hit #3,000. That ended up being a major highlight in a weekend full of them for the Angels in Seattle. Not only did the team win the series against their division rivals in the Pacific Northwest, Mike Trout went 9-for-14, including a mammoth home run on Sunday. The trio of Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs, and Shohei Ohtani all pitched very well, with Ohtani's performance standing out, blending his devastating array of pitches. If those three can perform like a true 1-2-3 punch atop the Halo rotation, the ceiling for this squad is untapped. Not everything came up roses for the Halos this weekend, however. The bullpen struggled mightily at times, especially in Saturday's loss. Ian Kinsler continued to slump, collecting just one hit on the weekend and seeing his batting average drop below .200. Simply put, not acceptable for a leadoff hitter. All of that, and a review on fried grasshoppers, a delicacy at Safeco Field. Enjoy! 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' offense bounced back in a big way this week, collecting a relatively easy sweep over the Orioles, with Albert Pujols inching ever closer to 3,000 hits in his career. Now, the Halos get set to head north to Seattle to take on a division rival, with Pujols on the precipice of history. How will the crowd react to the moment? Will he get it done in his first at-bat? How special will it all feel when it goes down? We cannot wait for this weekend to watch history at Safeco Field. Conversely, the Angel offense seems to be back on track, as Justin Upton continues his hot week with another multi-hit effort, and even Kole Calhoun got in on the action. Plus, in this episode, we answer your mailbag questions live on the show. 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

Mike Trout cranked a first inning home run to left field that was originally estimated at 524 feet. A shot hit so hard at 116 mph that Statcast failed to accurately track the baseball and how far it traveled. The dude is superhuman. Albert Pujols collected 2 hits, including a home run, as he inches closer to 3,000 for his career. Just two hits shy of the mark, Pujols can reach that milestone in the final game of the homestand at Angel Stadium on Thursday. Justin Upton and Martin Maldonado also joined the fun, with the entire Angel offense collecting 9 base hits, 7 of which went for extra bases. After the walkoff victory on Tuesday, perhaps that excitement did spark the Halo offense back to its early April form. With a big series in Seattle on the horizon, it would be a welcome sight. Thursday also means what's grinding the gears this weak, chatting about Trevor Bauer's tiff with pitchers and using banned substances, and the dude that wears football jerseys to a baseball game. Just why, man? 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 had been hitless in their last 21 at-bats as a team with runners in scoring position. Justin Upton finally put an end to that slide by driving a 2-strike pitch down the left field line in the 9th, sending Halo fans home happy. After April 14th, Justin Upton had been hitting .297. Then mother nature intervened. The cold temperatures postponed the series finale in Kansas City, and many Angel hitters have been unable to heat back up. Upton himself has seen his average drop to .228. Perhaps a walk-off victory is exactly what this club needs to break from their collective slump and start winning ballgames. Of course, facing the Baltimore Orioles certainly helps... Wednesday also means it's Wild West Wednesday, as we take a look at how the AL West is shaping up. Despite lackluster performances from their starting rotation, the Seattle Mariners have put together a nice stretch of games to climb ahead of the Angels in the standings. But will it last? 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

Sometimes, you just need a day off to relax and recharge the batteries. Angel fans can only hope that the off day, coupled with the struggling Orioles coming into Anaheim, can give new life to the offense and get their squad back on track. Outside of Mike Trout and Andrelton Simmons, the Halo offense's struggles have been very well documented. Those struggles can only be hidden so far even as Albert Pujols nears hit #3,000. The good news is, that the Orioles have not exactly been world beaters, particularly in the pitching department. Alex Cobb's woes could allow the Halo offense to get a jump start on the series today, and maybe that momentum builds into the weekend. Tuesday also means the Down on the Farm Report, with a deep look at Jesus Castillo and the scorching hot Salt Lake Bees. 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 a 13-3 start to the season, the Angels have lost their mojo the past two weeks, going 3-9 in their last 12, including this past weekend's 3-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees.  While many have criticized the much-maligned pitching rotation and their subsequent failures to pitch deep into games, leading to a taxed bullpen, the offense has continued to crater, posting only 5 runs against the Yankees. Multiple key cogs in the order have gone under cold spells, headlined by Justin Upton, Kole Calhoun, and Zack Cozart. As a team, the Angels swing a ton while also making contact more so than most teams in the American League. However, the problem lies in over-aggressiveness and the failure to make solid contact. We examine that in today's episode. Monday also means the Studs and Duds of the weekend. Duds were easy to find, while Andrelton SImmons and Justin Anderson stood out among the rest to earn studly honors. Tune in to find out more! 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

You've got questions, we've got answers. Friday Mailbag is here and there are questions from all circles about the Angels. What were the Angels hoping to accomplish after the offseason? Can they survive with this starting rotation? WHo is the unsung hero thus far? Where does the Angels' defense rank in the American League? All of those questions and more are answered on the show! Also, the Yankees come to Angel Stadium this weekend, and we've got your series preview to get you ready. 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 couldn't quite pull off the sweep in Houston, but given the state of the Halos just a few days ago, a series victory is more than enough. Angels radio host Trent Rush joins the podcast to discuss the Astros series and more. Pitching rotation concerns continue. The bullpen has logged a ton of innings. The offense has gone on massive cold spells. And yet, here are the Angels, sitting near the top of the American League and coming off a series victory on the road against the defending World Champions. Mike Trout continues to amaze, while Shohei Ohtani dazzles all of us. All of those thoughts and more with Trent Rush. Plus, Thursday means the Gear Grinder on the show, which takes a different turn this week from weeks past. Tune in and find out! 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 the pitcher's duel the night before, the offenses took center stage at Minute Maid Park for Game 2. When the team could have folded, the Angels answered the call and grinded out an 8-7 victory to clinch the series victory. Depth cannot be overlooked when building a Major League roster, and while we may have our gripes about the starting rotation pieces, the makeup of the bullpen, and backup bench spots, the Angels have thus far proven they can win baseball games in any style. Some nights it'll be Tyler Skaggs pitching brilliantly. Others will feature Mike Trout willing the team to victory. Even others will see the home plate umpire squeezing the pitching staff, forcing the offense to crank out clutch 2-out hits, one after the other. That was last night. The heroics of Albert Pujols, Andrelton Simmons, and Cam Bedrosian had big ramifications on Tuesday's outcome, and it all contributes to the magic of the Halos' season thus far. Let's all sit back and enjoy the ride. Wednesday also means it's Wild West Wednesday, our weekly look across the AL West and how the entire division is taking shape. 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

Coming off of a 1-5 week at home in Anaheim, the outlook seemed bleak for the Angels heading to Houston to take on the defending champions, winners of six straight coming in. Boy, did things change rather quickly... Tyler Skaggs performed brilliantly, effectively changing speeds, locating his fastball and changeup down in the zone, inducing 10 groundball outs and dazzling the crowd with his hammer of a curveball. Offensively, the Angels scratched enough at-bats together to push across two runs, mainly due to the quarter that we chastised yesterday. Justin Upton, Luis Valbuena, Zack Cozart, and Kole Calhoun all had their fingerprints over this win, and it could not have come at a better time.  A heartwarming story also came out of the victory, as Justin Anderson made his Major League debut in the 8th inning, coming on in relief of Skaggs and pitching masterfully, striking out Carlos Correa with the tying run on base to get out of the jam.  Winning cures everything, and it's incredibly difficult to not be amped about Game 1 in Houston. Shohei Ohtani toes the rubber Tuesday night, and could conceivably give the Angels an incredible series victory. 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

For much of his career, it's been Mike Trout and a bunch of replacement-level players. This past week for the Angels, it was much of the same. Much of the starting rotation failed to pitch deep into games, such as Tyler Skaggs, Shohei Ohtani, and Andrew Heaney. As a result, the bullpen was forced to log heavy innings all week. Toss in a struggling offensive performance, and you have a disaster week for the Halos, losing 5 of 6 games. A week in which Luis Valbuena, Justin Upton, Zack Cozart, and Kole Calhoun combined to go 3-70 at the plate. Yikes... Studs and Duds of the weekend also makes its Monday return before we preview a big series against the Houston Astros. All of the pitching matchups favor the defending champions very heavily, so it could be another tough week for the Angels. We'll just have to watch it unfold. 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 Red Sox finished off the sweep at Angel Stadium last night, once again grinding out at-bats at the plate and putting the ball out of the yard. The Angels' offense had no answer, and now it's time to put this series behind us. The pitching staff couldn't keep the baseball inside the ballpark. The offense struggled to make solid contact. Even the defense lapsed at times. An uncharacteristic series for what had been a very consistent ballclub to start the season. However, this is just one series in April. With the San Francisco Giants coming to the Big A, it's time to move forward. Friday also means your mailbag questions are answered on the show and we've got another awesome batch this week. 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

Another day, another blowout loss to the Red Sox. Another starting pitcher exiting earlier than anticipated or preferred. Another long day for the Angels' bullpen. Tyler Skaggs was decent enough in his start against Boston. He just was not fine enough with his offspeed pitches down in the zone, leading the talented Sox lineup to grind out at-bats and string together multiple rallies. The most significant of which was the smack by Rafael Devers with the bases loaded, effectively putting the game out of reach in just the 3rd inning. Once more, the Halo bullpen was called upon to log heavy innings, a concerning theme as the season moves forward. Thursday also means a fan-favorite segment, the Gear Grinder. Today's topic: why don't more hitters attempt to bunt in order to break down an opposing shift? That's what really grinds my gears... 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