I've discussed this about a year ago, that despite how the Los Angeles Angels spent time with not one but two of the biggest names in baseball they still couldn't even sniff postseason play. This was best encompassed in their infamous game on August 4, 2022 when they hit 7 Home Runs and still lost. I go into greater detail there, but long story short: they always found a way to lose despite any advantage they had. One defense to the Trout/Ohtani failure has always been "It's not their fault. The Angels just have no one around them to win with!" So let's take a look at that claim...
In 2022, all of baseball got a late start from the previous winters labor strike, but the Halos still had hope entering the season. Not only did they still have Trout and the 2-way threat Ohtani, but they were going into year 3 of Joe Maddon as Manager. Maddon had a Hall of Fame worthy resume already by guiding the Rays to their 1st pennant as Manager, not to mention being the guy to lead the Cubs to their 1st title in over a century, but revitalizing the Angels was proving to be a tougher assignment.
After the players strike, there were numerous rules changes agreed upon which included the DH being utilized universally and not just in the American League. That being said, the Angels still opted to let their Opening Day starter Shohei Ohtani bat as his own DH as the season began against the Astros...a game and series the Astros won. But instead of a direct decent into the cellar, the Angels turned it all around right away and went on a winning tear that saw them in 1st place going into May where on May 10 Reid Detmers pitched a no-hitter against the Rays.
Then the wheels fell off.
First they got swept by the Blue Jays. Then they rolled into the Bronx for a highly anticipated series against the Yankees where Ohtani would pitch. He and the Angels got rocked. In June the losing streak got so bad that Joe Maddon was fired (just as he shaved his hair into a mohawk in an attempt to help his troops break out of this slump) and replaced by Phil Nevin. The losing streak hit a team record 14 games and by then it had become just another losing season for the Angels with the usual injuries to their golden duo and no one else able to step up and take center stage. When all was said and done, they finished at 73-89, 33 games back of the AL West winning Astros and 13 games short of a Wild Card spot.
It was a strong rookie campaign for Reid Detmers as he hurled a no-hitter and later that year pitched an immaculate inning (9 pitches for the inning resulting in 3 Strikeouts). He had his highs and lows, including being sent back down to AAA, but he clearly had the highlights of this otherwise lost season.
The other Starters that weren't the big one. Besides Detmer's no-hitter, Sandoval had the only other Shutout on the team. Syndergaard was a big name pickup that was meant to compliment the other stars (something that happens on winning teams) but he went a dismal 5-8 before he was traded off to the future NL Champion Phillies.
Iglesias was another guy traded away at the deadline when the team gave up on the season, but he was still their best Saves man with 16.
The more utilized relievers on the staff. What immediately stands out is how none of these guys are that bad. Sure, no one blows you away, but this pitching staff along with Ohtani should be capable of at least competing.
Other pitchers featured this season. Some bad, but only called upon when the season was over. So I'm willing to point out that while the pitching staff wasn't exactly full of aces, they were still capable enough to tread water. Perhaps the hitters are where the failures lie...
Hard to believe that I've done over 200 posts here and just now am I getting to creating a Mike Trout. It was another typical Trout season in LA. That means an all star nod, a Silver Slugger award and some serious MVP considerations (8th place) as he led the team with 40 Home Runs. Unfortunately a typical Trout season also means a new set of injuries to sideline him, hampering the effect his amazing chart can have on the teams fortunes.
Trout's supporting cast of position players. Here, a big reason for the failures become clear. These guys have some lacking on-base numbers. The most Stolen Bases anyone could muster were Velazquez and his 17. Taylor Ward had the best Batting Average of the bunch with just .281, and all that includes Trout's efforts.
You already know that when the starters are bad, the bench will be horrendous. Either they have low on-base figures, terrible charts, or both...Or you could also get Livan Soto who made the absolute most of his limited late season playing time. So it's safe to say that the 2022 Angels failed more so because of their offense than pitching. But my original point long ago wasn't that it's on Trout and Ohtani that just the 2022 Angels never made the playoffs, it was that if you really want to consider them truly elite, then they must find a way to drag even a mediocre team into October at least once. Ohtani is a bit off the hook since he went to the other side of LA and coasted to a title in 2024 (his teammates may have carried his frozen bat through the World Series, but it's undeniable that he played a primary role in getting the Dodgers that pennant, so his legacy is secure) but for Trout, the void of postseason accomplishments on his resume will continue to be a mark against him in the conversation of who the greatest of his generation is.
Speaking of Ohtani, we close today with his duel threat cards. Both a welcome addition to any team, Ohtani, like Trout, will continue to be held back by his glass cannon body where injuries always find a way to slow him down. 2022 saw him lead the Angels in Wins (15) ERA (2.33) Strikeouts (219) as well as RBI (95) and Runs (90). He joined Trout at the all star game (as both a DH and pitcher) and finished 2nd in MVP and 4th in Cy Young voting. In 2024 he proved how much better he is when he sticks to one job, but 2022 was as close as we're gonna get to his duel threat potential.
