#5 - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

We've made it to the top 5. For those of you who've stuck with us this far and read every preview, we appreciate you. For those of you reading your first preview, we appreciate you. You might say that we're full of appreciation. And if there's one team this year that deserves a bit of your appreciation, it's the Los Angeles Angels.

The Angels did exactly the opposite of the A's this season and spent a ton of money. How much money, you ask? They gave Albert Pujols $240 Million. They gave CJ Wilson 77.5 Millon. They still owe Vernon Wells about 60 Million. They gave Jered Weaver 85 Million. They owe Torii Hunter 18 Million, and Bobby Abreu 9 Million. Did you get all that? Their payroll of about 138 million this year ranks fourth in the majors. It is double what the A's pay their roster.

Needless to say, I now think Arte Moreno looks like this:

Because I like weekends: But I'm No Nostradamus

You could say I did get 3 of those predictions right and 2 half right last weekend. So I actually feel pretty good about my performance. The Rays are still 2 games back of the Red Sox. Cam Newton, though passing for an obscene amount of yards, threw three interceptions and did not earn a win. The Steelers didn't have as much trouble as I thought, but did win. Florida State was destroyed. The 'Canes beat OSU, but by a lot more than I thought they would.

So, needless to say, I'm still the smartest man alive. Well, not really, but I did ok.

A's v. Angels Recap

It was only a two game series, but it still counts as a SWEEP! Horray!

I don't think this requires a full recap....

Let's look at what the A's accomplished with last night's game.

•It was their first sweep of a series since they swept the Mariners to close the season last October.

•They are now in first place for the first time since June 3rd of 2010.

•It was their first time scoring in double figures all season.

• It was their largest offensive output since they beat the Angels 15-1 on July 10th of last year.

•They entered the game 12th in the AL with 146 runs, scored in 41 games. They added 1/10 of that number in one night.

The A's won on Monday what might become their signature win of the season. Up 3-0, down 4-3 with 2 out and two strikes on Barton in the 9th, he singles home Crisp to tie, and then Ellis wins it with a ground ball in the 10th. All this in the rain after an hour and a half rain delay. It was one of those wins that you needed to have, because if you didn't get it, especially at home, it was going to sting for a long while.

A's v. Angels Series Recap

Well, that sucked.

Hmmm. How to put this. The A's tried to do everything possible that they could in order to get swept down at the Big A, but they still managed to win one. I guess I should feel.... satisfied? I'm not sure. I strangely don't. The trip to Anaheim/Los Angeles/Orange County/Knott's Berry Farm was not a very productive one, and the Athletics return home with a 3-4 record on the road trip. I look at that and think, 3-4 on the road? Well, that's not terrible. Then I remember that two losses came against the Mariners, and one came against a pitcher called Chatwood. It was not the road trip they needed, but perhaps it was the one they deserved.

After doing so well those final two games in Seattle, the offense only managed 5 runs in Anaheim. It hurt, in more ways than one, but....

A's v. Mariners Series Recap

I thought about titling this post: "A's Do Just Enough to Remain Mediocre," Because that's the infuriating thing that they keep doing. They lose two, then just when I'm ready to sound the alarm, the offense erupts for nine runs, and then the next day Fuentes gets a key out, and the offense does enough to secure a series split. And now, I am left shaking my head, wondering what to make of a team that seems to be a playoff contender some nights, and seems to be a sick, slow-moving Brontosaurus other nights.

I still am a firm believer in this team. I think that the pitching is good enough to keep them in every single game. I think that this offense is capable of scoring runs. Not 6 a night, but enough to win ballgames. And that's where it's really at, isn't it?

The best thing about this series? Trevor Cahill. The A's entered his start on a three game skid and desperately needed a strong outing. After a rough first and second, Cahill settled down and was the ace the team needed.

It feels like Bob Geren and the A's have finally entered into something of a rhythm on the young season. With the exception of third base, the A's know who's going to play where and bat where. To me, it seems that the bench guys are happy in their roles, and that the team knows its direction, they just need to get things clicking to compete with the big boys. So, here's what happened over the weekend in Seattle.

MLB Preview: Los Angeles Angels

Well, we've made it to our final ten franchises in our MLB preview. It's been a bit of a ride so far, hasn't it? Well, don't expect it to let you down, as today we head down south to Anaheim, CA, home of the Los Angeles Angels. Talk about your identity crisis, these guys aren't even sure where the play home games.

And now, I ask you to feast your eyes on this!