This must be a thrilling time to be an Angels fan with Albert Pujols on the rebound, Mark Trumbo hitting homers at a Josh Willingham clip, and two other players threatening to give the team a sweep of the major awards in Jered Weaver (Cy Young) and Mike Trout (MVP and Rookie of the Year).
But even with the additional wild card this year, and even with a starting rotation that includes Weaver, Zack Greinke, C.J. Wilson and Dan Haren, the Angels are no postseason lock.
Their bullpen is a disaster. On a recent 10-game road trip to Texas, Chicago and Oakland, Angels relievers posted a 10.54 ERA with four blown saves and five losses.
Scott Downs (strained shoulder) and Jordan Walden (sore neck) are on the disabled list, and the front office is scrambling for reinforcements. The Angels were among the teams practically begging the Twins to move Glen Perkins before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, but the Twins refused.
Last week's series in Oakland reminded the Angels that their superstar talent might not be enough. Weaver twirled a four-hit shutout Monday to improve to 15-1, Trout hit his 20th home run Tuesday on his 21st birthday, but former Twins reliever LaTroy Hawkins blew a lead Wednesday, and the Angels lost the series.
Stacked with starting pitching and a bullpen that leads the AL in ERA, Oakland actually looks better equipped for the pennant race.
Let's assume the Yankees and Rangers pull away for division titles. The Central is a two-team dogfight between the White Sox and Tigers, and both are jostling with four other teams -- the Orioles, A's, Rays and Angels -- for the two wild cards.
The Angels had their sights set on dethroning Texas when they committed $317 million to Pujols and Wilson as free agents. General Manager Jerry DiPoto made a key trade in May, plucking closer Ernesto Frieri from San Diego, and the Angels continued to show they were all in when they acquired Greinke from Milwaukee on July 27.
