How the Angels can repeat as American League West champions
At the All-Star break, the Angels are on fire.
The Halos closed the first half of the 2015 season on a 7-3 tear (in their last 10 games) to take hold of first place in the American League West.
If the Angels wish to repeat as AL West champions, here's a few things they need to consider for the second-half run.
Flip Johnny Giavotella and Kole Calhoun in the batting order
Finding production in the leadoff spot has been an issue all season for Mike Scioscia and the Angels. Lately, it's been Johnny Giavotella who's seen the lion's share of the work at the top of the order, but his .278 on-base percentage is not going to cut it when every game starts to carry more weight as the season winds down.
While there is no true leadoff hitter on the roster, Kole Calhoun can give the Angels more than anyone else. He works counts, can spray to all fields, hits for power and even can steal a base or two. Calhoun has a .350 OBP when batting leadoff, and Giavotella has better numbers at the plate when runners are on base. So why not flip the two and let Calhoun bat leadoff and Giavotella hit in the two-hole, where he carries a .384 OBP with runners on base.
For comparison's sake, let's look at the Houston Astros. Jose Altuve and George Springer have both spent a considerable amount of time at the top of the order. Altuve has a .338 OBP and Springer has a .400 OBP.
The solution is simple.
Ride with Santiago and Heaney
When Jered Weaver returns to the rotation, the Angels will have a surplus of capable starting pitchers -- Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago, Andrew Heaney and Matt Shoemaker. Neither of the two newcomers to the rotation, Santiago and Heaney, should be left on the outside looking in when Weaver returns.
Santiago, who was named to the AL All-Star roster Sunday, has a 6-4 record with a 2.33 ERA in 17 starts. Heaney has been just as good, if not better in his four starts since being called up from the minors. The 26-year-old left-hander, whom the Angels received in the Howie Kendrick trade, has a 3-0 record with a 1.32 ERA. He's gone at least 7 innings in three of his last four starts. Pretty good, 'eh?
The obvious solution would be to move Shoemaker to the bullpen. The less-obvious solution involves dealing Wilson, given there's a trade market for his contract.
First place has a nice ring to it! #Angels take lead in #ALWest with win over #Mariners http://t.co/dWxLrNvceS #MLB pic.twitter.com/0BB50ThLoQ
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) July 12, 2015
Dominate the second half of the July schedule
The second half of the month of July is packed with important games -- four at home against the Boston Red Sox, three at home against the red-hot Minnesota Twins, three at home against the ice-cold Texas Rangers, who have lost eight of its last 10 games, followed by a four-game road series against the Houston Astros. For those who aren't math majors, the Angels' first 10 games after the break all come at home, in the friendly confines of Angel Stadium, with seven of them coming against AL West teams.
Find more POWER!
Somehow, the Angels currently sit 17th in the majors in slugging percentage, .395 through the first half of the season. And that includes the 52 combined home runs hit by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. The Seattle Mariners are the only AL West team to hit for less power than the Angels.
While there's no easy solution to hitting more home runs, there might be a solution on the roster. His name, C.J. Cron. Since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on June 29, Cron is batting .437 (14-32) with four home runs and 12 RBI in 10 games.
Cron has earned his way onto the roster for the remainder of the season. If he can continue to get on base and hit for power, there's no reason he shouldn't be an everyday player in the second half.
