A month ago, the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 12-0 in a game where lefty pitcher Reid Detmers threw the first no-hitter of his career, and the first of the 2022 Major League Baseball season. The Angels were ten games over .500, and sat atop the standings in the American League West, a game up on the Houston Astros, and six and a half up on the Seattle Mariners. Flash forward today, and after another 1-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Angels are now three games under .500 and are tied with the Mariners, nine and a half games back from first place Astros.
The loss to the Red Sox last night extended the Angels losing streak to fourteen games, now the longest in franchise history. This losing streak has seen not only the losses on the field, but also the loss of manager Joe Madden, who was relieved of his duties on Tuesday, and super star Mike Trout who left Tuesday's game with groin tightness. Pitching has always been an issue with this team, but it is rearing its head in this losing skid. These fourteen games have seen the opposing teams score on average 6 runs per game. This is in comparison to the Angels scoring on average only scoring just under 3 runs per game. This is in comparison to the first 44 games of the season where they were outscoring opponents by nearly a full run and a half.
Angels fans have endured plenty of pain watching their team take the field. It has been eight years since they made the postseason, seven years since they finished single digit games back in the division. and six straight years with a losing record. In that eight year playoff drought fans have also watched as Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have won half of the MVP trophies that were awarded in that time. There is no question that this team has talent, with the two aforementioned superstars playing alongside All-Stars like Anthony Rendon and Jared Walsh. They also have a top end closer in Rasiel Iglesias. While the starters are a little lackluster, this team occupies the talent needed to make the playoffs, especially with the extra wild card spot which was added this year.
While the past two weeks have been a dark time for the Angels and their fans, it is time to bear down. The next few weeks do not get any easier with games against the National League's top two teams the New York Mets and cross town rival Los Angeles Dodgers. They also have a harder remaining schedule than the other competitive teams in their division, as well as the teams just ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. It is time to bear down, and give the loyal fans who have dealt with the pain of the past few years finally see the team achieve to the standard everyone expects from them.
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