LA Times: Latest loss puts Angels in a mood to match their record: Bad

[AngelsWin.com]

Angels lose in Seattle, 2-1, their fifth defeat in seven games. Losing pitcher Jason Vargas is angry, Albert Pujols testy after fourth-place team falls to 9-15.<br/><br/>SEATTLE — The hardest ball Angels pitcher Jason Vargas threw Sunday may have been the bullet he fired in disgust to first base on Jesus Montero's comebacker to end the eighth inning.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/~4/rAEkdPj5FJc" height="1" width="1"/>

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[Mark68]

If he pitches like that, he's going to win a lot of games for us," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "So that's encouraging."

 

Not if the offense continues to go 0-for-17 with RISP in a four-game series.

[Blarg]

Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have combined to hit .167 (11 for 66) with 16 strikeouts and three runs batted in over the last six games.

[fan_since79]

If he pitches like that, he's going to win a lot of games for us," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "So that's encouraging."

 

Not if the offense continues to go 0-for-17 with RISP in a four-game series.

Okay, now that's just downright awful.

[robblin17]

If he pitches like that, he's going to win a lot of games for us," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "So that's encouraging."

 

Not if the offense continues to go 0-for-17 with RISP in a four-game series.

Wow, didn't realize that. This team is just bad, guys. 

[stormngt]

Those three are hitting the worst among our regulars.  Only Ianetta and he is a catcher is below Trout. 

Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have combined to hit .167 (11 for 66) with 16 strikeouts and three runs batted in over the last six games.

[MattFromSimiValley]

Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols got paid. They are on the final big contract they will ever receive in this lifetime. They have 0 incentive to improve. This is the team and we are stuck with it for years to come. This team is like last years team, except we have Blanton instead of Greinke.

[tomsred]

They have plenty of incentive to improve.  They don't sound like a group that is happy with losing.  Now they might not have the ability to improve, that's another matter.

[Reveille1984]

I'm sure Hamilton doesn't care at all about how terribly he's doing.... right.  Anyone with even a modicum of self-respect or competitive drive isn't going to be content with repeatedly failing, no matter what their financial situation is.  All the money in the world doesn't shield the shitty feeling of being the overpaid laughingstock of your team.  

 

He's an experienced veteran with a solid track record; anyone expecting him to whine or panic openly are kidding themselves. 

[Brent Maguire]

I'm sure Hamilton doesn't care at all about how terribly he's doing.... right.  Anyone with even a modicum of self-respect or competitive drive isn't going to be content with repeatedly failing, no matter what their financial situation is.  All the money in the world doesn't shield the shitty feeling of being the overpaid laughingstock of your team.  

 

He's an experienced veteran with a solid track record; anyone expecting him to whine or panic openly are kidding themselves. 

About half of this board needs to see this post. Saying Hamilton doesn't care because he got his paycheck is absolutely laughable. 

[jshep]

I'm sure Hamilton doesn't care at all about how terribly he's doing.... right. Anyone with even a modicum of self-respect or competitive drive isn't going to be content with repeatedly failing, no matter what their financial situation is. All the money in the world doesn't shield the shitty feeling of being the overpaid laughingstock of your team.

He's an experienced veteran with a solid track record; anyone expecting him to whine or panic openly are kidding themselves.

This, so very very much.

[Jay]

I'm sure Hamilton cares he just does a really good job of hiding it.

[Michifan]

I'm sure they all care. They're playing baseball at the highest level, are superstars, in the media and public scrutiny, and they have a lot of pride. They certainly care. That's not the problem. 

 

At some point, with several years of poor season starting performance, fair or not, you have to look at the management and throw the blame there.

[fan_since79]

I don't know if he really cares or not. I do know that he can't hit. I also know that he makes almost $42,000 per plate appearance to not produce.

 

I don't blame fans for being angry. He makes more money to go 0-for-4 than most fans make in a year of hard work.

[Angel Oracle]

I just care that for THREE of the past 5 months, he has TOTALLY stunk at the plate. 

 

Honest question: how many expected him to maintain his 2008 through first two months of 2012 hitting for the next serveral seasons, given that his minor league career was fractured to pieces, his body will feel the affects from years of drug abuse, and he really has never been a great study of opposing pitchers?   

[Jay]

Honest question: how many expected him to maintain his 2008 through first two months of 2012 hitting for the next serveral seasons, given that his minor league career was fractured to pieces, his body will feel the affects from years of drug abuse, and he really has never been a great study of opposing pitchers?   

 

Apparently Dipoto did, and his opinion really counts.

[WestistheBest]

Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols got paid. They are on the final big contract they will ever receive in this lifetime. They have 0 incentive to improve. This is the team and we are stuck with it for years to come. This team is like last years team, except we have Blanton instead of Greinke.

I have to call BS on this frequent claim when normally great hitters aren't hitting well, because they hit a payday.

That claim has been levied against a lot of great players and ultimately wasn't the truth.

They have ego's believe ME. It's a long grind as we all know, you really think they don't care if they go out game after game and completely suck? Of course they CARE.

The team is horrible, no question, it started with the pitching and I warned many times, it could demoralize the offense. It's called pressing. And the better the player may be, and the more money they make, the more they may feel like they have to make something happen, which typically ends up in what we are seeing. Fans don't want to hear excuses, I get that. But I predicted it.

"you see the ball, you hit the ball" too much thinking beyond that is trouble. And Hamilton especially, better shake it off fairly soon, and I think he will.

Yes, the offense has sucked. No, it won't last. The pitching is ultimately the problem and worse a problem that doesn't seem to have any solutions.

There are good/great hitters around the league not getting off to great starts, the ones with better teams won't get as much blame. 

The good hitters on teams expected to do nothing don't get the press anyway.

All I can think is try and stay as close as possible until the ASB. Maybe a miracle second half of the season. I doubt it, but you never really know.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

[Jason]

Not caring and sucking are two different things that some here are confusing.

[gurn67]

Get Hamilton back on chew and Red Bull ASAP!!!