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Just as we were polishing this article about the demise of the Los Angeles Angels, Scott Miller of CBS Sports chimed in with juicy details about a fight that nearly broke out between Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter in August 2012.

According to team sources, emotions were running high following consecutive home losses to the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 17 and 18.

Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson each performed poorly, as the Halos dropped to 62-59 overall, eight games back of the AL West lead and three short of the closest playoff spot. Hunter was annoyed by how the pitchers deflected responsibility onto everybody else through comments and gestures, and he and Wilson were involved in a small altercation.

Veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins decided to nip this madness in the bud with a players-only meeting.

From there, the situation escalated quickly:

In a glimpse into how fractured the Angels had become, they could not even agree on a meeting format. Hawkins called for a players-only meeting. Pujols, insisting that manager Mike Scioscia and the coaches attend, wound up co-opting the meeting.

Pujols called out Weaver for showing up a teammate the night before. Then he turned his attention on Hunter, blaming him for the dugout altercation with Wilson.

Hunter snapped back at Pujols and, according to the report, they would’ve tried to rip each other’s heads off if not for Hawkins and Vernon Wells intervening.

Miller believes the root of all this dysfunction is owner Arte Moreno. Since taking control of the franchise about a decade ago, he has trimmed the staff to increase his role in the decision-making process. 

Moreno digs deep into his own pockets to woo top-tier talent and expects those acquisitions to translate into more wins and ticket sales.

His problem, however, is paying players exorbitant sums based on what they’ve previously accomplished, rather than what they’re capable of doing in the future. Big checks feed big egos, and that’s why Hunter, Pujols and Wilson struggled to coexist last summer.

Mike Scioscia brought the club its first championship in 2002, before Moreno entered the picture. One reason he hasn’t returned the Halos to the World Series since is because his boss influences the front office to acquire the aforementioned marquee names, regardless of whether they fit into Scioscia’s vision.

The current roster is a mess and, more importantly, the franchise’s leaders don’t see eye to eye. Unless that changes, the issues we’ve learned about in the clubhouse and those we’ve witnessed on the field will persist.

Follow @MrElyminator

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While the entire MLB seemed to do less this trade deadline, the Los Angeles Angels, theoretically, could have done more.

Much like the grey area that has been the Angels’ season, the decisions the organization made (or didn’t make) were put under the proverbial microscope and viewed with hindsight, leaving many to question the club’s tactics leading up to July 31.

What if…

Mind you, that doesn’t mean the Angels failed. In fact, the club managed to take a rough situation—budget and lack of farm system to use as bait—and made the best of an unusual market.

They flip-flopped relievers with the Atlanta Braves, sending left-hander Scott Downs to the NL East contenders for right-hander Cory Rasmus. And they went within the AL West, dealing Alberto Callaspo to the Oakland Athletics for young prospect Grant Green.

As fans waited to see what pitcher the club might snag, the Angels quietly acquired Julio Concepcion and Andres Perez from the New York Mets for International bonus slot cash.

Though none of the moves would be considered a smash, it was a cost-controlled effort that has been rarely seen from Anaheim in past deadlines. 

It was a refreshing and uncharacteristic twist.

Because of the money owed to Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols, with random expenses like Vernon Wells next season, even the moves that didn’t get made left them in no worse of a position. (Some of the misses helped, oddly enough.)

And for those that have doubts in their mind, remember these few points:

• Replacing a risky Joe Blanton in the rotation with another risky right-hander, that is carrying a plus-five ERA is not a smart move. So no time or room for you, Ian Kennedy.
• The Kansas City Royals would have never parted with top-tiered arms—like Kyle Zimmer or Yordano Ventura—for Howie Kendrick, assuming he waived the no-trade clause in the first place.
• Alberto Callaspo, with any number of packaged pieces to be named whenever, would not have been enough to see the New York Yankees give up a pitcher like Phil Hughes.
• The Angels understood that switch-hitting shortstops don’t grow on trees. 

Regardless of how it is spun, twisted or revisited, the Angels did what they could and there is no real shame in the aftermath.

However, it’s also boring.

It’s too late to change any course of action/delay, or put a PR-laced Band Aid on a mistake. But as the social media generation goes, the second-guessing is almost inevitable—considering the team’s position, I am surprised there hasn‘t been more couch coaching.

Even the Angels’ brass has hinted at the idea they are not completely satisfied or done searching. When asked about the deadline, general manager told MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez:

We were very aggressive in our search for young, Major League-ready, controllable pitching. Obviously it’s a very difficult thing to acquire. And that doesn’t mean that we’re not going to look at it again.

That’s a good call, Jerry…let’s look at it again.

Without further ado, with my 20/20 hindsight vision in hand, here are two deals that actually could have improved the Angels, without burning the pocket book or farm system or anything else that is combustible on this current team.

Understand that could is a big word throughout this discovery. 

Mark Trumbo to the Pittsburgh Pirates

This possible trade was quickly shut down because the Angels reportedly had zero interest in getting rid of their slugger. And I can’t argue with their thinking to be reluctant.

But I would also like to think that the right player (or players) in return for Trumbo could have made this deal a reality.

Sure, his stock is on the rise with the Angels—with Albert Pujols on the mend and a power-hitting void at first base—but parting ways wouldn’t be terrible if it meant acquiring pitching.

Top-tier pitching, of course. Not just cost-controlled risks like Ian Kennedy, but top-10 level arms that could help rebuild the farm system—like Pirates’ right-handers Nick Kingham and Kyle McPherson.

It could have worked, as there was a willingness from the other side of the negotiating table. The Pirates had reportedly been open to part with a young arm for Trumbo, so why not go after these two?

Kingham has decent stuff—an above-average fastball (95-97 mph) with developing secondary pitches—and McPherson could be that middle-of-the-rotation guy the Angels need to compliment C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver. 

Both pitchers are expected to be in the MLB by 2014 and, more importantly, getting them wouldn’t completely deplete the Pirates’ system, leaving their top arms for the NL Central to fear down the road.

It’s a win-win.

Had the Angels gone this route, exploiting the fact the Pirates need a power bat and probably are susceptible to panic-mode (it’s been over two decades since a playoff birth) I think they could have secured one of those options in return—with maybe another arm down the prospect-chain. 

It’s also worth noting: I have faith that C.J. Cron is close to becoming a full-time major league player, taking care of the first base duties for years to come with the Angels. So replacing Trumbo would not be a desperate issue, during this season or in the future.

Howie Kendrick to the Toronto Blue Jays

Kendrick’s no-trade clause—that consisted of 12 teams—and the possible return product being Luke Hochevar or Ervin Santana certainly kept him out of Kansas City.

It was another case of the Angels not giving in for the sake of making moves, so I applaud the effort. But the Royals weren’t the only team looking for a second baseman.

The Toronto Blue Jays were one of the teams most interested in Kendrick, and they also happened to be a team that is loaded with pitching prospects in their farm system.

The deal made sense to pursue.

Kendrick was by far the most intriguing chip the Angels dangled out on the trade market, no question. He has that rare ability for a second baseman to hit for average, with decent power, while hitting in various spots of the lineup—third, second, sixth, etc.

He would have fit perfectly in the Jays’ lineup, and his contract would have given them an all-star caliber leader for the next two seasons, for a relatively cheap cost.

On the other hand, trading Kendrick would have given the Angels a little breathing room towards total salary—not a ton, but a little—while netting them possible arms for the future. 

What arms, you ask? 

Any of the young hurlers currently in the Jays’ top 10—Aaron Sanchez, Roberto Osuna, Marcus Stroman, Daniel Norris, Sean Nolin, John Stilson­—would have been another upgrade for the Angles.

The trade would also put Grant Green in his preferred position (second base) next season and beyond. That also allows Taylor Lindsey more time to mature, instead of rushing him as a quick fix. 

Understandably, like the Trumbo deal, it wouldn’t be easy to part with such a great player like Kendrick. But the young arms the Angels could get in return outweigh the offensive production that clouds either deal.

In reality—where the fun is outweighed by the actual decisions a team has to live with—the deals that were made, not made, or passed on to the winter, were exactly what we should have expected.

With the exact outcome: boring.

So, really there wasn’t much of a sell, as Dipoto told Gonzalez, “I don’t know if I can classify it as a buyer’s market at all…I think it was a particularly uneventful day.”

Agreed. 

Note: All stats provided were courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

For more of the daily this and that, follow Rick Suter on Twitter@ rick_suter.

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The 2013 MLB All-Star Game Tuesday night at Citi Field in New York has a chance to carry an interesting and historical meaning, opening the proverbial door for special opportunities in communities that need them. 

Thanks to the efforts by Head & Shoulders and Los Angeles Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson, all it will take are a few swings…and some timely misses.

That’s right, long-ball lovers; tonight the strikeout will be on center stage.

Though most baseball fans are drawn to the MLB All-Star Game because of the chance to see herculean home runs—followed by more herculean home runs—or a respective league’s home-field advantage possibilities during the World Series, tonight’s game will put a great deal of importance elsewhere.

As part of the continuing support for the MLB’s RBI program (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), Head & Shoulders has announced a special challenge: If a pitcher strikes out the side in the second inning of the All-Star Game, they will donate $1 million to the RBI program.

Yep, that’s $1 million.

The announcement is an added bonus to the already successful “Season of the #Whiff Campaign,” where Head & Shoulders donates $1 to the RBI program for every strikeout in the 2013 season.

Keeping up with the power of social media, a fanbase can tweet the specified hashtag (#whiff) plus their team’s Twitter handle every time a pitcher from that club records a strikeout. The team with the most tweets at the end of each month can earn $10,000, encompassing a total community effort for each team.

It’s a community helping another community. Simple enough.

At the head of this, not only for the Los Angeles Angels, but also nationally, is pitcher C.J. Wilson.

I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to chat with the Angels’ pitcher, and Head & Shoulders “Mane Man,” about his involvement with the campaign and the potential donation.

Wilson, who was introduced to the RBI program when he was 15 years old while playing youth baseball in the Los Angeles area, is excited about such a hands-on charitable group.

“It’s great,” Wilson told me over the phone, “I get to go out there and do my job—strike people out, help people get some fantasy (league) points—and it’s all for a great cause.”

In addition to his 110 strikeouts this year from the mound, C.J. has contributed via a few rare plate appearances, where he has struck out four times. Instead of beating himself up, though, he looked at the bright side of his misfortune. “When I was hitting last week, I struck out,” he laughed, “And I thought…hey, that’s a dollar for donation.”

It remains to be seen if the hitters in tonight’s game will have the same fresh outlook, but with such a hefty announcement during a media-rich All-Star week (see Yasiel Puig and Freddie Freeman), you can count on more than a casual glance, no question.

It’s something that Wilson, who missed out on being an All Star this year, understands. “I wish it was me out there,” he said. “I would like the chance to (strike out the side), but I didn’t get the votes.”

That doesn’t mean he won’t be around tonight, however. C.J. will be taking over the Head & Shoulders Twitter handle (@HSforMen) for a portion of the game, spreading the word about the campaign and fielding fan questions.

And who knows, perhaps he may divulge a scouting report or two for the possible hurlers (Matt Harvey and Max Scherzer) in the second inning.

It wouldn’t hurt.

After all, the middle of the lineup for both the AL and NL teams are not what you would call Adam Dunn-esque. As Wilson joked, “(Dunn) could probably use (the program) as a tax write-off.”

Predictions and outcomes aside, the added recognition of RBI can only help the game of baseball and softball moving forward—during a time when they aren’t necessarily in line with pop culture.

It really is a win-win. Perhaps that’s the growth John Young had in mind when he started the RBI program in 1989.

So, though it may be odd, don’t be afraid to applaud the backwards-K tonight. Let the roars echo around Citi Field following a swing and a miss…followed by another and another. Salute the failed bunt with two strikes.

Enjoy it!

Because tonight, much to the delight of C.J., is all about the strikeout, making this game different from the rest.

Note: A very special thanks to C.J. Wilson for taking the time to chat. For more from Rick Suter follow him on Twitter @rick_suter

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Since his call-up from the minor leagues on June 3, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has set the baseball world on fire with a barrage of big hits, long home runs and laser throws (not to mention a few boneheaded base running mistakes).

In 24 games in the big leagues, Puig is hitting an amazing .424 to go along with seven home runs and a slugging percentage just shy of .700.

At this point, when checking the Dodgers’ box scores, it’s far more surprising to see that Puig didn’t do something amazing in a game than to see that he did.

Every hit he gets, it seems, comes in a big spot.

He’s hit a grand slam, he’s thrown out a man to end a game, he has a two-homer game and every single of one his at-bats has become must-see television.

In all my years of watching baseball, I can’t remember any prospect coming up and having the impact that Puig has had in such short order. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper became big-time players in their rookie seasons last year, but neither of them generated anywhere near the excitement that Puig has.

Puig plays with a kind of edge that separates him from his peers. Sometimes it can get him into trouble as he’s been thrown out on the bases and made fielding errors by being over-aggressive, but even his mistakes seem exciting.

He has shown little in the way of plate discipline in working only four walks compared to 19 strikeouts and it’s inevitable that he’ll cool down as pitchers around baseball adjust to him.

Still, Puig has uncanny athletic ability and playing in the big market of Los Angeles will ensure that he remains in the spotlight for a long time coming.

I don’t expect Puig to continue at anywhere near the pace he’s going at now, but he’ll continue to be the most exciting player in baseball even as his batting average drops.

Now, all there is to do is sit back and enjoy the amazing spectacle that is Yasiel Puig.

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Yesterday, I wrote about the disappointing starts of the Angels (12-22, 9 games back in the AL West) and Dodgers (13-20, 6 games back in the NL West), and why ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden’s ideas on how to fix them probably weren’t realistic due to the lack of impact prospects and overall depth in each team’s farm system.

The best bet at this point is for each team to hang on long enough until they’re back to full health and then make a late-season run. In case you haven’t been paying attention, both teams have lost key players to injuries and haven’t been able to replace them adequately because of the aforementioned lack of depth.

By the end of this month, though, the Angels should have ace Jered Weaver, out since the sixth game of the season with a fractured elbow, back in the rotation. Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke, also out since his second start (fractured collarbone), could return as soon as next week. 

Will either pitcher’s return be enough to ignite a fire the way that Mike Trout did when he joined a lackluster Angels squad in late April 2012? 

Jered Weaver’s Impact on the Angels

The Angels’ left side of the infield, Erick Aybar and Alberto Callaspo, have already been on the disabled list with injuries.

Albert Pujols has avoided the disabled list but has been playing with plantar fasciitis, a painful foot injury, and has recently been dealing with soreness in his surgically-repaired knee. The 33-year-old has a .722 OPS overall and is five for his last 32 since getting a four-hit game (nine plate appearances) in a 19-inning loss on April 29. At some point, he could miss some time.

Free-agent signee Josh Hamilton isn’t hurt, but he might as well have been. Through Tuesday, the 31-year-old was hitting .202 with a .535 OPS. He’s homered in back-to-back games, though, and also doubled, singled and walked so there’s a chance the offense could be in the midst of a much-needed boost.

It won’t be enough, however, if the pitching staff doesn’t get it together soon. The rotation is 26^th in the majors in ERA (4.90). The bullpen, without projected closer Ryan Madson as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and top setup man Sean Burnett (forearm inflammation), is 23^rd in the majors with a 4.24 ERA.

There are problems throughout the roster, but can Weaver’s return make a significant impact?

If he pitches like he did in 2012, then the answer is “yes.” The 30-year-old, who signed a five-year, $85 million contract extension in August 2011, pitched into the seventh inning and beyond in 19 of his 30 starts and allowed more than three earned runs just five times. That’s how you indirectly help your offense and your bullpen—by taking pressure off of them to do too much. It’s not a surprise that the Angels won 23 of Weaver’s starts.

Zack Greinke’s Impact on the Dodgers

The Dodgers are the 2013 poster child for the “you can never have enough pitching” cliché. With eight big league starters on their roster to start the year, they had the sort of problem that most teams would love to have.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last.

Since none of the eight could be stashed in the minors, one began the season in the bullpen before being traded shortly after for a backup catcher, Ramon Hernandez, who had been designated for assignment.

Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly began the year on the disabled list. Both returned since and then went back on with Billingsley undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery and Lilly straining his rib cage. Chris Capuano has also spent time on the disabled list.

But the biggest loss has been Zack Greinke, their prized free agent, who formed half of what could be, arguably, the best one-two punch in the majors along with Clayton Kershaw. Since Greinke fractured his collarbone during a bench-clearing brawl, the Dodgers have gone 7-17 and dropped into the NL West cellar.

A lineup that is 28^th in the majors in runs scored certainly hasn’t helped much. Neither has the bullpen, which is 27^th in ERA (4.71 ERA). But a rotation led by Kershaw, Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu (3.71 ERA, 43.2 IP, 41 H, 12 BB, 48 K) has the ability to make up for the other deficiencies on the roster, at least until they can improve. 

In 2012, Greinke pitched into the seventh inning and beyond in 20 of his 34 starts and allowed three earned runs or less in 24 of those. His teams (Brewers/Angels) went 21-13 when he started. If you don’t think having the 29-year-old Greinke on the mound every fifth day will make a huge difference, you’re mistaken. 

For one, they can send the rookie Matt Magill back to the minors.

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As the 2013 Major League Baseball season race reaches the quarter pole, it becomes time to take stock of where teams and players are in terms of production. 

In the American League West, the Texas Rangers have taken their customary position of being the front runner, largely due to tremendous pitching and consistent power in the lineup. The A’s and Mariners have both been largely inconsistent, with the A’s scuffling back to .500 since starting the year 12-4. 

However, the biggest story has been the lack of success in Anaheim as the Los Angeles Angels are not fighting for an expected spot at the top, but trying to keep clear of division newcomers the Houston Astros. In the basement.

There have been solid performances from individuals on all five teams. But sometimes, overlapping positions keep deserving players from receiving deserved accolades. This will likely be no exception. 

So instead of lamenting who is not, we shall spotlight who is. Starting with catcher and ending a pitching rotation (relievers included), here is the AL West’s Quarter-Pole All-Star Team.

Begin Slideshow

Mothers are always right.

Fighting solves nothing and unfortunately for the Los Angeles Dodgers, they are learning that the hard way. 

Although Carlos Quentin is already slated to return to the San Diego Padres lineup following his suspension for charging Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, the Dodgers are still reeling from the affects.  Greinke broke his collarbone in a collision with Quentin and is currently on the 15-day disabled list.

As if the loss of Greinke wasn’t bad enough, fellow starter Chris Capuano was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, and Major League Baseball reported that his injuries were also a result of the bench-clearing brawl with the Dads.

Apparently things really do happen in threes…hours ago, news broke that Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley will require Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season.

However, Dodgers fans should not be cancelling October quite yet.  Although it is true that April has been disappointing at the very least, the key word here is APRIL. 

Starter Ted Lilly is expected to return to the rotation next week.  Although he hasn’t pitched a game since last May, Lilly brings a veteran presence to the mound…something that the Dodgers will miss greatly in the series to come. 

The loss of Zack, Cap and Bill leaves only Clayton Kershaw and Josh Beckett as the only MLB veterans in the rotation as of today.  Rookie Stephen Fife and Korean newcomer Hyun-Jin Ryu make up the rest of the rotation while they await the return of veteran Ted Lilly.

Capuano may even find himself out of a starting job, dependent on the performance of Ted Lilly.  In essence, the Dodgers may only be losing two starters, but Lilly’s performance is impossible to predict due to his extended absence from baseball. 

April could not get much worse for the Dodgers.  Their offense has failed to show up, producing only 3.0 runs per game in their first 18 contests.  With one of the most feared lineups in baseball, the Dodgers are bound to begin to produce offensively. 

The Dodgers bullpen is also reassuring, posting a modest 3.67 ERA to start the season, and a 3.72 team ERA. 

Clayton Kershaw has been exactly what Dodgers fans expect.  With a 1.88 ERA in four starts, Kershaw is the least of their worries.  Beckett and Ryu have been average thus far, though neither are consistently dominant.

Take a deep breath, Dodgers fans.  Although the loss of the three starters is certainly a painful blow, it is also certainly not a fatal one.  Despite the rough April that the team has endured, they find themselves only two games below .500.  

The Boys in Blue are still a serious playoff contender, regardless of their injuries.  Hopefully, the team is just getting their adversity out of the way now so that they can come together later in the season.

After all, no one wins a championship because they had a stellar April. 

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After a dominant 10-0 victory on Saturday, for the first time this season, the Los Angeles Angels bats and pitching came together for their most complete win of the season, bringing them to 6-10. 

Not that their bats haven’t been hitting well (with the exception of a horrifically slow start for newly acquired Josh Hamilton), but it’s been the Angels pitching that has faltered in this early part of the season.  

Saturday, however, they looked great as a team.  And two players, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, hit the ball like the players everyone expects them to be.

So who will have the better season of the two this year?  

Reigning National League Rookie of the Year Mike Trout went 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.  Though he got off to a relatively slow start this season, he now has a slash line of .304/.347/.522 with two home runs, a triple, seven doubles, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base.  Starting to look pretty good, isn’t he?

Pujols, on the other hand, went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored.  Though he’s been notorious for getting off to slow starts in his career, he currently has a slash line of .322/.431/.508 with two home runs, five doubles, 11 RBI and seven runs scored.

Both players are dominant forces in any lineup and are arguably already considered candidates for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award.  And while he may not put up the power numbers that Pujols will, Trout will surely see plenty more triples and is always a huge threat on the basepaths.

I’ve always thought that after Pujols’ first year in Los Angeles, he would settle down and regain his power stroke after hitting only .285 last season with 30 home runs.  Weird thinking that those numbers would be underachieving for most players, but let’s be honest now, this is Prince Albert we’re talking about here.  

Trout, on the other hand, had a season for the history books last year, but unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anyway he can replicate the numbers that he put up in 2012, especially after missing almost the first whole month of the season.  

Sure, there’s always the argument that many players suffer from the “sophomore slump,” but I don’t think that will be the case for Trout in his second full season with the Angels.   

Whatever happens, both players should put up monster numbers in 2013.  Especially with this lineup surrounding them and with Josh Hamilton’s bat inevitably coming back to life in the near future.  

So who will it be: Pujols or Trout?

My guess is Pujols will have the more impressive numbers this season, especially hitting behind Trout and in front of Hamilton and Mark Trumbo.  He’s just too good of a player and will not have a third season in a row hitting under .300.  

Will he have 40 or 50 home runs this season?  My guess is he’ll be somewhere in the high 30s, but his batting average should be around his lifetime average of .324, if not higher.

Now I’m not saying that Trout will have an off-year by any means, but I just don’t think he’ll achieve the same numbers he put up last season, though he should certainly have a tremendous season as well.

What do you think?  Am I wrong?  Who’s going to have the better season of the two: Pujols or Trout?

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The Los Angeles Angels fit one of my favorite, classic plot lines in the MLB. With 162 games, stretching over six months, even the greatest, talent-rich teams will hit a bump in the road now and again.

There are the foreseen and the unpredictable, the sore arms, backaches…and all the other ailments so eloquently listed by coach Lou Brown in “Major League“.

And while the Angels certainly are not having any issues with owner Arte Moreno turning on the water heater for the jacuzzi or forcing the team to travel via a rundown prop plane on road trips—like Rachel Phelps did to those lovable, fake Charlie Sheen-led Cleveland Indians—they have seen their share of obstacles thus far.

This early?

Sure, foreshadowing possible roadblocks over 162 games with only a six-game sample size, to any certainty (and with a straight face), is like claiming you can reconstruct the Great Barrier Reef with a few sand dollars, some seashells and the leftover sand still stuck in the bottom of your swimsuit pockets.

I agree. But that doesn’t mean what happens today has little effect on tomorrow or, better yet, October.

In the MLB, every game counts, and the Los Angeles Angels are not a special case.

As the team prepares for its first home stretch, there are two obvious barriers standing in its way of divisional supremacy.

Whether the issues are addressed, solved or unsolved, chances are both circumstances will carry just as much weight today as they do around the time when the divisional title can be clinched.

Sand, please.

Health

Possibly the biggest issue of any team—and always an unknown—is the players’ health, or lack thereof. The Angels fall into the latter of that equation.  

Albert Pujols is coming off of his knee injury, and is now dealing with plantar fasciitis. Jered Weaver, possibly still working through his issues toward the end of the 2012 season, fractured his non-throwing arm when he fell (tripped?) on the mound against the Texas Rangers (h/t LA Times’ Mike DiGiovanna).

And Ryan Madson is proving that coming back from Tommy John surgery is not an exact science—he is still not close to 100 percent.

Problems? You bet.

In my mind, any concerns over the pitching staff were always an afterthought because of Jered Weaver. As Weaver goes, so goes the success or failure of the starting rotation.

That’s what an ace/20-game winner is supposed to provide—eating innings, defeating the opposing team’s No. 1 starter and shielding some of the pressure off of the arms behind him.

Now, even if Weaver is in the rotation, things may not go as smoothly. (Look to Weaver’s possible weak glove-side if and when he returns.)

Without a strong front-side (the chest-to-glove that builds up power for a pitcher) the next mph reading on Weaver’s fastball will be substantially lower than the 84-87 mph that has people freaked.

Regardless, the scenario leaves another cliché nagging at the rotation: The domino effect.

The pitchers, behind Weaver, will have the added pressure of picking up the slack, possibly substituting portions of the 20 wins most of the fans would have expected him to earn.

And the bullpen, most notably the long relief, will have added pressure of going deeper into games—keeping the run-fest to a minimum.

It’s a difficult task, made even more cumbersome by the absence of Madson.

Then there is Albert Pujols and his foot.

No question, his injury issues have not been a major problem. The American League allows a team to hide injuries via the DH very well; Pujols is proof of that.

But what about those games when they play on the road against the NL?

Is a slow-footed Pujols at first base worth his bat in the lineup?

After all, his range looked meager in Cincinnati, allowing Joey Votto’s hit to escape his reach in the ninth inning—a play I have seen him make before.

And, with a streaky Josh Hamilton, he can be pitched around with little worry of him doing damage on the bases.

But would a healthy Mark Trumbo be a better substitute, maybe a healthy Bill Hall?

It may not seem like a big deal, however, there are seven remaining games this season on the road against the NL.

How many bats will manager Mike Scioscia be willing to lose?  Remember: Every game counts.

More sand, please.

Fame

 I never thought it possible, but the heavy media coverage and love of “the Trio” may just be a curse in disguise for the Angels.

Mike Trout, Pujols and Hamilton have caused an interesting phenomena, unseen in the MLB/Los Angeles landscape before—at least in the nine-plus years I have lived out here.

The Los Angeles Angels are a “marked team,” nationally as well as locally.

And does that lead to “more money, more problems?”

I’m not 100 percent certain, but fame, and the pressure that comes with it, can do crazy things to people (see Lindsay Lohan). And a sports franchise is no different.

Not only is every little detail going to be dissected from every angle—like it already has—but other teams will be gunning for them, too.

Consistently.

It leads to a common scenario of expecting “easy wins” against a team like the Houston Astros, who the Angels play seven times the next two months, while the team may be focusing on more important series against the Oakland A’s, Texas Rangers or the Detroit Tigers,

That’s when the little guy beats the big guy, a straight upset.

And it doesn’t have to end with the Astros. The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals could do just as much damage, stealing a win or two here and there.

That’s the downfall of being a new trend. The team’s focus has to be sharp every game, every swing and every pitch. And I wouldn’t put too much stock in this Angels team handling that task.

History is not on their side, post-media hype.  

Remember: It was six games into the season, one year ago, when the Los Angeles Angels, loaded with a new roster of media-attracting talent, stumbled to a record of 2-4 on the way to an 8-15 April.

This year, loaded with even more media-attracting talent, the Angels have stumbled to a record of 2-4 on their way to the unknown.

Could be greatness, could be a flop. Regardless, it seems like déjà vu.

I know…didn’t someone already say that?

(Note: All stats provided were courtesy of baseball-reference.com unless otherwise specified.) 

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The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ record-breaking annual payroll of approximately $223 million shows how much the Guggenheim Partners group desires to resurrect the franchise. However, the product that appears on the field on Opening Day will be less than stellar.

New season. New players. New enthusiasm. A beautifully renovated stadium. For the first time in four years, hearts are thumping in anticipation amongst Dodgers’ fans everywhere.

The problem is, those fans may be dealt a heavy dose of disappointment, at least in the early stages of the season.

A great place to begin the analysis is in the outfield, which potentially could be the finest baseball has seen in years.

A healthy and productive Matt Kemp will be the backbone of the Dodgers’ run production in 2013. And a resurgent Andre Ethier will complement the offensive output. If Kemp can come anywhere close to his .324 average, 39 home runs and 126 RBI from 2011, the Boys in Blue may soar.

Ethier hopes not only to get back on track in the power department but also to improve his performance against left-handed pitching. Andre poked 31 homers and collected 106 RBI in 2009. If he shows the ability to approach those numbers, he would exceed most expectations.

Left fielder Carl Crawford is the X-factor early on in the season. If his recovery from Tommy John surgery progresses nicely, this may be an exceptional outfield. Nobody expects him to live up to his banner year of 2006 when he hit .305 with 18 bangers, 16 triples, 77 RBI and 58 stolen bases, but again, anything on the radar of these figures would be beautiful.

The biggest problem with Crawford right now is his arm strength, and if anything should affect his health in the coming weeks, the only other options in left are Skip Schumaker and Jerry Hairston Jr.

And this is where it gets ugly, at least on the offensive side.

Adrian Gonzalez at first base anchors the infield, both with his glove and at the dish. Just for reference, it was only 2011 when he hit .338 with 27 homers and 117 RBI for the Boston Red Sox.

Outside of Gonzo, and considering the thumb injury to Hanley Ramirez at the World Baseball Classic, the remainder of the infield looks bleak.

Thirty-five-year-old Mark Ellis is set to man second base on a daily basis, despite his continuing struggles to hit right-handed pitching. Luis Cruz, a career minor leaguer up until last year, is poised to produce at short. The third base spot may be a rotation of Juan Uribe, Nick Punto and Hairston Jr.

Not one single Dodgers fan across the land expected Uribe to hang around this long.

A.J. Ellis and Tim Federowicz will handle the duties behind the dish. Ellis had an impressive year in 2012, but many are skeptical if it can be duplicated. “Fed-Ex” is tremendous with the glove but is continuing to develop his skills with the stick.

The starting pitching staff still has a ton of question marks. Clayton Kershaw is the rock and the ace and hopes to carry the load. If Zack Greinke’s elbow is healthy and loosens up, he may prove to be a formidable No. 2.

Hyun-Jin Ryu has thrown effectively this spring, and despite his unwillingness to throw extra bullpen sessions as scheduled, he could be solid for Los Angeles moving forward. Ryu pitched four innings on Thursday, allowing no hits or walks while striking out four batters.

Josh Beckett has had a solid spring and has been productive since arriving in LA. Many hope that Chad Billingsley can return to his All-Star form of 2009, although his finger injury this spring and elbow problems last year may impact his performance.

With the surplus of starting pitchers still on the roster, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang and Ted Lilly may either be forced to move to relief duties or endure a stint on the disabled list.

As for the pen, Brandon League, to the chagrin of many fans, is poised to be the closer. Kenley Jansen and Ronald Belisario are expected to be solid set-up men. League practically imploded Friday night, surrendering two hits, a walk and an earned run before being bailed out by Steven “Paco” Rodriguez.

As for management, skipper Don Mattingly will certainly begin the season on the hot seat. Despite the injuries the Dodgers have suffered early on, president Stan Kasten will expect Donnie Baseball to produce wins.

Even with the injuries and the holes in the infield, the Boys in Blue have the potential to perform well. However, as reflected above, there are many “ifs” that need to go positively for this to work. If Mattingly can gather his troops and create some chemistry, the Dodgers could be a contender.

But, with all the holes and question marks, this squad certainly isn’t worth $223 million.

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