The Angels of Anaheim had a magical 2014 season until the Royals destroyed it. Can they pull off a more delightful encore?
Introduction/2014 Capsule
It had been a while since the Angels, under Mike Scioscia had been to the postseason—2009 in fact was the last season prior to last. Scioscia’s team finally put things together, after years of being projected as world beaters and never living up to expectations, last year’s Angels entered 2014 with lowered expectations and greatly exceeded them.
Albert Pujols, at least for stretches, looked like the old Albert Pujols. Mike Trout finally reached the peak of the sport, winning his first American League MVP award. Garrett Richards lived up to his potential—becoming one of the great All-Star snubs of 2014—before tearing his ACL on the mound in August at Fenway Park.
But after losing their ace, the Angels seemed motivated as they continued their blistering winning pace. The Oakland Athletics had opened a sizable lead in the division over the first two months of the season. But the Angels blew right by them and never looked past (of course the Athletics’ utter collapse helped).
They were the first team in baseball to clinch a playoff spot and went on to win the American League West by an astounding 10 games.
2014 Record: 98-64 (.605); 1st in AL West; 1st in MLB
2014 Run Differential: +143 (Second best in MLB after Oakland)
Other Key Stats:
-Most runs scored in MLB w/ 773
-7th in on-base percentage w/ .322
-5th in slugging percentage w/ .406
-5th in ISO at .147
-3rd in Offensive WAR at 68.7
-4th in BAA at .236
-7th in WHIP at 1.22
Lasting Memory from 2014 season:
Unfortunately for an Angels team which has been down on its luck in recent memory—again no playoff appearances since 2009—the lasting memory from 2014 is not a celebratory one. The Angels seemed to be having a magical run in 2014.
There was little reason to believe it would come to an end, especially in the early part of October. But in part because of the loss of Garrett Richards, and partially because they simply ran into the true team of destiny, the Angels’ lasting memory in 2014 was not of Albert Pujols hitting his 500th career home run or Mike Trout winning his first career MVP, it is this moment in Game 2 of the ALCS in the top of the 10th inning:
There was a similar moment in the extra innings of Game 1. It was Mike Moustakas who broke the Angels’ hearts.
But with another game at home, the Angels figured to have time to rebound, even though they had wasted a fabulous start from their former ace, turned back into the ace without Richards, Jered Weaver.
This time around it was Eric Hosmer, who broke their hearts and mostly sealed their fate. After this home run, it was clear that the Angels’ magical 2014 season was shot, pronounced dead and the burial and funeral were set to commence.
Next: How is the 2015 roster different for Anaheim?