Tough test coming up

[seenoevil]

aww **** em... bring them on!

[Jay]

I'd be happy with a split

[Vegas Halo Fan]

We are 4 games under .500 right now.

 

Would be great to get to .500 by the All Star Break.

 

We have 11 games before the All Star Break; 6 game home stand, then 5 on the road, 2 at Wrigley Field, 3 at Safeco.

 

So, I'm thinking if we can keep up the momentum -- 2-1 vs. St. Louis (a tall order); 2-1 vs. Boston (a tall order); 2-0 sweep at Wrigley (do-able); 2-1 at Seattle (well, we'll see).

 

That would put us at 8-3 for the 11 games and place us 1 game over  .500 at the break.

 

If we split in Chicago or lose either the St. Louis or Boston series (1-2) at home (very likely to happen, at least lose one of them), then 7-4 and 1 game under .500.

 

I hope we can keep the momentum up, thought the run to .500 before the break was pretty much 'not in the cards' after the Pittsburgh sweep at home but the 6-0 road trip (finally sweeping Houston as we should have been doing all season -- that's really the difference between us and Oakland right now -- I think the A's are something like 12-0 vs. Houston and we're 4-7 or something).

 

Am very concerned about our rotation as we enter the second half........if we're buyer's at deadline time, the cost for pitching help may be too expensive.

 

The way this club looked early on, I had visions of us being 15 games or more out at the break. To make .500 by then would be quite an achievement after that dreadful start.

[Hoops McCann]

As much as this (not really) pains me to say it...the Angels will win 1 of 3 versus the Cards. 

 

No way are they winning the game Wainwright pitches...I also dont think they are going to win the game Miller pitches.  Therefore, the best chance for a W is the game Weaver pitches.

 

Good luck and will be a good series.

 

I expect Pujols to have a good series.  He always loves motivation and this series has it in spades for him.

[Mark68]

Blanton will have to pitch well for sure but the bats will need to come through as well.  STL can really pitch.  Boston can really hit.

STL can hit a little, too.

[Mark68]

As much as this (not really) pains me to say it...the Angels will win 1 of 3 versus the Cards. 

 

No way are they winning the game Wainwright pitches...I also dont think they are going to win the game Miller pitches.  Therefore, the best chance for a W is the game Weaver pitches.

 

Good luck and will be a good series.

 

I expect Pujols to have a good series.  He always loves motivation and this series has it in spades for him.

Didn't Miller get pummeled his last time out?

 

In fact, three of his last four starts have been clunkers.

[rageous]

If they expect to make a move they must win at least 4 out of the next 6. 

[Hoops McCann]

Didn't Miller get pummeled his last time out?

 

In fact, three of his last four starts have been clunkers.

He did, although it was a tight strike zone.  If he pitches the way he is capable of, he can be dominant.  The question is, will he pitch that way or not.  He's also had some issues with pitch count and not going very deep into games (6 innings). 

 

I will say this, Williams may be a good pitcher, but he doesnt have the talent Miller does.  The question is will Miller pitch to his abilities?

[SigBaby]

Am I the only one who holds his breath every time a Weaver fastball gets hit in the air? I honestly have more faith in CJ and Jerome pitching well then I do of Weaver. Weaver is a competitor though and he almost always pitches well at home, so anything can happen

[SigBaby]

He did, although it was a tight strike zone.  If he pitches the way he is capable of, he can be dominant.  The question is, will he pitch that way or not.  He's also had some issues with pitch count and not going very deep into games (6 innings). 

 

I will say this, Williams may be a good pitcher, but he doesnt have the talent Miller does.  The question is will Miller pitch to his abilities?

Thats not saying much in the comparison of Williams and Miller. Miller may have all the talent in the world ( he threw that 1 hitter with what? 12 k?), but he seems like the guy that always goes for the k. The key is to get to the bullpen before Rosenthal and Mujica. BTW Miller has a 4.22 era on the road

[SigBaby]

Lance Lynn with a 4.72 road era and Wainwright at 2.50 on road, which is still really good, but higher than his overall.

[Hoops McCann]

Thats not saying much in the comparison of Williams and Miller. Miller may have all the talent in the world ( he threw that 1 hitter with what? 12 k?), but he seems like the guy that always goes for the k. The key is to get to the bullpen before Rosenthal and Mujica. BTW Miller has a 4.22 era on the road

The issue is him learning to not try to K every batter and to go deeper into games.  He is a rookie and that is part of the maturation process.  And, the ERA point is a valid one, although it was much lower on the road before his last three road starts. 

 

But, your point about getting to the pen before Rosenthal and Mujica is, IMO, incorrect.  If you look at how the pen has been re-shaped, it really has become a strenght.

 

Maness, Seigrist and even Butler are all very good.  So, I think the key is getting to Miller in the 5th and 6th when his pitch count begins to get elevated. 

[DEATHRACERCHEVY]

The soft spot inside of my heart for the Angels says 4-6, but the angry neurotic Sox fan is getting ready to get out the broom. I'm just disappointed I won't be able to watch the games at the Big A.

[STLCardinalsFan]

The Cardinals are cold. There was no reason we shouldn't have had 2 for 3 against the A's. That last game was embarrassing.

 

The Angels have gotten hot so that poses a big problem for my Cardinals....  

[dimitrig]

They are all tough tests for the Angels. This is still a team with a losing record.

[Angel Oracle]

Mujica for several years was a decent but never great reliever.

What suddenly clicked for him?

[Hoops McCann]

Mujica for several years was a decent but never great reliever.

What suddenly clicked for him?

Pitch selection, I believe.  He has the slider where he used to throw occassionally, but now he throws it about 70% of the time.  Not sure if its a straight slider or like a splitter or a hybrid, but its a good pitch.

[nate]

One down

[mancini79]

Weaver aced the first part of this test.

[nando714]

2 more tough pitchers this series in Miller & Wainwright

Let's do this halos!!!

[Angel Oracle]

In Williams, we trust.

[SoWhat]

As much as this (not really) pains me to say it...the Angels will win 1 of 3 versus the Cards. 

 

No way are they winning the game Wainwright pitches.

 

[OregonLAA]

I was honestly hoping for a 3-3 stretch in these 6 games. But I'll gladly take 4-2 if they can do it. Saturday is going to be really tough with whoever starts for us. Williams hurt us for Saturday too. Not just Wed

[Corona]

Gotta say the odds are in our favor tomorrow and Sunday. We'll see what happens Saturday, If I remember right the Angels fare pretty well against Dempster. If I had to guess I'd say the Angels take 2/3.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Projected pitching matchups for the Boston series (according to CBS Sports):

 

Friday: Doubront vs. Wilson

Saturday: Dempster vs. TBA

Sunday: Lackey vs. Weaver