NFL
By George Lopez
The Los Angeles Angels enter the 2023 season with renewed optimism. Coming off a disappointing 73-99 record, the Angels added free agents to their roster to go along with key returning players the club believes are missing pieces that will have the club competing for a playoff spot this season. In the offseason, there was some uncertainty as Angels owner Arte Moreno exploded the sale of the franchise. Prior to the start of spring training, Moreno made the decision to take the club off the market, which brings stability to the front office.
Mike Trout, the face of the Angels, will look to build on a tremendous 2022 season where he hit .283 with 40 Homeruns and 80 RBI’s in only 119 games played. The health of Trout will be a key factor in how competitive the Angels will be this season as Trout has missed a number of games the past few seasons due to injuries. The Los Angeles Angels will look to Trout to lead the offense in 2023 and he’s expected to have numbers comparable to 2022 with an increase in RBI production. Look for Trout to be a finalist for the AL MVP award at season’s end. In the off-season, the Angels added Hunter Renfroe, Brandon Drury, and Gio Urshela to improve their starting lineup. The projected lineup for the Angels is as follows
Taylor Ward
Mike Trout
Shohei Ohtani
Anthony Rendon
Hunter Renfroe
Luis Rengifo
Brandon Drury
Gio Urshela
Logan O’Hoppe
Defensive gem David Fletcher, out with abdominal tightness will be in the mix at either shortstop or 2nd base for the Angels. Third baseman Anthony Rendon looks to have a comeback season for the Angels. When the Angels signed him as a free agent for the 2020 season, Rendon was expected to be a key contributor to the offense and provide protection to Mike Trout in the lineup. Injuries have derailed Rendon’s time with the Angels as he has yet to play more than 60 in a season since joining the Angels. Rendon had a strong spring training, hitting .452 for the spring with 2 homeruns. Look for Rendon to be healthy this season and provide the offensive production the Angels envisioned when they signed him as a free agent.
What’s The Deal With Shohei Ohtani
The biggest could that will be hanging over the Angels this season is the status of Shohei Ohtani as he enters the final year of his contract. Ohtani has made it known that he wants to compete for World Series championships and that will be a factor when signing his next contract. If the Los Angeles Angels get off to a slow start this season, the team will constantly be questioned whether or not they will trade Ohtani and get as many trade assets as they possibly can or will they allow the season to play out and attempt to resign him in the offseason. If the Angels get off to a good start this season, it will quiet the noise about trading Ohtani.
During the World Baseball Classic, Ohtani gave Angels fans a glimpse of how he performs during a playoff atmosphere hitting .435 at the plate and posting a 1.86 ERA on the mound. At the plate in 2022, Ohtani followed up his 2021 MVP season by hitting .273 with 34 home runs and 95 RBI’s. On the mound, Ohtani posted a 15-9 record with a 2.33 ERA. Look for Ohtani to put up bigger numbers this season and be in the mix along with Mike Trout in the MVP discussion as well as the AL Cy Young Award. The Angels have announced that Ohtani will be the Ppening-Day starter. The Angels will use a 6 man rotation this season. The projected starting rotation is as follows
Shohei Ohtani
Tyler Anderson
Patrick Sandoval
Jose Suarez
Tucker Davidson
Reid Detmers
The Los Angeles Angels signed Tyler Anderson in the offseason as a free agent following Anderson’s impressive 2022 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he finished the season with a 15-5 record. Look for Anderson to be a solid #2 pitcher and put up similar numbers for the Angels this season. Patrick Sandoval is poised to have a breakout season for the Angels after a tremendous showing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico. Look for Sandoval to have at least 14 wins for the Angels this season.
In the bullpen, the question for the Angels is who will be their closer. The Angels traded their closer Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta during the 2022 season leaving the closer role open this year. Carlos Estevez is a favorite to land the closer’s role as he does have some experience as a closer (25 career saves) Manager Phil Nevin may also go with closer by committee and use matchups to close out games. Aaron Loup, Jose Quijada, and Ryan Tepera could action in the closer’s role this season.
Prediction For Los Angeles Angels
The defending World Series champions Houston Astros are the favorite to win the AL West. The Seattle Mariners are expected to compete with the Astros for the division title. The Los Angeles Angels are projected to win 85 games this season and compete for a wild card spot. Like all teams, health will be a factor in determining how the Angles do this season. Look for Rendon to put his history of injuries with the Angels behind him and for Mike Trout to play in at least 145 games this season. At season’s end, the Angels will give fans something to cheer about as they will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
