the most disappointing team in baseball

Say it ain't Scioscia.

Meet the Angels. Formerly known as team California, then Anaheim, now they have the ridiculous full name of The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Why stop there? They haven't left California. It is simply more fun to think of them as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of The United States of America.

Anyway.

The aforementioned Angels have a player running away with the rookie of the year and MVP vote, the sensational Mike Trout. They signed Albert Pujols, one of the best sluggers of our generation to a huge contract. They didn't only sign a good pitcher, they STOLE division rival Texas Rangers' ace pitcher C.J. Wilson. They picked up the best player available at the trade deadline, grabbing Zach Greinke. And both of them play second fiddle to Cy Young frontrunner Jered Weaver. And their #4 pitcher is Dan Haren, another outstanding pitcher. Back to the batting lineup, they also have the most underrated slugger in the American League, Mark Trumbo (maybe second most underrated after Adam Jones). And at the All Star break, the Angels top two bullpen arms (Frieri and Downs) had yielded a combined 1 run in over 56 innings.

Phew.

And on August 13th this team is eighth in the American League. Behind the Athletics (only All Star was a middle reliever), Rays, Orioles, White Sox and Tigers.

65-60. Outside of a six-game streak against the A's and Mariners one week in May, the Angels are playing sub-.500 baseball the rest of the season.

Maybe I'm just bitter because they were my World Series prediction. But not only is that looking bleak, but the Angels are in danger of missing the playoffs for the third season in a row. This is the most disappointing and under-performing team in baseball.

Side note about the Yankees: as everyone knows, New York celebrated amazing success under Joe Torre, making the playoffs like 13 seasons in a row. But towards the end of that run, as a fan I was growing weary of Joe Torre, despite his legendary success from 1996 to 2001. From 2004-2007 the Yankees lost 4 straight playoff series. And it was clear that it was time to move in a new direction. Despite being one of history's greatest coaches, and making the playoffs for 13 straight years, Joe Torre was fired. Two years later, the Yankees were champions.

I esteem Mike Scioscia as, not only the coach with the toughest name to spell, but one of the best managers in baseball over the last 20 years. He's won a World Series. His Angels have the best record against the Yankees during his tenure. But how is this guy still in town? How come nobody has questioned his job security? Three disappointing, under-performing seasons in a row in the second biggest market in America for a team loaded with talent.

It is time to move on, show Mike Scioscia the door, and find someone who can turn this team overflowing with star players into a regular visitor to the World Series.