Los Angeles Angels Suffers Painful Losses To Kansas City Royals and Numerous Injuries
It seemed like things were looking up for the Los Angeles Angels when they finally managed to break their losing streak against the Toronto Blue Jays. But when they began their series against the Kansas City Royals, things once again began going downhill. On Saturday, April 25, the Royals beat the Angels 12-1. How come even with great players like Mike Trout, Jo Adell, and Jose Soriano, the team is still struggling?
Seventh Inning Comeback Fails
Let’s go back a bit. On Friday, April 24, the Angels began their three-game series against the Royals. Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi was not up to his usual standard. He allowed five runs in the fourth inning, dropping his record to 0-3.
The Angels attempted a comeback in the seventh inning. Shortstop Zach Neto hit an RBI single. Also, Mike Trout drew a bases-loaded walk. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough for the team to get a win.
Saturday’s Injury
On Saturday, April 25, the Angels had another rough one with the Royals. However, Jo Adell always does really well, and this was no different. He hit his fourth home run of the season, which was a 415-foot solo shot to center field in the fourth inning. But sadly, it could not save the Angels from their excruciating 12-1 loss.
Logan O’Hoppe struggled in more ways than one that night. In the seventh inning, he was hit by a foul ball. Even though he did finish the inning, he was removed from the game. Initially, it appeared to be just irritation. Later, it was reported as a fracture, and O’Hoppe was placed on the 10-day injured list.
O’Hoppe has been optimistic and seems to think he will be within the next couple of weeks. However, there is no definitive timeline. Travis d’Arnaud will likely take over as the primary catcher until O’Hoppe recovers.
The Royals Three-Game Sweep
On Sunday, April 26, the Angels and Royals had their final game of the series, which was moved to later in the day due to bad weather. Trout broke the franchise record for career extra-base hits when he recorded his 797th in the first inning with a two-run homer.
Pitcher Jordan Romano was designated for assignment because he has been doing terribly. This is no doubt a difficult point in Romano’s career. The team cannot ignore the struggles they’ve been having, and it’s time they free up space on their roster for better players.
In the end, as you can guess, the Angels lost. Again. They blew a 6-0 lead and a 3-run lead in the ninth inning. And thus, they lost to the Royals 11-9 in 10 innings after a walk-off home run by Royals Outfielder Lane Thomas. This victory gave the Royals a three-game sweep.
The Angels’ Struggles
These struggles from the Angels are painful to watch. There are a few reasons for them, though. For the last decade, the Angels have had weak player development. They have one of the worst farm system rankings in MLB. This is why they are failing to have more players like Trout on their roster.
Many high draft picks and top prospects, like Brandon Marsh and even Jo Adell, have had trouble with consistency. The Angels rely on free agents who fail to deliver. Also, they pressure their players to immediately compete, preventing raw talent from having a chance to grow.
Historically, the Angels have carried many inefficient and expensive contracts. Combined with a lack of depth and high injury rates, they’re really just wasting their time and their money. The Angels are giving so much money to players who aren’t even playing. Some of these players have suffered injuries, and some are really just not pulling their weight.
