Kuzul

The Los Angeles Angels (11-20) currently sit in fourth place in the A.L. West with a winning percentage of .355 (third worst in the American League).

To say that the team has underachieved through the first five weeks of the season would be a giant understatement. Prior to the 2013 campaign, fans and analysts alike had the Halos slated as true World Series contenders. 

But winning hasn’t come easy. 

When looking at the season statistics, it becomes rather apparent that the Angels pitching staff is the main reason why. 

The Angels staff currently has a team ERA and team WHIP of 4.78 and 1.48, respectively, which both rank second worst in all of baseball. They have allowed 129 walks through 31 games, the highest number of any team. In addition, Halo pitchers have had a hard time closing out games, converting on only four out of nine save opportunities. 

If the Angels want to be playing meaningful games throughout the summer, the aforementioned numbers need to improve. 

On offense, the Angels have been inconsistent at best. While Mark Trumbo and Howie Kendrick have been pleasant surprises, the rest of the lineup has underachieved. 

The following five players need huge turnarounds in order for the Angels to have any chance of making a run at the playoffs this season.

Begin Slideshow

In the previous decade, a culture of winning was established in Anaheim. The Angels qualified for the postseason six times in the last 11 years (which included a memorable World Series title run in 2002).

But after missing the playoffs in 2010 and 2011, the direction of the team began to come under question. Angels owner Arte Moreno took action and parted ways with the team’s longtime general manager Tony Reagins. In his place, Moreno hired ex-Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Jerry Dipoto on October 28, 2011.

Dipoto’s first and most important responsibility as new general manager was to bring the Angels franchise back to relevance.

And the new GM wasted little time doing so. His 2011 offseason signings of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson (on the same day) shocked the baseball world and immediately thrust the Angels into the limelight. Within months of being hired, Dipoto appeared to pull off the unthinkable by managing to land (what most considered to be) the best two free agents of the year.

However, results did not follow.

The Angels scuffled early in the 2012 season and missed the playoffs after finishing in third place in the highly competitive A.L. West.

Coming off a season that was classified by many as a complete failure, Dipoto put his thinking cap on and went back to work. In the offseason, he declined expensive options for Ervin Santana, Dan Haren and Torii Hunter.

As a result, the Angels’ coffers were full enough to make another big splash in free agency.

In December of 2012, the team signed perennial MVP-candidate Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract.

With a formidable batting lineup that featured Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, the team appeared to join a short list of World Series contenders.

However, the team’s start to the 2013 season has been less than stellar.

The Angels currently have a 4-9 record and find themselves tied for last place in the A.L. West with the lowly Houston Astros (who have a 2013 payroll that is $106 million lower than the Angels’). They are already 5.5 games behind the division-leading Oakland Athletics.

Missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season could possibly lead to the end of the Scioscia/Dipoto era in Anaheim.

The following slideshow reveals three moves that Angel’s general manager Jerry Dipoto should consider in an effort to right the sinking ship.

*All statistics are courtesy of baseball-reference.com

Begin Slideshow

With the start of the 2013 MLB season just a week away, the Los Angeles Angels will be required to reduce their 40-man expanded roster to a 25-man active roster.

On Opening Day, the team’s active roster will most likely consist of five starting pitchers, six infielders, five outfielders, two catchers and seven relief pitchers.

With the Angels batting lineup and starting pitching already secured in the offseason, the team was faced with the task of determining its bullpen and bench players during spring training.

The following slides reveal who’s in and who’s out in regards to the team’s remaining roster spots.

*All projections are based off of the Los Angeles Angels team page on baseballprospectus.com 

Begin Slideshow

With the disappointment of the 2012 season in the rear-view mirror, the Los Angeles Angels will look to turn the page. Leading the charge in 2013 will be their dynamic offensive, which is headlined by Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.

The three stars together account for 15 All-Star Game selections, 10 Silver Slugger awards, four MVP awards, two Rookie of the Year honors and two batting titles.

Added to their responsibilities: The hopes and dreams of bringing another World Series crown to Southern California.

In the offseason, the Angels shelled out a five-year, $125 million deal for Josh Hamilton to try to make that dream become a reality.

With Trout batting leadoff and Pujols-Hamilton batting 3-4 this season, the Angels will have one of the most menacing trios in baseball history at the top half of their lineup.

Considering that Trout, Pujols and Hamilton account for a $34 million chunk of the 2013 payroll, the pressure to perform will certainly accompany each and every at bat.

Below is a look at their stats from last year and my projected stats for them 2013.

Mike Trout 

2012 Stats: 

G     AB     R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     SO     SB     AVG   

139  559  129   182    27      8       30      83       67     139     49      .326     

2013 Projected Stats:

G     AB     R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     SO     SB     AVG                

161  651   145   210   29      7      33      96       73      164     58     .322

Analysis: Mike Trout’s 2012 rookie campaign was historic. He led MLB in runs scored (129) and stolen bases (49). He also surprisingly led all of baseball in Baseball-Reference’s Wins Above Replacement statistic at 10.7 (the WAR statistic is a single number that presents the number of wins a player added to a team above what a replacement player would add).

Since the end of the 19th century, only pitcher Dwight Gooden had a higher WAR statistic as a 20-year-old in 1985.

Clearly, Mike Trout’s production at the leadoff position was tremendous in 2012. The Angels will look for him to have similar success in an expanded role this year. If he can avoid injury, look for Trout to play more than last year.

With more games played will come more at bats and more production for the talented 21-year-old. Trout will likely join the 30-50 club and be a mainstay in the 2013 MVP race.

With his speed and ability to put the ball in play, Trout’s batting average figures to remain above .320. His runs total will come close to 150 with RBI-machines Pujols and Hamilton batting behind him in the lineup.

Trout’s strikeout total, likely to rise above 150 this year, is the only pause for concern in his 2013 projections. However, as long as his slugging (.564 last year) and on-base percentages (.399) remain strong, strikeouts will certainly be forgiven.

Albert Pujols

2012 Stats:

G      AB     R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     SO     SB     AVG                

154   607    85   173    50      0      30      105     52       76      8       .285

2013 Projected Stats:

G      AB     R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     SO     SB     AVG                

158   624    96   187    51      0      35      124     57      79       6       .299

Analysis: Albert Pujols is coming off perhaps his worst batting season since entering the big leagues in 2001, largely in part to a dismal April start where he hit only .217 with no home runs.

When looking back on his numbers from 2012, it is amazing to think that Pujols still managed to hit 30 home runs and 100-plus RBI despite his early season struggles. The three-time National League MVP admitted to pressing early on in the season in an attempt to try to live up to past production.

About last year’s slow start, Pujols said, “I spread the strike zone a little bit, tried to hit a two-run homer with nobody on base. It happens.” 

In the offseason, Pujols had a clean-up procedure on his right knee. As of the start of spring training, he is still rehabbing from the surgery and is admittedly “easing into” baseball activity. He plans to be ready for the start of the 2013 season.

Assuming the 33-year-old slugger enters the season healthy, look for him to regain his elite hitting status in 2013 as his familiarity with American League pitching increases. He will lead the club with around 35 home runs and 124 RBI. With Mike Trout and Erick Aybar batting ahead of him, Pujols should see many opportunities to clear the bases.

Pujols’ production in the three hole will likely determine how the Angels do as an offensive unit. If he falters like he did early last year, another 6-14 start for the team would not be out of the question. However, if he performs at or near the level of his current career averages (.325 batting average, 39.6 home runs and 119.5 RBI), the AL West could be won by the summer.

Josh Hamilton

2012 Stats:

G      AB     R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     SO     SB     AVG                

148   562    103   160   31     2      43      127     60       162     7       .285

2013 Projected Stats:

G      AB     R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     SO     SB     AVG                

136   522    91   145   26       0      31       98      53     133      7       .277

Analysis: Josh Hamilton’s debut season with the Angels will be rockier than most expect. According to ESPN’s split stats, Hamilton ended last year’s campaign in a major slump. In September, he batted .259 and drove in only 15 runs. His numbers slipped even further in October, posting a measly .154 batting average.

In his six-year career, Hamilton has never played more than 156 games. Injuries and off-the-field incidents have minimized his playing time. From 2007-2012, Hamilton has averaged only 122 games played per season. It is not likely that he will exceed that number by much in 2013. 

It would not be surprising for the left-hander to take a month or two to get acclimated to a new ballpark and new teammates. 

Last year, Hamilton had the luxury of playing in the fourth-most hitter-friendly stadium in the majors, according to MLB Park Factors. The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has a reputation as a launching pad for home runs, especially in the warm summer air.

On the other side of the coin, Angel Stadium was ranked as the 27th worst hitter’s park out of 30 in 2012. Home runs and extra base hits come at a premium in this ballpark. Therefore, with reduced games played and a pitcher-friendly ballpark to get used to, it seems rather logical to believe that Hamilton’s numbers will come down across the board in 2013.       

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com