Most underrated MLB team
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by Behbigben15
The LA Angels never get a front page headline, and only show up on Sportscenter when they are showing the highlights of their game the day before, why are they so underrated? They have the second best record in the majors, and the second best home record.
LA is successful despite having a very young team (66% of active players are under the age of 30), they may not have the best power, but they get it done, and that is all that matters. Their leader in home runs is Vlad Guerrero, and he has just 14 HR's, five of their regular starters have a .300 BA or better, and one of their second string players does too (Reggie Willits: .306 BA in 278 AB). This team has plenty of average hitters, as well as speed. The angels speedsters include Chone Figgins (26 SB), Reggie Willits (20), Gary Matthews Jr. (12), and Orlando Cabrera (11).
Chone Figgins is 4th in AL average (.332), Vlad is 4th in the AL in RBI's (80), SP John Lackey is 5th in AL wins (12), and SP Kelvim Escobar is 3rd in AL ERA (2.91), and LA Closer Francisco Rodriguez is 5th in the AL in saves (25). That means that the angels have a player in the top 5 leaders in five of the six major stat categories (all but HR's).
Out of all 30 major league teams the angels are 3rd in BA (.285), 4th in hits (1,002), 9th in RBI's (480), 7th in OBP (.343), 11th in ERA (4.18), 8th in pitching K's (713), has the 5th lowest number of walks (307), 16th in CG (2), 11th in SHO (5), 12th in OPP BA (.263), and most importantly, 2nd in wins (60).
Damn! I would say that is pretty good. Not much power but a hell of alot of average, and speed, and of course wins, who needs power!? I think everyone should stop talking about the yankees, red sox, mets, etc. And start talking about teams like the Angels, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Mariners and other teams that deserve more credit. Face it the yankees aren't going to catch up with the red sox, and neither are the O's, Blue Jays, or D'Rays, so lets get out of the AL East, and start talking about the West, doesn't matter which west, because they are both starting to get exciting.
All stats as of Saturday July 28.
