When it Rains in Chicago's South Side, it Pours

Post date: Aug 11, 2010 4:38:49 AM

With all this talk about who got snubbed and didn't, one often forgets to focus on the players who deservedly made the team. Such is a case with Torii Hunter who last Sunday in the game against the Kansas City Royals had two Home Runs and seven Runs Batted In, and as of yesterday has reached base safely fourteen times in a row. Add his defensive prowess as evident by his ninth consecutive Gold Gloves in Center Field, and one begins to understand why he was selected as an All-Star.

After two, two hour-long rain delays two days in a row, all that positive energy and statistics provided by Hunter did not help the Angels while in Chicago's South Side. The Angels base running mistakes have been key in their struggles. The Halos did not take advantage of golden opportunities given to them by the White Sox, as such they were swept.

The Angels could fall 6 1/2 games behind the Texas Rangers if they can defeat the Baltimore Orioles tonight. The Rangers show no sign of slowing down. The Rangers are a very talented team, and the Angels can ill afford falling behind by too many games. My only solace is that we are approaching the All-Star break and there still is on a baseball yet to be played, including some head to head games.

Anybody who doubts that the Rangers are serious contenders in the American League West is fooling themselves. They are indeed a serious threat to the Angels. However, we are the three time defending division champions for a reason. Although we are decimated with injuries we're still contending and hanging tough, and anybody who questions the Angels' resolve is definitely fooling themselves as well. It is definitely a division battle, but it is something the Angels are extremely accustomed to. The second half of the season should be extremely fun. Go Angels!