Congratulations, Angels fans! You have reached the official half of the 2022 season.
It was a wild ride for all interested. The team reached unprecedented heights in the first six weeks of the season. Then it all came crashing down in a series of unfortunate events for the Angelsall against a background of a lot of losses.
It’s a lot to take in, but we thought why not take a short trip down memory lane and revisit the good and the bad.
Here are five Angels moments this season that made you all cheer… and five you may or may not want to remember, starting with:
+1. Reid Detmers’ no-hitter (May 10)
The wins piled up, the energy was good and Detmers’ no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays made the Angels look invincible. Detmers, who had been erratic during his previous starts this season, became the youngest pitcher in the team’s history to throw a solo no-hitter.
+2. Jared Walsh strikes for cycle (June 11)
The first baseman gave up his single, then a double, then hit a homerun. What were the odds of him getting that triple against the leading New York Mets in the National League? Apparently very good. Of course it happened.
+3. Shohei Ohtani has eight RBI’s in a gamethen strikes out 13 batters the next day (21 and 22 June)
If you didn’t know about Ohtani and needed an up-to-date summary of what he does, looking at his pinnacle role for these two games would tell you all you need to know. He is the only active two-way player in baseball for a reason.
+4. Mike Trout breaks record for most home runs against Seattle Mariners (June 24)
Ask the Mariners who their father is. They won’t say it, but everyone thinks it. It’s none other than Trout, who cemented his status as their greatest nemesis after hitting their 53rd home run – the most of any player against the Mariners.
+5. Brandon Marsh make a catch in left field
This is a revolving door. Marsh makes insane catches in left field almost every night. His response when asked in June what his thought process is before making these impossible-looking grabs: “Ball, go. From point A to point B and slip the gauntlet. You just have to trust your instincts, and hopefully your legs will bring you.” you on the right track.”
-1. David Fletcher has season-breaking surgery (May 10)
When the Angels lost their starting shortstop, they also lost the bat that had come with him. He didn’t have much of a chance to contribute early in the season, though marred by injury. The angels now have Andrew Velazquez getting regular starts there, and he’s an above average shortstop. But in 70 games this season, Velazquez hits .172 with a .492 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. In his first 70 games last season, Fletcher hit .289 with a .661 OPS.
-2. The losing streak of 14 games (14th loss was June 8†
The Angels were nearly level with the Houston Astros, the leading American league in the west. After that, they lost a franchise record of 14 consecutive games and their chances of claiming the division or a wildcard spot were suddenly longshots.
-3. Anthony Rendon undergoes surgery at the end of the season (June 17)
The star third baseman was back from the injured list for all four games before a dislocated tendon in his wrist derailed his second straight season with the Angels. The team hasn’t been the same since, struggling to find a solid replacement for him in the hot corner and plate. Replacing Rendon’s bat and defensive contributions is a big task.
-4. Brawl with Mariners (June 26) results in nine Angels suspensions and Archie Bradley goes to IL
The Angels got into a fistfight with the Mariners and have been paying for it ever since. Interim manager Phil Nevin will not return from his suspension until July 9. Already loaded in the bullpen, they lost a key reliever when Bradley broke his elbow falling over the dugout rail during that brawl. His timeline to return could be months.
-5. Layoff manager Joe Maddon (June 7)
OK, so this isn’t really a good or bad thing. Not yet, at least. Maddon was a much-loved coach at the Angels clubhouse, fired in the middle of the 14-game losing streak. Some players blamed themselves for shooting Maddon. Nevin called his own promotion from third base coach to interim manager bittersweet. Time will tell if letting him go was the right move.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times†