By Jeff Flinn - AngelsWin.com Contributor
Thumbs Up
- The starting pitching totally shut down a high octane offense that had averaged 6 runs a game before the series. The Halos allowed just 7 runs in 3 games.
- Weaver and Haren were their usual solid selves, although Haren may have run out of gas after throwing 125 pitches the start before and really early on in the season.
- Chatwood showed his heavy sinker in inducing three double plays, and had solid stuff in tying up the ChiSox bats.
- The bullpen continues to pitch well, allowing just 1 run in 6 2/3 innings in the series, although their scoreless streak ended at 25 innings. Rodney had a hiccup on Friday night, but got out of it and was solid on Sunday. Takahashi and Rodriguez slammed the door shut when the ChiSox were rallying.
- The hitters finally broke an 0-13 RISP drought from the Cleveland series, and went 11 for 35 in RISP situations in the 3 games.Where has that been all season???
- Izturis is showing that when he's healthy he can be one of the better players on this team.
- Trumbo continues to hit solidly, and makes a case for continued playing time (maybe a DH platoon) when Morales returns.
- Wells is finally beginning to come out of his slumber, going 4 for 12 with a walk.
- Callaspo continues to hit like the guy who had an .820 OPS from April 2009 through May 2010 for KC. He even has improved his plate discipline, to where he has 7 BBs and just 4 Ks so far.
- Kendrick hit yet another home run and received yet another walk. He now has 5 HRs and 7 BBs in just 15 games.
Thumbs down
- There wasn't much of anything to thumbs down from that series.
- Hunter is in a miserable and total funk at the plate. He needs a day off.
- Callaspo had some fun with pop ups, but the conditions weren't that great with winds of at least upper teens in speed throughout the weekend creating frigid conditions like those in NY in the 2009 ALCS.
- The only other thing is a question really. Why has Bourjos only attempted 1 steal (successful) despite starting almost every game so far and being on base significantly more often than in 2010 for the Halos? He attempted 14 steals (11 for 14) in only about 3 times the number of games in 2010 for the Halos. I understood yesterday's reluctance, because Buerhle is that tough at holding runners on. Not every pitcher is Buerhle though. is Mike reining him in for some reason?
