It’s amazing the impact a quality starting pitcher can have on a game. When the starter comes out and sets the tone in a positive way, the rest of the team seems to follow. Such was the case tonight with Jerome Williams, a.k.a. “The Fifth Beatle.” With two of the four big pitchers, Haren and Santana, off to slow starts, Williams is now a key cog in the Angels’ attempt to get out of the AL West basement. Tonight, he was masterful for 6 2/3 innings of well executed, well placed pitching. With that came the rest of the team to provide the defense and timely hitting that, at least for one night, made a winning formula.
Angels 6 Orioles 3
Game Notes
— I am wholeheartedly against the Mark Trumbo Experiment moving to the outfield. Third base has got to be challenging enough, but to add one, potentially two, additional assignments to this guy’s plate has got to be messing with his psyche a bit. However, he still goes out and hits, which is justification enough for the playing time.
— The whole Albert Pujols home run drought thing is bordering on the absurd. It is clearly bothering him and the fans are getting anxious every time he hits one into the air. Think he can use some of that quarter of a billion dollars to thin the marine layer out a bit over the OC?
— I didn’t get to see Jordan Walden’s first save attempt of the year (DVR switched over to recording a show . . . don’t you hate when that happens?), but based on what I saw on my iPad, it looked a bit shaky. Remind me to stock up on Tums for the rest of his appearances.
Halo Hero
At some point we are going to have to talk about the elephant in the room that is Howie Kendrick’s mustache. All I say for now is if the dude is going to keep swinging the bat the way he did tonight (3-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBI), he can keep the pornstache for as long as he wants.