the 1 - 2 punch...

The Angels have gotten off to a predictably mediocre start to this season, 6-5 after 11 games. It’s a long season and a lot can happen over the course of six months and 162 games, but I predict the Halos will more or less tread water from here and finish the season a few games over .500. Vernon Wells, the guy earning $23 million this year alone and $86 million over the next four years, has started his Angel career in fine fashion (.091/.149/.114), with four hits in his first 44 at bats, including no homers and 2 huge ribeye steaks. He's no Shea Hillenbrand, put it that way. My math may be off, but I calculated that Wells earned approximately $141,000 riding the pine during last night's Angel win over the Cleveland Indians after Mike Scioscia scratched the outfielder from the lineup out of concern that he may be "pressing." It’s good work if you can get it. Meanwhile, Mike Napoli, who was needlessly traded to Toronto in exchange for Wells before getting flipped to the Texas Rangers in a salary dump, is lighting up the sky with a torrid start to his 2011 (.429/.579/1.071). Napoli will regress, of course, but I’d be willing to wager that he’ll have considerably better offensive numbers than Wells at the end of the season. And he’s making about a quarter of what Wells makes. And he’s not eligible for free agency for another few years. And… Oh what’s the difference at this point? It’s not my money, and I don’t wanna be too much of a downer with over 90 percent of the season to go. I’ve actually seen some things I like from the Angels so far. Howie Kendrick is hitting (.341/.431/.682) and already has four bombs. (Do they have an HGH test in place yet?)Alberto Callaspo has also played well on both sides of the ball. And I really like Peter Bourjos’ game. The guy looks like he's 12 and his numbers aren’t great right now, but you can tell that he has a lot of potential, and the importance of speed in baseball should never be underestimated. Bourjos can fly. One scout called him the fastest white guy in the game. It’s what makes him a great defender and such a dangerous weapon on the basepaths. Now it’s just a question of him getting on base. His current .300 OBP is not gonna get it done. …The bullpen has been inconsistent, but I like Scioscia’s decisiveness in taking the closer’s role away from Fernando Rodney and handing it over to the young fireballer, Jordan Walden.

But by far the best part about the season so far has been watching the incredible 1-2 punch of co-aces Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. I love the image of two So-Cal stoners – Haren from Monterey Park, Weave from Simi Valley – pitching in Disneyland. It’s fantastically weird and refreshing, the kind of thing you’d expect in the 70s, much less so in this era of soulless millionaire athletes. I have an image in my mind of Weave and Haren doing bong rips and playing video games together. Maybe Tim Lincecum even drops in for a taste of some OG Kush. ...More importantly, Weave and Haren have both been amazing on the mound this year. They account for all six Angels wins so far this season, and this includes a victory Haren earned in relief during last week’s 14-inning marathon against the Blue Jays. Last night, Haren threw a one-hitter against the Indians, ending the Tribe’s eight-game winning streak. His 0.73 ERA and 0.53 WHIP are utterly dominating. And two days prior to Haren’s one-hit gem, Weave struck out 15 batters over 7 2/3 innings pitched in a victory over the Blue Jays. Weave's numbers (3-0, 0.87 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) are also just incredible. I know it’s early, and I know that there’s talk that Scioscia might be overusing these guys to the point where they could break down by the All Star break, but I can’t help thinking that either one of them could win the Cy Young if they’re able to stay healthy. …I fear it’s gonna be a long and frustrating season in the OC, but it’s so much fun watching Weave and Haren work, and their excellence alone could at least keep us in the running so that we’re playing meaningful games in August and September…