HALOS02

I'll assume the just completed 3-game sweep of the Blue Jays (in Toronto, no less) got some Angels fans off the ledge, or at least sitting on it instead of standing. After getting off to a horrendous start, the Halos went 4-2 on this recent roadie through the Bronx and Toronto to get to within a game of .500.

The starting pitching was the story. Joel Pineiro pretty much single-handedly got the team its only win against the Yankees and then Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana mowed through the Jays like a fat kid through his Easter candy. Very impressive starts from those guys, especially Saunders and Santana, who desperately needed to show something resembling their All-Star forms of two seasons ago.

The offense was better. More timely hitting than we've seen and a few more balls leaving the yard. Not much else to say, but I do expect the club to go on a tear with the bats here, real soon (Brandon Wood included). Erick Aybar has been outstanding at the top of the order. He's been patient, but still aggressive in the sense that hey, you got a pitcher throwing strikes, swing the bat. You have to read the situation and E.A.'s done that so far. Color me impressed.

The reason I titled this post as I did, is because at this point in the season (early as it may be), this is the impression I get from this team. We don't have the wiggle room we enjoyed the last few seasons with us taking a small step back and Texas and Seattle taking some steps forward. The starting pitching has been really good lately, and it will have to continue to be until our bullpen gets its collective head out its ass. And this may not happen at all, who knows. Rodney looked good closing out games over the weekend in Fuentes' absence and Jepsen looks decent. But three guys does not a bullpen make. Stokes, Shields and Bulger need to step it up or Mike's gonna start looking for other options down at AAA or even AA. If there's one aspect of the team where he shows little patience, it's the bullpen.