Angels News: Halos Plummet in Latest Power Rankings
Things haven't gone well for the Los Angeles Angels.
In truth, that description is probably putting it lightly for an Angels team that has lost six straight games and eight of their last 10, and suddenly finds themselves nearly out of playoff contention.
This wasn't how things were supposed to go for the Halos. Not after keeping Shohei Ohtani and adding key names at the trade deadline.
But instead of climbing up the wild card standings, the Angels are now on the precipice of a lost season and went on a freefall in the latest MLB power rankings as a result.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter dropped the Halos from No. 13 to No. 18 in his latest rankings, and he put it bluntly when discussing the Angels getting swept by the Seattle Mariners.
"A four-game sweep at the hands of the division-rival Seattle Mariners might prove to be a death blow for an Angels team that pivoted to buying at the trade deadline."
In The Athletic's list, they dropped the Angels four spots from No. 16 to No. 20 and Grant Brisbee mentioned new acquisition Lucas Giolito's 12.00 ERA through his first two starts in red.
However, he did preach patience concerning the right-handed pitcher.
Still, allow for an adjustment period for a cerebral pitcher like Giolito, thrust into a pressure-packed situation after a couple years with the White Sox, who were lazily moving buckets and garbage cans around the house, depending on where the roof was leaking. (via The Athletic's Grant Brisbee)
But the Angels need to turn things around in short order. After a trade deadline where they got Giolito and held onto Ohtani, they can't afford not to, both for the short and long term outlook of the franchise.
Unfortunately though, this year is perilously close to getting away from them, and that'd be the most painful of blows for a team that had unbridled optimism just two short weeks earlier.
