It's been a long time coming. However this might be the turning point for the highly paid superstar. The sweep of the Houston Astros comes right after he sweep of the Detroit Tigers. A 6-0 week on the road is a tremendous step for this Angels club. The next 80 games will ride heavily on the bats of Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. Albert has been banged up through the season with injuries to his knee and heal. Chances are he will remain the DH for most of the second half. He will never be the Albert Pujols of old who earned that $250 million dollar contract. He is still a very dangerous hitter when it comes to putting balls out of the yard. Josh Hamilton on the other hand has made Angel fans very impatient.
Hitting just above the Mendoza Line for the season, a plethora of swings and misses has given him the worst strikeout per at-bat ratio in his career. What caused this? Hamilton has never faired well in his career against southpaws and he swings at a lot of pitches out of the zone. He has also tried to pull the ball unnaturally and uncharacteristically. This will account for even more wiffs and dinky roll overs. So what was so different in this series that made him "turn the corner?" Hitting .420 during the 6 win road trip, Josh had multiple hits to left field, going the opposite way, including two doubles in Houston. A hitter is at their best when they can see a pitch a long time and put a nice smooth swing on a ball to wherever it is pitched. Best example would be Miguel Cabrera of course. Simple, balanced, hit it where its pitched approach. To go along with his improved approach and seeing more pitches, Josh robbed a home run Saturday and circled the bases Sunday going all 360 feet on his double to left center and scoring on a throwing error. Hamilton crossed home plate after almost stumbling around 3rd with a big smile on his face.
Hitting for Hamilton could really bring the whole offense together because right now, he's what's missing. How could it be that impacting you ask? It will provide more protection to the middle of the lineup. Pujols and Trumbo are both hitting right around .250. Watch those averages slowly improve if this Hamilton prediction is right.
Peter Bourjos will be out yet again after getting hit on the wrist Saturday afternoon. A fractured right wrist will but Bourjos back on the DL again this season. Bourjos is having his best season statistically with a .326 average and a .385 OBP. JB Shuck will continue to be in the lineup, hitting just under .300.
Eric Aybar continues to hit as he led the AL in multi hit games in June with 13. Trout is just behind him with 11.
