Good Morning, Your Anaheim Angeles of Anaheim Are Out of It


Remember when the Angels acquired Albert Pujols and they immediately started printing World Series tickets?

And remember that dreadful start Pujols got off to and how the Angels, who had a terrible beginning the year they won their only World Series, tried to reassure everyone that they'd still make it to the postseason?

Well, they didn't.
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See also:

Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson Coming to the Angels

Albert Pujols' Homer Drought Begins at Home

Even Simpsons Fans Are Making Fun of the Homerless Albert Pujols

Despite beating the Mariners and possibly logging 90 victories before the season is done, the Angels were eliminated from playoff contention before the final out last night thanks to the Rangers defeating the A's.

With more at bats than any other Angel–he'll surpass 600 before the season ends, Pujols right now has a workmanlike .289 batting average with 30 homers, 50 doubles, a team-leading 105 runs batted in, a .523 slugging percentage and only 73 strikeouts.

Indeed, it seemed as if the future Hall of Famer's reawakening would join Mike Trout's historic rookie season and solid years from Torii Hunter, Mark Trumbo, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and others to push the Halos over the top.

Alas, it didn't. And while Trout now gets to carry Mickey Mantle comparisons into the rest of his career–which could be a great or really, really bad thing–the 2012 run with otherwise be long forgotten. Unless it marks manager Mike Scioscia's end with the team (God forbid).

Being a season of gelling before a run of World Series appearances–no easy trick with those wascally Rangers and moneyballed A's always in the mix–is the only way 2012 can be perceived as really special.

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