Let me start out and say that I am not a huge fan of baseball, but when it comes to the Angels of Anaheim, I love to gloat.

The Angels lost to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Divisional Series tonight, concluding their year of high hopes in reaching the World Series for the first time since winning it all against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants in 2002. They just ended the regular season with the best record in the league, and lost to a team with a bunch of nobodies who barely got in the ALDS.

If someone were to do a survey across the United States, and asked random people if they knew anyone on the Royals, probably around 8% of people can name one. Yet if you do that same survey this time with the Angels, there would be a high percentage.

Easy ones: Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, Jered Weaver, Josh Hamilton, and of course Mike Trout (all of whom are in commercials daily).

I am a Yankees fan and I am always being told that they could buy a World Series with the amount of money they put into their players pockets. As of late though, Spotrac.com shows that the Angels have been raising the bar, giving Pujols, Hamilton, and Trout each $24 million a year on each of their contracts. And since these three have each one won an Mlb award (MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, All-Star) they get a raise up to $500,000.

Another argument always brought up to me is Alex Rodriguez. In is last four years, A-Rod has only produced 41 home runs and his contract is now a waste. Yet right when Josh Hamilton showed up to Anaheim, he hasn’t showed up to play. He barely gets on base this day. he’s a shadow of his former self. Hamilton has only hit 31 home runs sinces being there.

Then there is Pujols. Don’t get me wrong. I do think he is a great player, one of the best. He has been consistant for most of his career, but age hits everyone. He is going to be35 years-oldnext season and his latest contract won’t expire until he is 41. By that time, just a prediction, he will be nothing more than designated hitter, maybe just a pinch-hitter.

Lastly, Trout. The one every girl wants to be with. The one pitchers fear. the one destined to be the future of baseball, but hasn’t become a leader. i understand he’s 22 but Trout is on Sportscenter every baseball night. He’s the face of the Angels. He has finished second in the MVP race his first two years and more than likely will win it for this year even though his team just lost to a team that hasn’t won a postseason series since the 1985 World Series. I know there is more players on his team that have to step up when it comes to the game, but Trout went 1–12 in this Series.

If Trout is to be truly the “best in the game,” Pujols said, then he needs to win it next year or else he’ll turn out to be the next Ichiro Suzuki, where you look to be the future but end up just a stats player all your career. The Angels should make some moves with their players, maybe trade Hamilton for a true hitter.

I just had an idea!

How about you hire the whole cast from Angels in the Outfield! It s brilliant! Then maybe the baseball gods will finally be wearing red and white(not the Boston Red Sox).