The “Divine Intervention favors us in 2012” Angels Fan

                

                 Angels fans most likely had on the biggest of MLB fan smiles when 2012 dawned at midnight last night.  Having the most extravagant holiday season of them all at the winter meetings by signing the “Cardinal” prize, Albert Pujols, and C.J. “If you can’t beat em’, join em’ in L.A.” Wilson; it seems Angels fans are certainly most anticipatory of how their lucrative gifts will play in the upcoming season.

                The Angels are coming off of a 2^nd place finish in the A.L. West with 86 wins, which somehow manages to be a disappointment for them; well, at least a disappointment to their play so far in the new millennium.  Since 2000, the Angels have been welcomed into the MLB’s playoff gate with open arms on six different occasions, 5 of which are devoted to sitting on the A.L. West’s thrown.   However, their start to the millennium’s 2^nd decade has proven disappointing to the 1^st, with two playoffs misses in 2010 and 2011.

                Fortunately for Angels fans, despite just missing the playoffs, they finished 2011 strong with their marquee player signings at the winter meetings.  With the acquisition of Pujols and Wilson, they turn a competitively relevant ball-club into another A.L. dangerous powerhouse.  When you add two players from both spectrums of the game, who both just played integral parts on World Series proven caliber teams, you’ll more than likely be satisfied with the result.  Pending the continued good health of the Angels two new “divisional guardians”, I think it’s safe to favor them in moving into the 90+ win column in 2012.

                The 2012 question of higher power which still remains for Angels Fans though, “Will it be enough to send them into W.S. Champion Heaven?” Though the road to October seems clearer and easier than ever, there is always the uncertainty and perplexity of the ALDS and ALCS to conquer; something which has troubled the Angels in their franchise existence.  Only ever being to the series once, and winning against the Giants in 2002, the Angels have been pushed around in ALDS and ALCS in their 2000s playoff appearances by those other well known A.L. East Boston and New York Powerhouses.  The Angels will most likely cross one of them again on their post-season road, and when it happens we will know for sure if the Baseball Gods have truly taking a kind and “divine” liking to the Hollywood Halos.