Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
"Hope springs eternal."
Baseball fans might have that saying in their heads a lot this time of year because spring means the start of a new season, which begins Thursday.
Opening day: every team is tied for first place, no team is in last, and hope is at its height — especially here in LA with the Angels and Dodgers.
Andy Kamenetzky says the Angels have a lot of reasons to be hopeful:
I think the Angels should be better this season. Centerfielder Mike Trout is arguably the best player in baseball — he's a six-time all-star, two-time MVP. He has not finished lower than 4th since entering the league in 2012.
They have a really good defensive shortstop in Andrelton Simmons, a really good starting pitcher in Garrett Richards, who, if he's healthy, is one of the best in the league.
They've made moves to improve, they added second-baseman Ian Kinsler and third-baseman Zack Cozart, Justin Upton, who was acquired at the tail-end of last season will have a full year in Anaheim.
They were already really good defensively, so they should be even better this year. They're considered a kind of sleeper-pick to win the playoffs.