國際娛樂新聞

PHILADELPHIA -- The Los Angeles Angels, with a curious and perplexed look on their faces, kept staring across the field the last 36 hours at Citizens Bank Park.

They were trying to figure out who the Philadelphia Phillies reminded them of after completing a two-game sweep Wednesday with a 3-0 victory.

ANGELS: Richards dominate in win vs. the Phillies

Finally, it hit them.

"They kind of remind us of ourselves," Angels ace Jered Weaver said. "People are going to look at us that way because we've had the talent the last couple of years and really haven't done anything with it.

"But we're going through a change of face here in the Angels organization. We have a whole different vibe."

The Phillies are still waiting.

"The last couple of years have been pretty tough," said Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, having his best season since leaving the St. Louis Cardinals, with 10 home runs and 26 RBI. "But we're right where we want to be. It's a real nice mix of veteran guys and guys who want to win."

A year ago at this time they were already buried with a 15-24 record.

These days, buoyed by an improved starting rotation, they are sitting second in the American League West at 21-18 after winning five of six games on a trip to Toronto and Philadelphia.

"There were some frustrations in here last year," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "because we didn't play up to expectations.

"They are gone now."

And passed right along to the Phillies, 17-21 — the same as a year ago — and last in the National League East.

"It's been frustrating," Phillies outfielder Marlon Byrd said. "We know we're better than this. We've got to figure it out."

The Phillies insist they are not panicking, even as the team has the third-highest payroll in baseball at $179.5 million, with seven players making at least $11 million.

"That's the beauty of being on a veteran team," outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. said. "There is no panic. Guys know what they have to do. It's just a matter of putting it all together."

The Phillies, perhaps still trying to live off a glorious five-year run that included back-to-back NL pennants and a World Series championship, can't help but realize time is running out. They have four players in the everyday lineup 35 or older, and first baseman Ryan Howard is 34. Every member of the starting rotation will be at least 30 this summer.

"They Angels have got a lot of veterans, too, so we are like mirror images of each other," Gwynn said. "The difference is that things are clicking for them, and we always seem to have that one element missing. We haven't hit our stride yet."

The Phillies have two months to find it.

If they aren't in contention, general manager Ruben Amaro might have no choice but to trade ace Cliff Lee by the July 31 trade deadline. Maybe shortstop Jimmy Rollins, too, if he waives his no-trade clause. And at least listen to offers for left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels.

On the other hand, the Angels could be buyers at the deadline, as they were in 2012 when they acquired starting pitcher Zack Greinke. It has been five years since they made the playoffs. And just like the Phillies, they've had little return on their investments, shelling out $442.5 million on free agents Pujols, Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson.

This year, they insist, is different. They rely on power now, with a franchise-record 38 homers before May. Most important, they rely on one another, with no single player carrying the team. It's third baseman Luis Jimenez becoming a hero one night. It's catcher Hank Conger and outfielder Efren Navarro the next.

Meanwhile, the Phillies are waiting for that infusion of youth. They need third baseman Cody Asche to mature and outfielder Domonic Brown to live up to expectations.

The Angels suddenly find themselves with pitching, too. Garrett Richards, in his first full season as a starter, showcased his skills Wednesday, yielding just five hits and striking out eight in seven innings against the Phillies, and is 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA.

"He's throwing the ball as well as anybody in this league," Scioscia said.

Toss in starter Tyler Skaggs (3-1, 4.14 ERA), whom the Angels acquired in a three-way trade in the offseason from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and free agent reliever Joe Smith (2-0, 2.65 ERA and five saves), and the Angels have a solid pitching staff.

And, oh, yes, confidence.

"That winning attitude is coming back into the clubhouse," Weaver said. "We expect to win, as opposed to what we went through the last couple of years."

The Angels and Phillies might be mirror images, but they're headed in opposite directions, with disgruntled Phillies fans wildly cheering Trout, the Millville, N.J., native, the last two days and booing their own.

"I see us getting better as time moves on," Scioscia said.

As for the Phillies, well, one fan was already looking to the future with a sign he held up Wednesday: "Happy Homecoming, 2020" he told Trout, who will be a free agent then.