The fairly warm LAA Angels, invade the Globe....8/16-19th

[WastinSomeTime]

I'm not sure I've ever witnessed a guy coming out of it like this.

It would have been appropriate. Exactly two months earlier -- on June 19 -- Banister benched Odor after a late, loud night out in Kansas City that also led to the demotion of pitcher Yohander Mendez and fines for Martin Perez and Carlos Tocci. Before the incident, Odor had started to dig himself out of an awful hole that had dragged on for more than a year.

Since: It has been a rocket ride straight toward the top. The homer was his second of two hits Sunday. He also had an RBI single in the first. He walked in the third, extending his career high total to 34. And then, with the rain falling harder and harder, Odor got ahead 2-and-0 against reliever Noe Ramirez while hunting for anything up to take the sinking fastball out of play. He found a changeup and drove it 418 feet to right-center.

It extended his slash line since his return from the benching to .328/.405/.620/1.024. His OPS ranks fourth in the AL behind the three guys likely to end up on the medalist stand at season's end: Cleveland's Jose Ramirez (1.132), Boston's J.D. Martinez (1.130) and Boston's Mookie Betts (1.048). He is tied for fifth in the AL in RBIs (39) and sixth in home runs (14).

Was the benching a factor?

"I don't really think about that," Odor said. "I just try to play the game every day."

I think it was more a guy who didn't like where he was headed again for a 2nd straight year and actually worse than the year before. He was willing to be a student in every facet of the game. That says something about his character. His time off on the DL may have helped some plus Profar was on his heels.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

My favorite aspect of the Odor turnaround is that his OPS is fourth, behind 3 guys who are all legitimate MVP candidates.

 

[DT LUNA]

My favorite aspect of the Odor turnaround is that his OPS is fourth, behind 3 guys who are all legitimate MVP candidates.

Very good point.

 

[Kelleyman]

Soulful thoughts

 

[saddles]

I am wondering if Palumbo is going to start for Frisco this week. He was supposed to pitch tonight for Down East and didn't.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

We're catching Oak at the worst time.

 

[DT LUNA]

We're catching Oak at the worst time.

Not if you want the Astros to fall.