On the day Torii Hunter was named to The Sporting News' American League All-Star team, you couldn't blame Angels fans for wondering when, or if, their gifted center fielder will make an impact in the ALCS.
So far, going into Game 5 tonight, Hunter's bat has been whisper quiet, delivering only one extra-base hit, no home runs and, most important, zero RBIs in the four games against the Yankees.
It's been something of a strange season for the team's highest-paid player. In the first half, he was easily the Angels' MVP, hitting .305 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs and fielding spectacularly before the All-Star break. But then he strained his right groin, had to sit out 32 games, and only had a .289 average with five home runs and 25 RBIs after the break.
This is the emotional leader of the team, the unofficial captain whose three-run home run in Game 1 of the ALDS catapulted the Angels to a three-game sweep of Boston.
Against New York, though, it's been a different story. Maybe it should have been expected. In 30 regular season at-bats against the Yankees, he hit .233 with no home runs. In the ALCS in 17 at-bats, he is hitting .235 without hitting a homer.
With his team facing possible elimination tonight, it will be interesting to see if Hunter can get back to his All-Star self.
-- Steve Bisheff