They had the best talent in the AL West *by far*. Starting in early May, they had a losing record for a 10 week span. It shouldn't have even been close.
But if you take into account Bartolo Colon coming into the season 20lbs overweight, Jose Guillen being insane, Mike Scioscia's inability to call a ballgame, and our hitting instructor, Mickey Hatcher, instructing the players to try to hit like Vlad (i.e. swing at stuff 6 inches off the plate that only Vlad could ever hit and drive) so that we finish LAST in the AL in walks, then it's going to be tougher.
They underachieved. All year.
Exactly.
Even with the injuries, we had the best talent in the division and definitely the best depth. Chone Figgins and Robb Quinlin stepped in and had stellar years. We had the talent we just lacked the brains and, for long stretches, the heart.
And we do lack brains. We'll prove that when we let Troy Glaus leave so we can overpay Pedro.