By Mackenzie Von Kleist |Staff Writer|

Major League Baseball is beginning the dog days of summer and local teams the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres are all in different places for the season.

Angels are currently tied for first in the American League West Division and doing it with a young core of rookies. Starting pitcher and Redlands native Tyler Chatwood and reliever Jordan Walden are earning their halos.

“I think the season is going well so far,” said student Mike Perez, an Angels fan.  “They have a few players that are pretty young but have done a lot for their success including their 23-year-old center fielder Peter  Bourjous and their 21-year-old pitcher Tyler Chatwood. The season looks promising.”

The Angels have finished first in the AL West five times since 2004 and their manager Mike Scioscia has the most wins in Angel history with over 1000 wins since 2000.

The only problem they seem to be facing this season is a lack of power and consistency on offense.

One of the Angels main power hitters Kendrys Morales has been out since May of last year from an embarrassing break of his leg due to celebrating a home run and landing wrong at home plate.

Although the Angels are doing well in their division, the Dodgers are not looking too hot currently in third place in the National League West Division playing less than .500 ball so far this season.

With the McCourts, the family that owns the Dodgers, not being able to make payroll in May, the league itself has decided to maintain leadership of the team.

“I think they are not performing to their expectations at all this season,” said student Nick Stark, a Dodgers fan. “They have a really good young team with a lot of talent but I think their playing is distracted with what’s going on with the ownership situation and the baseball commissioner taking over their daily operations.”

The strife that this team has faced this season is not only taking a toll on their performance but their fanbase as well.

The San Diego Padres aren’t helping their local MLB fan base by placing last in the NL West with a record well less than .500 as well.

Having a good manager like Bud Black hasn’t helped them this season due to trading away some of their best players and losing other solid layers of talent to free agency.

Adrian Gonzalez was traded to Boston for three prospects, right handed pitcher Casey Kelly, first basemen Anthony Rizzo, and outfielder Reymond Fuentes. They are all still just prospects and only time will tell if the Padres will see any real value for not keeping Gonzalez.

Hopes are still prosperous among Padres fans however.

“We don’t have a winning record,” said student Paul Dudley, a Padres fan. “But I am confident if our bats start hitting and our pitching keeps up then we have a solid chance in the West.”

With many over half the season left and the dog days of summer still ahead, hopefully these three local teams can push through and give Southern California something to root for.