GET ON BASE … that’s what counts. Above Jo Adell vs. the Baltimore Orioles (Angels photos).

Ever since Billy Beane popularized what’s come to be called “Moneyball,” the close analysis of statistics has become the foremost aspect of baseball.

I was looking at some season-to-date stats of our own Los Angeles Angels and a few things stood out.

As I write this, the Halos are 41-62, good for fifth and last place in the American League West. But, typically, they don’t get blown out, like a truly bad team might.

Overall, they have been outscored by 58 runs, a better stat than the fourth-place Athletics who are 122 runs “underwater.”

That works out to one run per loss.

In their last six games (not counting Friday’s contest), the Angels have played four one-run contests (three losses and a win).

Based on that stat, the team would be expected to have 46 wins, which would elevate them into fourth.

Another stat is that against teams with a record of .500 or better, they’re at 17-29. That means they perform better against the weaker teams. You would think that considering that they are in the AL West – arguably the worst division in MLB with four of five teams with losing records – the Angels would be able to rack up more W’s.

The Angels last year were among the leaders in home runs and went nowhere. This year they’re 21st and in roughly the same spot.

Home run hitters hit a lot of fly balls and strike out a lot, too. Billy was right. Get on base. That’s where it all needs to start.