Dallas McPherson had killed it in the LA Angels minor league system over the prior three seasons including hitting 40 homers and driving in 123 runs in 2004 while hitting .317. The only warning sign of what was to come was three straight seasons of 100 or more strike outs including 169 whiffs in that same 2004 season.
So the Angels let Glaus walk away after 2004 and anointed McPherson as his replacement for 2005. McPherson started off the season slow and the Angels were forced to re-evaluate their confidence in McPherson. The rookie hit only eight homers in with 26 RBIs and a .