Closing our season preview of the American League West is a look at the Los Angeles Angels' upcoming season. LA's roster is so incredibly overflowing with excess players, I have no idea where to even start.How about the mound? They say that pitching and defense wins ball games. The Angels have some pitching... John Lackey will headline the starting rotation along with Kelvim Escobar and Ervin Santana. Youngster Jered Weaver and lefty Joe Saunders have starting spots while Bartolo Colon will try to sneak into the fifth spot as he continues to recover from his shoulder injury.
Strikeout pitcher Francisco Rodriguez will return to the closer spot along with a bullpen dominated by young right-handers. Long-time Angel Scot Shields and returning righty Greg Jones will join a couple of new guys: Justin Speier from the Toronto Blue Jays and Darren Oliver, who spent last season with the New York Mets. Second-year Angel Hector Carrasco and southpaw Phil Seibel (who hasn't pitched since 2004 with the Boston Red Sox) will round out the pen.
Gary Matthews Jr., who hit .313 last season, will patrol centerfield along with terrifying bat Vladimir Guerrero in right and lefty Garret Anderson, who has been with the organization since they were known simply as the California Angels, taking over left field. Juan Rivera will back up all positions along with Reggie Willits and Tommy Murphy.
Switch-hitting third baseman Chone Figgins and lefty Casey Kotchman will hold down the corners, backed up by Robb Quinlin, Macier Izturis and Dallas McPherson. Seriously, the backups are never-ending for this club. If everyone came down with ricketts, they'd still be good to go.
Howie Kendrick, who played only half a season with the Angels in 2006, will start at second base, tag-teamed with Orlando Cabrera's quick glove at short.
Shea Hillenbrand, snagged from the Blue Jays, will be the main designated hitter, backed up by at least ten other players.
Mike Napoli is ready to challenge Jose Molina for the starting backstop role, with young catcher Jeff Mathis just waiting for someone to get injured.
Look for the Angels to be dead set on beating out the Oakland A's for the top seat in the West. They were held four games back at the end of last season, but had an excellent 32-25 intradivisional record along with winning stats on the road and at home.
2 comments:
If the Angels get off to a slow start, don't be surprised if they start exploring a trade or two. With their young talent they might be able to snag some bats and bullpen help.
Some guys you could see go are Howie Kendrick and Ervin Santana.
The Tejada trade may resurface as well.
They are full of trade-bait with all the youngsters, you're right. But I think they already have what they need to contend in the West: good pitching, decent defense and some big bats (Vlad scares me).
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