Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim

For all the talk about the Angels' farm system, it's shown surprisingly little results as of late until Lackey, Santana, Saunders, and Kendrick all jumped to the majors.  However, almost no bats have made the transistion aside from Kendrick and Arte Moreno's big promised off-season move was bringing in Gary Matthews Jr.  Fortunately for the Angels, the divison lacks a true power and as it looks right now, they'll take it.

Starting Rotation

1. John Lackey (RHP) – Lackey was one of several young starters to step it up in the majors.  Lackey has all the makings of a solid ace and with him still having a few more years of control by the Angels, he’ll figure to be one of the bigger bargains of baseball.
2. Ervin Santana (RHP) – Santana is one of the more heavily shopped and heavily talented pitchers in the game.  He took a step forward last year, knocking out 16 wins and lowering his ERA, plus increasing strikeout totals as well.  There’s also the possibility that he could be getting better, but for some reason, LA just really isn’t sold on him enough where they seem inclined to declare him off limits.  What’s the deal?
3. Kelvim Escobar (RHP) – Escobar is a bit of an enigma.  On one hand, he’s got good stuff and can be an innings eater, plus has been quite solid since he’s been with the Angels.  On the other hand, elbow problems make me nervous, as there’s the chance that he’ll miss significant time at some point during the season.  Hmm, tough call.  I’d be tempted to move him down to the fifth starters role, but I’ve got some worries about the last two guys on the list.
4. Joe Saunders (LHP) – The lone lefty posted a relatively decent campaign last season in limited action and he’ll likely be placed into the rotation now that Bartolo Colon is on the DL.  Saunders has the potential to be very good in the future, provided he gets the starts he needs to.
5. Jered Weaver (RHP) – Weaver had about as good a debut as any pitcher has had in baseball history.  But is he really as good as he was last season.  Weaver is an extremely flyball pitcher that tends to work up in the strike zone, cutting his margin of error, plus his stuff is good, but not dominating and he relies a bit more on smoke and mirrors than does his closest contemporary, Justin Verlander.  Weaver will be likely slump this year, as he threw 200 innings last year, 56 more than his personal high, and he’ll likely suffer some fatigue, as well as an adjustment period when the league starts seeing more and more of him.  But I do think he’ll be a middle of the rotation starter and will be better than his brother. 

Bullpen

• Francisco Rodriguez (Closer) – Rodriguez is a dangerous closer with great stuff that can make hitters look foolish.  But long term, I’d worry about the health risk about him.  Rodriguez has a jerky delivery that wears on a player’s durability.  I’m surprised that he hasn’t already blown out something.  The Angels are hoping that he’ll prove to be durable, but you have to wonder if this is the year that his luck runs out.
• Scott Shields (Setup Man) – Shields is an excellent setup man that can also handle closing duties if need be.  Shields is also highly desired by other clubs to be a closer, a role that Shields himself has stated he would like to assume once more before his career is over.  Depending on how things go with LA, plus all their moves this past off-season, I wonder if this will be the year that the Angels finally decide to pull the trigger on a deal.
• Justin Speier (RHP) – This was a questionable acquisition, as the Angels already had a solid setup crew.  Adding Speier won’t hurt, but wasn’t there other options that the Angels could have gone to internally, allowing them to use the money spent on offense.  I can’t help but wonder if this may be laying the groundwork for a Shields departure.
• Darren Oliver (LHP) – The Angels saw a need for a lefty reliever after J.C. Romero imploded, but I’m not sure that Oliver is it.  The thing is, Oliver was all but washed up last season until a momentary rebirth with the Mets during the playoffs suddenly made him a hot item.  We’ll see if it really is a rebirth of just a momentary flash in the pan that earns Oliver another hefty paycheck.
• Hector Carrasco (RHP) – Carrasco was a dominant addition to the Angels last season, doing well in relief as well as in three starts.  He’s a more than capable swingman and should do well as the Angels’ defacto long reliever.
• Phil Seibel (LHP) – Acquired from Boston for the underwhelming J.C. Romero, Seibel gives the Angels another option in the pen.  Seibel has had an injury-filled pro career that included a brief stint with the Red Sox in 2004.  Seibel primarily lives and dies by the command over his 86-88 mph his fastball and his slider.  He should be okay if he stays healthy and gets some opportunities to prove himself. 

Starting Lineup

1. Gary Matthews Jr. (CF) – The Angels’ big acquisition, the Angels hope that Matthews can be the presence he was in Texas last season.  I doubt it.  Matthews had a hell of a year, but he’s 32 going on 33, not a great age for a centerfielder, and prior to that season he hit below .250 for his career with little pop.  He had been cut several times and joined the Rangers on a minor league deal.  While Matthews will improve the outfield defense, which was horrible last season, he’s not the impact player the Angels think he is and his contract will be an albatross on the Angels payroll for years.  He’ll hit leadoff in April, but will be hitting 7th come July.
2. Orlando Cabrera (SS) – Artie Moreno signed Cabrera a couple of years ago straight off of his run with Boston, then tried to trade him back when Cabrera wasn’t performing the way he planned.  In reality, Cabrera is a solid defender with enough pop to keep him as a regular.  He’s a natural fit for the second spot, at least until Howie Kendrick is ready to move down.  Cabrera is best at the top of the lineup, but his strikeouts tend to be frustrating.
3. Vladimir Guerrero (RF) – Vlad has again watched the Angels go through another off-season (and another trade deadline, for that matter) and not add a player that could help him produce in that lineup.  Even worse, Guerrero is getting older and many scouts are wondering if Vlad is playing hurt more and more often, as his back is becoming more and more of an issue as he ages.  One scout noted that Guerrero is more of a streak hitter now than he used to be.  With all of that said, I think Guerrero is still one of the most dangerous bats in baseball, as he has such a wide strike zone and such a great eye to recognize pitches.  I think he’ll continue to hit, but I do agree that Guerrero is losing range in the outfield and might have to move to the DH position in another two seasons in order to preserve him, as he does seem due for a breakdown.  If he does, the Angels, no matter how great their pitching, go straight into the ####.
4. Garret Anderson (LF) – Anderson is an above average player on the downslide of his career, nothing special.  He really shouldn’t be considered a middle of the order bat anymore, as the power is going quickly and he’s playing fewer and fewer games per season, but the Angels’ lack of moves at the deadline and in the off-season puts the onus on him to bat cleanup.
5. Shea Hillenbrand (DH) – Hillenbrand will be the Angels’ DH for the time being, until Juan Rivera returns from his injury or until they find someone better than the both of them.  Hillenbrand has some power, but he hasn’t shown a lick of plate discipline, strikes out far more than he walks, is a terrible defender and is a less than sunny personality in the clubhouse.  If you can handle all of that, the Angels got a great deal.
6. Howie Kendrick (2B) – Kendrick made longtime Angel Adam Kennedy expendable after Kendrick tore up the lower minors.  Kendrick has been compared to a right handed version of Tony Gywnn, but the ability wasn’t there last season, mostly because the Angels insisted on playing Kendrick out of position.  With second base now his, Kendrick should do well.  He’s going to be a special player.
7. Chone Figgins (3B) – I never got into the hype about FIggins, as I view the whole “sparkplug” of a player comparison to be overrated.  In reality, Figgins is nothing more than a glorified utilityman who for some reason is so attractive to some General Managers that they’ll deal a first class prospect in return for him, while the Angels secretly cackle in delight.
8. Kendry Morales (1B) – Until Juan Rivera returns, Morales will probably stay with the main club to give him a chance to push Casey Kotchman to perform better or to allow him to take the first base job permanently.  Morales has solid power potential, but after a promising start, he floundered, part of it being the pitchers adjusting to him, the other part being that much of his impressive minor league stats were based on the fact that he was probably playing at a lower skill level.  Morales will begin the season on the bench, but whether or not he stays in Anaheim or returns to Salt Lake is up to him.  The Angels hope Morales can provide some power.  The Angels haven’t gotten any production out of since Mo Vaughn was with the team back in 2000, when they were still the Anaheim Angels. 
9. Mike Napoli (C) – Napoli had a promising start after the catching situation imploded early on, but Napoli has good pop to his bat and has a solid glove behind the plate.  He’s also a huge threat to strikeout often, meaning that he’s going into the back of the order if he wins the starting job in camp, which I think he will.

Bench

• Jose Molina (C) – Molina is like all of the other Molina brothers in that he’s got an excellent glove and calls a great game.  Unfortunately, like all the Molinas save Benji, he can’t hit to save his own life.
• Macier Izturis (INF) – The brother of Cesar, Macier got worked out a lot last season, with all the juggling that the Angels did to try and find some offensive mix possible.  He’s a solid defender who’s real value in that he can play most of the infield, but he’s not good enough to start anywhere for long.
• Robb Quinlan (UTIL) – This solid utilityman can play both infield and outfield corners as well as hit enough to be a okay replacement for a game or two.
• Casey Kotchman (1B) – Kotchman offers less than to be desired production out of first base.  Kotchman has had a less than stellar career as a regular, but the general consensus is that he’s really not good enough to hang in the majors as a regular at any position, let alone a power position like 1B. 
• Erick Aybar (SS) – Aybar is a talented shortstop prospect, who makes good contact with some power, similar to an Orlando Cabrera.  He’s quick and he’s a solid defender on par with Omar Visquel back in his heyday.  In short, he’s the second coming of Hanley Ramirez.  The problem is that he’s still very raw in terms of his talent, but this is more to the fact that he’s really been neglected in the eyes of the organization and the Angels really haven’t worked on him as much as they have on Wood.  Aybar will likely be traded sometime this year, as shortstop is blocked for him in the near and distant future.  With Juan Rivera out for the near future, Aybar will likely make the big club to be showcased for a possible trade.

Disabled List

• Bartolo Colon (RHP) – Colon’s setback in his rehab will sideline him till at least May.  Before then, the Angels will likely have to make a decision on whether or not to keep the portly right hander.  The Angels rotation looks good already and adding Colon to the mix may or may not be the best idea, though moving Saunders into the bullpen will only add to the depth.  My gut feeling is that Colon will return to the team for a few starts, only to be moved at the deadline for offense.
• Juan Rivera (DH) – Rivera isn’t really as much of an outfielder as he is a pure bat.  Rivera finally had the breakout season so many were looking for since he was in the Yankees’ system, but now the pressure will be on for him to show that last season wasn’t a fluke.  Combine this with recovering from a leg injury and it’s going to be an intense few months for him.  On a side note, I wonder how many pitches Vicente Padilla will lob at his favorite HBP target this season.
• Dallas McPherson (3B) – McPherson was once viewed to be such a can’t miss prospect, the Angels declined to re-sign Troy Glaus.  Years later, they’re now kicking themselves for not making a competitive offer to Glaus as McPherson seems to be preparing for the familiar label of “Failed Angels Prospect.”   There’s enough to make a entire team out of them.

Down On The Farm…

• Brandon Wood (3B) – The former top shortstop prospect in the minors, Wood has scary power in his swing and could possibly get even more power if he adds more weight to his skinny frame.  He’s got a strong arm and is a decent fielder.  However, Wood is flawed in the respect that his swing is designed for power, and as a result he accumulates a lot of strikeouts.  He’s also not a threat on the basepaths and despite his excellent arm, he lacks the necessary range to stick a shortstop.  Long term, he projects as a third baseman, to which he has already been moved, and he could get a look in the majors as soon as this season.

In Conclusion

The Angels should at the very least win the division and maybe advance to the American League Championship Series if the pitching stays strong.  But there isn’t a great power bat on this team that can help the Angels and Gary Matthews Jr. isn’t the player LA thinks he is.  This team is very talented and should either do very well or very poorly if things burst into flames at the exact same time.

Final Standing:  American League West Division Winner.