Another division championship, another one hundred win season, and another early first round exit in the playoffs at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. It’s becoming common now for the Angels to have a great season but see it all go down the drain with barely any playoff success. This time around, one hundred wins or a division championship may not be in the cards for the Angels, because the Oakland Athletics have vastly improved their lineup, and the squad the Angels are going to field this season, aren’t getting any younger.
Starting with offense, their main man is Vladimir Geurrero, but he isn’t that much of a threat anymore and age has caught up to him quickly. Geurrero was always a lock to hit thirty or more homeruns and bat in over 110 RBI. Last year he only had 91 RBI and posted a second straight 27 homerun season. Those numbers are great, but not by Vlads standards who crushed balls at will. In last year’s playoffs he struggled along with Torii Hunter, and that pretty much cost the Angels another playoff series. The pitching was weak too.
As for Torii Hunter, his first year with the Angels was okay, not great. He did compliment Geurrero very well, but come playoff time he stunk. In his final year with the Twins, Hunter had a fantastic season with 28 homeruns and 107 RBI. When he signed on with the Angels, everyone expected to see those same numbers, but nobody realized Hunter was getting older and the Angels offered him the fattest contract. Hunter will probably post another twenty homerun season with 70 RBI, and that’s pretty much it.
In the outfield with Geurrero and Hunter, is another player who took the fattest contract and has sat on it since is Gary Mathews. Last year Mathews hit rock bottom in his career when he hit just eight homeruns and had 42 RBI in 127 games played. With Mathews around the Angels will struggle, and his contract will hold them back if they ever want to make a significant signing.
One player who might light a fire under Mathews is Bobby Abreu, who took a vast pay cut and signed a one year deal with the Angels. Abreu was a perfect signing for the Angels, because this guy has consistently put up power numbers, and has averaged 100 RBI the past four seasons. Age may play a factor this year for him, but it may not take a huge affect, and he will most likely be one of the starting outfielders on opening day.
In the infield, the Angels have a very good defensive lineup, with solid hitters that will take the load off of Geurrero and some of the other power hitters if they don’t perform in the upcoming season.
Chone Figgins has been a very sturdy third basemen and good leadoff hitter for the Angels the past couple of years, but his numbers took a dive last year. Figgins batted in just 22 RBI, and is very capable of batting in at least 55 RBI, something he has done since 2005. He is always a threat to steal a base at any given moment.
Erick Aybar had a very nice year with the Angels, and should emerge as a better hitter now in his fourth year in the Big’s. He could finally play a full season if his offensive production improves, because defensively at short he was very good.
Howie Kendrick has steadily improved with the bat, and was a very reliable bat off the bench or as a starter and came up with big hits when needed.
With such competition for the short stop and second basemen’s position between three players. Kendrick, Aybar and Maicer Izturis should all bring the best out of each other for more playing time, and with that, could produce career years.
The only position that is weak is at first base, with Kendry Morales and Robb Quinlan. Both of these players are weak offensively and will probably split the season in playing time.
The Angels have a very good catching situation with Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis, as both have proved they are worthy of being everyday catchers. The depth the Angels have off the bench will only help them, and could easily turn to Juan Rivera who will be the DH, and Reggie Willits.
In the playoffs last year, pitching also hurt the Angels. One player that really pitched all season long is John Lackey. He may not have all the wins, 12, but he was very good every time he pitched, and the Angels were almost assured a victory. The rest of the rotation is pretty good too, with Jered Weaver, Kelvim Escobar, and Ervin Santana.
Weaver did have an off year in 2008 going 11-10, and the losses hurt him more than anything. If he could keep the losses to a minimum it will really help the Angels team.
Escobar missed all of last year due to surgery, and has had only one good year since signing on with the Angels before the 2005 season, and went 18-7 in 2007. He is a good pitcher in the fourth or fifth slot, but can’t be relied on for a consistent year.
Santana was probably the best pitcher all year for the Angels when he posted 16 wins with a 3.49 ERA. With him and Lackey leading off the rotation, the Angels should be primed for another playoff run, because they also have an excellent bullpen.
The loss of Francisco Rodriguez as the closer was huge because he was always able to save about 40 games a year, and one year even posted 62 saves. The Angels made amends for that, and signed Brian Fuentes to be the new closer. He isn’t K-Rod, but can save about 35 games on average a year.
Scott Shields, Justin Speier head up the bullpen, and will have to come into a lot of games and hold them for the closer. Those two players will get into plenty of game action.
The Angels have a good team this year, even though Vlad Geurrero and Torii Hunter are on the decline of their careers, because they have other good hitters on the team to ease the pressure. The starting rotation is very good as well, but still need Jered Weaver and Kelvim Escobar to return to their old selves to make them that much better than the Athletics.
POSITIVE --> NICE BATTING ORDER WITH POWER AND GOOD ROLE PLAYERS. STARTING STAFF IS VERY SOLID.
NEGATIVE --> AGE HAS CREPT UP ON A FEW SLUGGERS ON THIS TEAM. WEAVER AND ESCOBAR CAN MAKE THE ROTATION REALLY GOOD, OR JUST GOOD.
X-FACTOR --> BOBBY ABREU NEEDS A 100 RBI SEASON, BECAUSE GARY MATHEWS AND TORII HUNTER CAN’T DO IT, AND NEEDS TO COMLPIMENT VLAD GEURRERO.
SLEEPER PICK --> HOWIE KENDRICK HAS SHOWN HE IS A REAL PATIENT HITTER AND HAS A KNACK FOR BIG HITS.
PREDICTION --> WILL WIN THE DIVISION AND OUTLAST OAKLAND WITH THEIR PITCHINIG BY THE SLIGHTEST OF MARGINS.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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