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LOS ANGELES ANGELS 

Last Year: 80-82, 3rd in AL West  

Manager: Mike Scioscia 

PROJECTED LINEUP 

C- Jeff Mathis (R) 

1B- Kendry Morales (S) (Will start season on DL)

2B- Howie Kendrick (R)

3B- Maicer Izturis (S) or Alberto Callaspo (S)

SS- Erick Aybar (S)

LF- Vernon Wells (R)

CF- Peter Bourjos (R)

RF- Torii Hunter (R)

DH- Bobby Abreu (L)

The Angels really struggled in 2010 after Kendry Morales broke his leg. Morales is the stabilizing force in the Angels’ lineup from both sides of the plate. While Morales doesn’t have the greatest plate discipline, his power and average make up for it. Expect a line of .295/.345/.515 with 30 home runs.

The rest of the infield doesn’t provide the same pop as Morales. Howie Kendrick averages about 10 HRs with a .295 batting average and a .330 OBP. He lives and dies on putting the ball in play, and luck will be the ultimate factor in what kind of season Kendick will have in 2011.

Erick Aybar struggled in 2010 after a great 2009, and I am expecting a season around .275/.325/.370 with 5-8 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Maicer Izturis will put up a similar line to Aybar with increased OBP and SLG, but without the stolen bases.

Callaspo has more power than Izturis and will get time playing at 2B if Kendrick struggles. Jeff Mathis is terrible at the plate and Hank Conger could get some at-bats if he makes the team. 

Bobby Abreu will be a DH for the first time in his career coming off a poor 2010 in terms of batting average. Abreu’s 2010 was not as poor as some would make it out to be. His power, OBP, and stolen bases, were right around his usual numbers. His 2010 BABIP was his lowest ever, so it looks like 2010 was just a bad luck year.

Vernon Wells looked like he recovered from wrist surgery and had one of his better years. I expect the power to come down a little, but look for a similar line of .275/.330/.475 with 25 home runs.

Peter Bourjos struggled at the plate when he was called up later in the season, but he was the victim of a low BABIP and high strikeout rate. He needs to cut down on the strikeouts, but I think he will produce a line of .255/.300/.385 with more than 30 stolen bases.

Torii Hunter had the best year of any Angel offensive player in 2010 and he is one of the more consistent players in baseball. I expect the usual line of .280/.350/.470 with 20-25 home runs. 

The Angels were an average defensive team in 2010, but they really improved when Torii Hunter shifted from CF to RF and Peter Bourjos became the everyday center fielder. Bourjos has the speed and ability to become one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. According to UZR (ultimate zone rating), Torii Hunter displayed much more range in RF than in his CF including one of the better arms in baseball.

Vernon Wells will shift over to LF, and I think he will benefit from playing a corner position much like Hunter did last year. No matter what, Wells will be a great improvement over Bobby Abreu in the OF.

Behind the plate, Mike Scioscia considers Jeff Mathis one of the best. In the infield, Kendry Morales may be one of the better first basemen in the league. Howie Kendrick has always been considered very good at 2B, but 2010 was an off year in terms of UZR. The same could be said for SS Erick Aybar, but I figure that 2010 was also an off year for him. Both Alberto Callaspo and Maicer Izturis have great range at 3B. 

BENCH

OF- Reggie Willits (S)

IF- Maicer Izturis (S) or Alberto Callaspo (S)

1B/OF- Mark Trumbo (R)

1B/3B- Brandon Wood (R)

C- Bobby Wilson (R)

STARTING ROTATION

RHP- Jered Weaver

RHP- Dan Haren 

RHP- Ervin Santana 

RHP- Joel Pinero 

LHP- Scott Kazmir 

The starting rotation is the strongest part of this Angels squad.

Jered Weaver has become the ace of this staff because of his strong off-speed stuff and his ability to read hitter’s swings. Weaver averages only 90 MPH on his fastball, but he compliments it with three above-average secondary pitches that he throws to right and left-handed hitters. Weaver will throw a slider to both sides, mix in a slow curve, and drop a nasty changeup to all hitters. 

Dan Haren benefited from the move to the AL from the hitter’s friendly Chase Field in Arizona. Haren struggled a little more in Arizona because of the increased amount of fly balls he allowed, which seems like an aberration.

Haren throws a 90 MPH two-seamer plus a cutter, average curve-ball, and a splitter as his out-pitch. Haren is a great number two starter, he will log innings, have a good WHIP, and strike eight out per nine innings. 

Ervin Santana pitched well in 2010, but he has usually followed up a good year with a poor one in his career. Santana averages 92.5 MPH on his fastball, but he relies heavily on his devastating slider. He will mix in a changeup occasionally to a left-handed batter, but the slider is considered his out-pitch. Santana should have an average year with a 4.20 ERA unless he can show the velocity he had in 2008 (94.4 MPH). 

Joel Pineiro, who revitalized his career as a starter in 2009, makes for a very good No. 4 starter. He is an extreme ground-ball pitcher, who relies on his two-seamer (88 MPH,) good curve, average change, and “get me over” slider.

Pineiro didn’t show the same control in 2010 (two BB/9) as he had in 2009 (1.16 BB/9). Nonetheless, Pineiro seems like a safe bet for a 4.00 ERA and five K/9.

Finally, the Angels will need to see a resurgence from Scott Kazmir if they are to contend this year. Kazmir just isn’t the same pitcher. His K/9 and velocity has dropped every year since 2007.

Kazmir needs the velocity and strikeouts in order to succeed because his control and ground-ball rate just aren’t good enough to be a successful pitcher in this league. Kazmir’s season might have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for his extremely lucky BABIP of .264. (Average BABIP is .290)

BULLPEN

RHP- Fernando Rodney (Closer)

RHP- Kevin Jepsen

LHP- Scott Downs (start season on DL)

RHP- Rich Thompson 

LHP- Hisanori Takahashi 

RHP- Jason Bulger 

RHP- Jordan Walden 

RHP- Michael Kohn

This Angels bullpen has some depth, but the team needs to find a stable closer. Fernando Rodney isn’t the answer. Despite his amazing stuff, Rodney’s strikeout rate has declined over the last three years. In addition, he has poor control.

Any one of the following pitchers could get save opportunities if Rodney struggles. Scott Downs is a great pickup for the Angels, because of his ability to get left and right-handed hitters out. Kevin Jepsen throws gas out of the bullpen, but his lack of command gets him into trouble.

Takashashi can be a valuable swing-man for the Angels, but his inability to get hitters out a second time around keeps him from starting. Takashashi could close because of his effective changeup that he uses on right-handed hitters  

Jason Bulger, a high strikeout and walk type like Jepsen, will get some chances at meaningful work in the middle innings. Rich Thompson finished up strong in 2010, so he might get a chance at some late-inning work. Jordan Walden might have the highest upside of the entire group (Check out BREAKOUT PLAYER). 

NOTABLE NON ROSTER INVITEES

RHP- Eric Junge 

IF- Gil Velazquez (R)

BREAKOUT PLAYER—RHP Jordan Walden

Jordan Walden has the potential to be the next closer for the Angels, much like K-Rod became from 2002 to 2004. Walden throws a fastball in the high 90’s with an inconsistent slider. If the different options at closer fail, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Walden at the closer position sometime in the future. 

PROSPECT TO WATCH—OF Mike Trout 

Mike Trout was named MLB.com’s top prospect this year, and it’s hard to find anyone who disagrees with this assessment. He has speed, power, hits for average, and gets on base. Trout has the potential to be a Carl Crawford-like player, and the Angels center fielder for many years to come. He is projected to be in the lineup next year.

PROJECTED FINISH—3rd in AL West 

The Angels just don’t have enough firepower to win this division or contend for the playoffs. Oakland has really improved and the Texas Rangers are still favored to win the division. The Angels could upset if everyone in the rotation pitches like they are capable of, but it is unlikely.

The team needed to upgrade its offense somewhere in the infield, especially at 3B, but they traded for the albatross that is Vernon Wells instead of really pursuing Carl Crawford. Mike Scioscia usually keeps his teams competitive, but this year will be a struggle similar to last year. 

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When Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Scott Kazmir walked Juan Pierre on four pitches to start yesterday’s spring training game with the Chicago White Sox in Tempe, AZ, the 5,100 fans in attendance at Temple Diablo Stadium were probably thinking, “Oh, great, another stinker of a year from Kazmir.”

However, Kazmir settled down and pitched three strong innings for the Angels, giving up just two hits and the lone walk to Pierre, striking out one and throwing 24 of 41 pitches for strikes.

The game between the Angels and White Sox featured two comebacks of sorts: Kazmir coming back from a season during which he was 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA and decreased velocity with his fastball and White Sox starter Jake Peavy, who was felled in July 2010 with a torn latissimus dorsi muscle in his back.

Peavy was also effective, throwing two innings and allowing no hits while striking out two. Peavy hit 92 MPH at one point on the radar gun and threw 26 pitches overall.

However, Angels fans were much more concerned about Kazmir, especially after a rough first spring outing, when he gave up five hits and three runs in two innings of work. But his second outing clearly showed he is headed on the right track.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia no doubt breathed a sigh of relief after the outing by Kazmir as well.

“He’s feeling good physically. He feels much better with his delivery. And I think you’re seeing better results,” Scioscia told MLB.com. “We need him to feel good about where he is and start to execute pitches because he has talent.”

Especially encouraging was Kazmir’s ability to throw both his signature slider and his changeup for strikes. Last season, Kazmir completely lost confidence in his slider, once considered one of the nastiest among left-handers in all of baseball.

While Kazmir was satisfied with the results, he is still looking for more.

“It’s getting there,” he said. “Just picking up a ball and playing catch, everything feels so much better. But I’m not going to say I’m there, because I’m definitely not.”

Yes, it’s still early in spring. However, seeing anything positive from Scott Kazmir at this point in time is encouraging, considering the dark place that Kazmir is coming from.

For continuing coverage of the Los Angeles Angels, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

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When Los Angeles Angels slugging first baseman Kendry Morales celebrated a walk-off grand slam home run to defeat the Seattle Mariners on May 29 last year, the Angels’ hopes for the 2010 season shattered along with Morales’ left ankle on that fateful day.

Now, almost nine months removed from that forgettable incident, the ankle of Kendry Morales may not be fully healed in time for the 2011 season opener on March 31.

During the surgery to repair his left ankle, Morales had six screws inserted to hold the ankle in place. The screws are still there and will likely be there for the rest of his life.

Last week, Morales got a full check-up on the ankle by Dr. Phillip Kwong and Dr. Lewis Yocum, and both were pleased with the overall progress. However, Morales just started a light jogging program last month to regain range of motion and was running at about 50 percent before the Angels shut him down when he arrived at camp in Tempe.

The Angels will err on the side of caution when it comes to the progress of Morales. While they have not said that Morales won’t be in the Opening Day lineup, they are clearly being conservative.

One issue that Angels manager Mike Scioscia is not worried about is the bat of Kendry Morales. In an interview with Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Scioscia said, “It’s not like this guy’s missed two seasons. What you lose is the experience of facing pitchers, that experience of being able to say, ‘I remember facing this guy in August and he did this and he did that.’ That’s what you lose out on.

“You don’t lose out on the ability to square up a fastball or the ability to catch up with fuzz. He lost some game experience from the injury. But he’ll get back on the horse and go from there.”

For his part, Morales is itching to get back to live action.

“I’m not the one who makes the decision. I hope to be ready for Opening Day. That’s what I want. I want to be in that lineup on Opening Day,” Morales said.

The Los Angeles Angels are clearly looking for Morales to be in that Opening Day lineup as well. In 2010, the Angels scored 202 runs fewer than the previous season and suffered their first losing season since 2003. Morales’ return to the lineup will give a much-needed boost and coming off a career year in 2009 in which Morales hit .306 with 34 home runs with 109 runs batted in, his power will be a welcome sight.

Still, Scioscia knows that rushing the recovery of Morales is not prudent for anyone, including the Angels.

“The long-range prognosis is very good,” Sciosica said. “Short range, we’re going to ease him into what he needs to do and have a timetable of when he needs to do it. He’s not a guy who’s going to need 80 at-bats this spring. He’s not a guy who’s going to need to play 25 games in the spring. …I think our first goal is to get him running 100 percent.”

And for the Angels, Kendry Morales at 100 percent is exactly what the doctor ordered.

For continuing coverage of the Los Angeles Angels, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

[Source]

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With spring training set to begin in a few short weeks and Opening Day less than two months away, fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers can’t help but feel a tingle of anxiety knowing that baseball season is only just around the corner.

The struggles of 2010 are now in the past.

Headed by skipper Don Mattingly, the 2011 coaching staff is almost entirely brand new, while multiple moves made by general manager Ned Colletti have filled several gaps in the roster. Although a small number of fans still remain pessimistic as Frank McCourt barely holds on to his regime as owner, the majority see 2011 as a fresh opportunity for the Boys in Blue to become contenders once again.

The home opener in 2009 was truly something special. Second baseman Orlando Hudson impressed the entire baseball world by hitting for the cycle in his first home game as a Dodger. Chad Billingsley was brilliant on the mound, surrendering only five hits and one earned run while striking out 11. The remainder of the Dodgers lineup had an offensive field day against future Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, as Los Angeles routed the San Francisco Giants, 11-1.

Despite all the glory, Dodgers fans were forced to wait an entire week from the beginning of the season to see their beloved club take the field at Chavez Ravine.

Moving into the 2011 campaign, Dodger Stadium will play host to Opening Day for the first time in three years. And what’s more fitting is that Los Angeles will battle long-time rival and 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants. The sellout crowd on-hand will promise to be nothing short of electrifying.

As a prelude to the clash with the Giants on March 31, the following slides highlight the 10 best individual Opening Day performances by Dodgers players over the past 25 years. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy a quick ride through a quarter-century of Dodgers history.

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Ranking Major League Managers can be a tricky business. Managing can be, like standing on a razor edge; one wrong move and you’ll get cut. 

It seems that no matter, what the city, or team, managers are always on the hot seat.  Security in this job, is never guaranteed, so it comes as no surprise that, entering the 2011 season we have twelve teams sporting new managers. 

What may come as a shock, is that seven of these men, are rookie managers; untested in any way, shape, or form. This makes it as difficult, to rank these seven men, as a blind man judging a beauty pageant. 

With this in mind, I am going to give it, that “ole college try” and rank these men from bottom to top, heading into the 2011 season. 

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Jose Guillen, a midseason pickup by the National League champion San Francisco Giants, has been linked to a federal performance-enhancing drug investigation, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

According to the Times, federal investigators informed Major League Baseball just prior to the start of the playoffs that they were looking into shipments of performance-enhancing drugs—including human growth hormone (HGH)—to Guillen’s wife at their Bay Area home.

Guillen, who came to the Giants from the Kansas City Royals in a trade for cash and a player to be named later on Aug. 13, hit .266 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 42 games.

Despite his relative lack of production, he was still expected to be named to San Francisco’s postseason roster. Surprisingly, fellow outfielder Aaron Rowand, who had struggled all season long, was named instead.

This could be why.

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Sunday afternoon’s game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox may have had no bearing on the playoffs, but it was certainly historic in nature.

In the first inning, right fielder Bobby Abreu stepped to the plate and hit his 40th double of the season, marking the fifth time in his career that he has surpassed 20 HR, 20 SB, and 40 doubles. No other player in Major League history has reached this trifecta more than three times.

It’s an extraordinary achievement for Abreu, who continues to provide speed, power, and timely hitting at the age of 36.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Angels, who eventually lost 4-3 to complete the sweep of the weekend series by the White Sox.

Halos manager Mike Scioscia started four rookies in this game, who combined for five hits, four strikeouts, and two errors. Both errors were committed by rookie shortstop Andrew Romine, playing in just his second big league game.

One of his errors was a pop-up that he lost in the sun, leading to a costly unearned run that denied starter Jered Weaver a chance at his 14th victory of the season.

Rookie catcher Hank Conger collected two hits and an RBI and continues to look more comfortable behind the plate; as Scioscia ponders the future catching prospects, Conger is certainly not hurting his cause during his September evaluation.

Sunday was Family Day at Angels Stadium, and although the team lost, Weaver was impressed with what he saw.

“Things aren’t always going to go your way with things like that,” said Weaver. “But this time of the year, when the playoff chances are done, it’s fun to give those guys a chance. I was one of those young guys at one time, and I was just itching to get out there too.

“It’s fun to see those guys work. But you know they’ve got some pressure on them too.”

With the Angels out of playoff contention and playing out the string, the rookies should get more opportunities to show their worth over the last week of the season, and Scioscia will be watching.

“We had a lot of young guys on that field, and there’s going to be some growing pains. I think we saw them this afternoon,” Scioscia said. “[But] they need to get into a major league game. It’s important for their growth.

“All the stuff that separates the major leagues from triple A, those guys need to experience it. See how their talent plays and move forward.”

For continuing Angels coverage, follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

You can also follow Doug’s featured articles at Green Celebrity Network.

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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have gone through a season in which could best be described as abysmal. Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006, they will be embarking on a sport in October that has been unfamiliar to them: golf.

The Angels will be celebrating their 50th birthday next season, and owner Arte Moreno and general manager Tony Reagins will undoubtedly be looking to put together a team in 2011 that will showcase their year-long celebration.

The 2011 MLB free agent class is certainly an option in which Moreno and Reagins will explore and invest in. Although the class itself may not be one of the better free agent classes in recent history, there are names on that list that will generate much interest among many teams, including the Halos.

As mentioned in a previous article, the Angels will have money to spend in the upcoming offseason. Between trades and expiring contracts of players who most likely will not be returning, the Halos will have approximately $25.5 million with which to play with.

Two of the biggest names in free agency that will generate a great amount of interest are Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee and Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth.

While both players clearly have their upsides and have contributed mightily to the success of their current teams, there are other options available in which Reagins and the Angels could, and should, explore.

Here are ten reasons why the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim should pass on the temptation of signing either Cliff Lee or Jayson Werth, and utilize the money for options that will best serve their needs in 2011.

Looking for more great Angels coverage? Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

You can also follow Doug’s featured articles at Green Celebrity Network.

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In this audio feature we have audio of Angels first baseman Kendry Morales addressing his season ending ankle break. Angels manager Mike Scioscia also talked with AM830’s Jason Brennan and LA Angels Insider.com’s Eric Denton about the playing time of Mark Trumbo and Hank Conger.

Kendry Morales met with the media this afternoon to talk about his injury and the status of his rehabilitation. Speaking through his translator Morales was in good spirits while going over the injury and his process going forward for next season.

Speaking with Mike Scioscia before the game he said that Mark Trumbo “will get his playing time”, but right now they are still evaluating the players who have been with the club this season.

Scioscia was also very impressed with the defense Hank Conger has shown behind the plate in his appearances. Scioscia’s comments about Conger came into play last night as the rookie caught a complete game shutout on Tuesday night from Ervin Santana.

Click here to listen to LA Angels Insider.com Podcasts

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When Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia talks, people tend to listen. A distinguished 35-year career in Major League Baseball as a player and manager has given him a sphere of influence, and he utilizes it when called upon.

This past weekend, Scioscia proposed cutting back the MLB regular season schedule to 158 games from the current 162-game format and increasing the divisional playoff series format from five to seven games.

Scioscia wants to make sure that the World Series ends in October, allowing for better weather in the Northeast and Midwest than there is in November, when the current postseason format ends.

In an interview with L.A. Times reporter Mike DiGiovanna, Scioscia said, “If you went to 154 games, you’d lose a lot of gate revenue.

“But if you blend it, where you cut down some games and some dates, you could minimize the [financial] impact, tighten the schedule by a week to 10 days to accommodate an expanded division series and get the World Series done in October.”

Scioscia is certainly passionate about this subject, given the fact that his Angels team was dramatically impacted by last year’s playoff format that had the Angels playing only nine games in 21 days in October.

In December of last year, following the conclusion of the playoffs, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig formed a 14-member special committee to review and revise on-field related issues, and eliminating off days from the playoff format this season was one of the new policies enacted.

Scioscia is a member of that committee, so his comments certainly carry added weight.

With the rapid expansion of Major League Baseball since the 1969 season, when both the American and National Leagues moved to divisional play, the playoff schedule extended the season well into October.

In 1993, baseball added another division to each league, the Central, to accommodate the introduction of expansion teams and realignment. In 1995, the Divisional Series premiered, adding another elimination round to the playoffs, at the same time introducing wild-card teams to the mix.

All of this, plus network television’s insistence to start the World Series on a Saturday night to achieve better ratings, has pushed the season well into November.

The above proposal certainly makes sense, given the fact that weather in November can have much more of an impact on a game’s outcome.

Television revenue and marketing has ruled the day in baseball for far too long. It’s time for MLB to step up and put together a schedule that is conducive to fair and equitable play for all.

You can follow Doug on Twitter @desertdesperado.

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