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2008 MLB
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2008 Los Angeles Angels Predictions & Season
Preview
The
Angels felt they were one
solid starter away from
being able to compete for a
World Series title last
season. That prompted the
move of Gold Glove shortstop
Orlando Cabrera for White
Sox pitcher Jon Garland. The
Halos also brought in Gold
Glove center fielder Tori
Hunter to give them another
star in the outfield. Jimmy
Boyd’s 2008 Los Angeles
Angels predictions bill
them as the cream of the
crop in the AL West.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen
Big right hander John Lackey
cemented himself among the
top AL pitchers with a 19-9
season last year. Kelvim
Escobar won 18 games last
season and Jered Weaver went
13-7. Jon Garland will
likely be the number three
starter and provides LA with
another quality arm on a
good starting staff. Joe
Saunders and Ervin Santana
will duke it out of the
fifth spot. Santana
struggled last year after a
solid 2006. If he can return
to form, he is a shoe-in for
the final spot, but it looks
like Saunders right now. The
Angels can put their top
four up against anyone
collectively and they are
hoping that this staff will
have the stuff to put them
over the top in ’08.
Francisco Rodriguez dazzled
with 40 saves last season,
finishing strong after some
midseason struggles. Dustin
Moseley and Ervin Santana
will both make fine
relievers, but both want to
be starting in that number
five slot.
Batting Order
Third baseman Chone Figgins
has struggled defensively,
and hopefully that won’t
cost this kid, because he is
one of the most dangerous
baserunners in the league
out of the leadoff spot. He
had 41 thefts last year and
provides the Angels with a
small ball element when the
bats aren’t clicking. Howie
Kendrick will likely fill in
behind Figgins and also has
had issues with his glove.
But his minor league track
record suggests he will be
an ideal number two hitter.
There aren’t many, if any,
number three hitters better
than Vladimir Guerrero. He
belted 27 homeruns and
tallied 125 RBIs last
season. His consistency will
likely land him in the Hall
of Fame. His lifetime
batting average in the
postseason is just .183 and
he hit just .200 against the
Red Sox in the ALDS. The
Angels cannot win it all if
he isn’t contributing in the
postseason. Garret Anderson
is starting to show his age.
16 homeruns and 80 RBIs last
year were solid numbers, but
don’t matchup well with
other elite clean up
artists. Tori Hunter should
help Anderson hitting in the
fifth spot. Hunter has
really improved his power
numbers since coming into
the league. He blasted 28
homeruns and recorded 107
RBIs for the Twins in 2007.
Gary Matthews Jr. has
already had his best years.
First baseman Casey Kotchman,
catcher Mike Napoli, and
shortstop Erick Aybar round
out the order.
The Angels have made it
clear that they are going
for the title this season,
giving up a gold glove
shortstop for another
pitcher. They may only have
this year and another year
to take a crack at it as its
power packed outfield is
getting up their in age and
injuries are starting to
find them.
Jimmy Boyd took home the
2007 MLB World Handicapping
title, profiting his clients
more than any other capper
on the planet. Who are you
going to trust for the most
winners in the bigs this
summer?
Odds to win AL West:
2/5
Odds to win 2008 AL Pennant:
6/1
Odds to win 2008 World
Series:
10/1
Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:
Updated February 16th, 2008
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