2011 Los Angeles Angels Predictions
The Los Angeles Angels won only 80 games and fell to third place in the AL West in 2010 after three consecutive seasons of 94-plus victories earned them three straight division titles. The offense was never really able to recover from the loss of Kendry Morales in May. With Morales back healthy from his fractured ankle, with Vernon Wells now donning a red cap, and with Dan Haren on board for an entire season, there is reason for optimism in Angels’ camp. The Los Angeles Angels are listed at +2000 to win the 2011 World Series.
Pitching: The Angels have assembled a top notch starting rotation. Jered Weaver wasted no time emerging as the staff ace last season. He went 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA and led the majors with 233 strikeouts. Weaver could have easily threatened 20 wins had he received better run support.
The Halos are hoping Dan Haren can pick up where he left off. After being acquired from Arizona, he went 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA down the stretch for Los Angeles.
Ervin Santana is coming off a season in which he led the team with 17 wins. He also posted a respectable 3.92 ERA. Joel Pineiro went 10-7 with a 3.84 ERA in his first season with the Angels.
Projected fifth starter, Scott Kazmir, is the weak link. He went 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA last season. His leash will be short, but the Angels believe he can have a bounce back year.
The Angels were also able to bolster their bullpen by adding free agent southpaws Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi. The closer spot, however, is still a question mark. Fernando Rodney should get first crack at taking the mound in the ninth, but his 5.65 ERA last September is a bit of a concern entering the season.
Lineup: Morales is expected to make a full recovery from his ankle injury. That’s great news for the Angels, which desperately need his bat in the lineup every day. We’re talking about a player who hit .306 with 34 home runs and 108 RBIs in 2009. Second baseman Howie Kendrick, shortstop Erick Aybar and third baseman Maicer Izturis are expected to join Morales on the infield.
Kendrick is coming off a season in which he posted career highs in hits (172), home runs (10), RBIs (75), runs scored (67) and steals (14). The Angels need a bounce back season from Aybar, who struggled at the plate and in the field, and they could use any kind of production at all from the hot corner. Brandon Wood hit just .146 when given a full-time opportunity, which may open the door for Izturis.
Adding Vernon Wells to the outfield to team with Torii Hunter has created plenty of buzz among Angels fans. Wells hit .273 with 31 round trippers and 88 RBIs for the Blue Jays in 2010. Hunter, the nine-time Gold Glover, has maybe lost a step in the field, but he is still pretty solid at the plate. He hit .281 with 23 home runs and 90 RBIs last season. The Halos could choose to fill the other outfield slot with Peter Bourjos, who looks like a Gold Glover in the making.
Bobby Abreu is the leading candidate to fill the DH slot and Jeff Mathis and Hank Conger should get the most reps behind the plate.
Prediction – 2nd Place AL West: The Angels have a chance to get back to the top of the West. Wells could be a nice addition if he performs like he did in 2010, not like he did in 2009, and the starting rotation is looking very good on paper. I think Texas takes the division again, but Los Angeles should close the gap. Baseball odds makers have listed the Angels at +225 to win the AL West.
