LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

2005 finish: 95-67, 1^st place in AL West

Manager: Mike Scioscia (6^th season)

Incoming: RHP Jeff Weaver, RHP Hector Carrasco, LHP J.C. Romero, 3B Edgardo Alfonzo

Long gone: LHP Jarrod Washburn, C Bengie Molina, RHP Paul Byrd, OF Steve Finley, OF Jeff DaVanon, C Josh Paul, LHP Jason Christiansen, IF Lou Merloni, LHP Jake Woods, RHP Joel Peralta, SS Zach Sorensen, IF Alberto Callaspo, IF Alexi Casilla

Rotation: RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP John Lackey, RHP Kelvim Escobar, RHP Jeff Weaver, RHP Ervin Santana

Relievers: Closer: RHP Frankie Rodriguez; Setup men: RHP Scot Shields, RHP Brandon Donnelly, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Esteban Yan, RHP Hector Carrasco, RHP Kevin Gregg, RHP Chris Bootcheck, RHP Greg Jones

Regulars: 3B Chone Figgins, SS Orlando Cabrera, RF Vladimir Guerrero, LF Garret Anderson, DH Juan Rivera, 1B Casey Kotchman, CF Darin Erstad, C Jose Molina, 2B Adam Kennedy

Role players: C Jeff Mathis, 1B/3B Dallas McPherson, 1B/3B/OF Robb Quinlan, IF Edgardo Alfonzo, IF Macier Izturis, OF Tim Salmon

The pressure is on: With limited protection around him, Vladimir Guerrero isn’t going to get much to hit. Not that that has stopped him in the past.

Breakout candidate: Casey Kotchman is a .300 hitter waiting to happen, and he’ll get his opportunity as the regular first baseman.

Rundown: Other than maybe Bengie Molina, it’s hard to find anybody who is critical of how the Angels run their baseball operation. (The team name is another matter, but we won’t go there.) From GM Bill Stoneman to manager Mike Scioscia to a development system that has produced a ton of young talent, respect for the Angels runs high around the game. We bring this up because in the face of what appears to be an obvious need for another power bat in the middle of the lineup to protect Vladimir Guerrero, the Angels resisted the temptation to go get a Manny Ramirez, Miguel Tejada or even Mike Sweeney, and decided to hang onto their handful of elite prospects. That strategy could be damaging to their playoff hopes in 2006, but we’ll just give the Angels the benefit of the doubt, anyway. And it’s not like they’re going to fall off the map. They still will contend for both the AL West and wildcard spots, and could snag either one of them. And a couple years from now, they could be saying ‘I told you so’ as their core of young talent including Brandon Wood, Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar develops into a consistent playoff team. That said, they did offer Paul Konerko $60 million over five years, only to see him return to the White Sox, so even they acknowledge their need. Maybe Tim Salmon can make a comeback, or maybe they will be forced to make an in-season move. But for now, it’s time for Casey Kotchman, Jeff Mathis and possibly Dallas McPherson to step in and step up. Kotchman has the best opportunity, as Darin Erstad will move back to center field and leave first base to the son of the Angels’ longtime minor-league manager and instructor. That pushes super-utility man Chone Figgins back to third base for the time being, and McPherson either to a part-time DH role, or possibly to Triple-A, as he is coming off hip surgery, and needs regular at-bats. Mathis has a shot to beat out Jose Molina as the regular catcher, but most likely, a time-share will emerge. With Garret Anderson in decline, the shifting of personnel does little to address an offense that finished seventh in runs, 10^th in homers, ninth in on-base percentage and eighth in slugging percentage. They did lead the league in stolen bases, thanks to Figgins’ league-high 62, and they will have to rely on their efficient run manufacturing once again. There are few holes and question marks on an excellent pitching staff that got better with the signing of Jeff Weaver. He will be a workhorse at the back of the rotation, taking pressure off Ervin Santana, and allowing Hector Carrasco to return to the bullpen, and keeping the Angels from overexposing another young arm in the fifth spot, such as Weaver’s younger brother Jered. If Kelvim Escobar returns to his 2004 level of 208 innings and a 3.93 ERA, this is one of the league’s best rotations, likely just a shade below those in Chicago and Oakland. The bullpen is equally deep and talented, and it even includes a left-hander for a change – J.C. Romero. The Angels will be in the post-season hunt, and we’ll give them the wildcard in a very close race.

Predicted finish: 2^nd place, 89-73

2006 SEASON PREVIEW Click for the latest on your favorite teams AL EAST Baltimore Boston N.Y. Yankees Tampa Bay Toronto NL EAST Atlanta Florida N.Y. Mets Philadelphia Washington AL CENTRAL Chi. White Sox Cleveland Detroit Kansas City Minnesota NL CENTRAL Chi. Cubs Cincinnati Houston Milwaukee Pittsburgh St. Louis AL WEST L.A. Angels Oakland Seattle Texas NL WEST Arizona Colorado L.A. Dodgers San Diego San Francisco

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