Team Name: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2008 W-L Record: 100-62
Place In Division: 1st
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Projected Lineup |
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Player |
Pos |
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Mike Napoli |
C |
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Kendry Morales |
1B |
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Howie Kendrick |
2B |
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Erick Aybar |
SS |
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Chone Figgins |
3B |
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Juan Rivera |
LF |
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Torii Hunter |
CF |
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Vlad Guerrero |
RF |
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Gary Matthews |
DH |
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Key Bench Players |
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Player |
Pos |
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Brandon Wood |
IF |
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Reggie Willits |
OF |
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Jeff Mathis |
C |
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2009 Projected Rotation |
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Player |
Pos |
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John Lackey |
SP1 |
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Ervin Santana |
SP2 |
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John Saunders |
SP3 |
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Jered Weaver |
SP4 |
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Dustin Moseley |
SP5 |
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Key Relievers |
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Player |
Pos |
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Brian Fuentes |
Closer |
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Scot Shields |
Setup |
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Jose Arredondo |
Setup |
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Darren Oliver |
Specialist |
2009 Outlook: The Angels are coming off a season in which they outperformed their projected records based on run differential. That means regression is going to be very unkind to the American League West champions. If you ever want to remind yourself what a weak outfield defense is, watch the Angels next season, over the last three years their projected starting outfielders have combined to average roughly -20 runs. That's...um, awful. The Angels should have a good bullpen with Brian Fuentes, Scot Shields, Jose Arredondo, and the guy you'll know about soon enough, Jason Bulger. The fifth starters slot is going to be an open competition between Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux, and top prospect Nick Adenhart. When you combine an overrated rotation (only Ervin Santana had a FIP sub 3.9, and only one other starter had one below 4.35) and seemingly average offensive team, and what do you get? A 80-something win team unless luck strikes twice.