30 Clubs in 30 Days: No.16 Los Angeles Angels

I knew this post was coming, the one post that will most likely get me in the most trouble. But I had to take a risk at some point and ranking the Angels 16th overall seems like the perfect risk to take. It takes a special kind of idiot to rank a team with this much talent as the third best team in the AL West, and I’m just the idiot to do it.

No. 16 Los Angeles Angels

Projected Rotation

1. Jered Weaver-RHP
   

   Jered Weaver Photo // Associated Press

2. Dan Haren-RHP
3. Ervin Santana-RHP
4. Joel Pineiro-RHP
5. Scott Kazmir-LHP

Projected Bullpen

1. Fernando Rodney-RHP
2. Kevin Jepsen-RHP
3. Scott Downs-LHP
4. Jordan Walden-RHP
5. Hisanori Takahashi-LHP
6. Jason Bulger-RHP
7. Michael Kohn-RHP
8. Francisco Rodriguez-RHP

Projected Lineup

1. SS Erick Aybar
2. DH Bobby Abreu
3. 1B Kendry Morales
4. RF Torii Hunter
5. LF Vernon Wells
6. 2B Howie Kendrick
7. 3B Alberto Callaspo
8. C Jeff Mathis
9. CF Peter Bourjos

Analysis

Many people would consider me crazy to have the Angels this low, but this is a crazy business and ranking 30 teams with pristine accuracy isn’t easy. First of all the lineup, although talented is getting up there in years and the acquisition of Vernon Wells will add power I don’t think it’s going to be enough to make this team the best in the west.

The team also lacks a true leadoff hitter, Aybar hit .253 last year; quite a downfall from his 2009 season. If he can’t regain the magic at the top of the Angel order then it could be headed south from there. Abreu isn’t the player he used to be and Morales is coming off the most bizarre season-ending injury from 2010.

Torii Hunter has shown no signs of slowing down even this late in his career, but the fact of the matter is that he is getting older and won’t be able to carry this Angel lineup by himself. Putting Wells behind Hunter will form a terrific 1-2 punch at the cleanup spot but with the uncertainty at the top of the order who knows how many runs they’ll even have the chance to bring in.

I’m not as big of a fan of the Angel rotation as most people. Weaver has what it takes to be an ace but the team overpaid for Haren last season and didn’t get out of him what they put in. Pineiro and Santana have shown the potential to be above average but I don’t have nearly as much confidence in them as the Angel organization is showing.

Rebuilding the bullpen was a top priority in the off-season and the acquisition of Scott Downs will bring the club some much-needed depth. However, the closer role is still in question; the reigns will go to Rodney at first but after a mediocre September he’s on shaky ground. That will be one of the biggest question marks as the club goes through spring training.

Don’t get me wrong the Angels have more potential than any team yet to make me look bad. The starting pitching just doesn’t do it for me and the batting order has their best days behind them. Combine that with the defending AL Champion Rangers coming back strong and the young Oakland A’s poised to make a run and the Angels won’t finish better than 3^rd in the AL West.