Angels Report 7/22

Anaheim Angels 58-39 (.598) Second in the AL West

LATEST TEAM INFO

The Angels had a very strong weekend. They had five games against their division rivals Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners. This was an opportunity for the Angels to show that they were there to play and they have what it takes to take over the AL West. With wins in these five games, the Angels would set them selves up for a chance to move closer into first place.

In the two games against the A's the Angels lost one and won one. After those two games it was time to see how and what they would do to the Mariners.

Sweep?

The Angels did indeed sweep the Mariners this weekend, moving them to just one game out of first place. Jarrod Washburn earned his 12th strait victory pitching seven innings and giving up five earned runs. Washburn improves to a record of 12-2. With the bullpen suffering right now, Ben Weber stepped up and earned his second save in a row, while filling in for Troy Percival, who is currently on the 15-day DL. Garret Anderson drove in the go-ahead run with his second double in the seventh inning.

In the next few weeks the Angels will go though that little routine again. Now that the got the A’s and the Mariners out of the way, they have to do it again. The have a series with the A’s which begins on the 23rd and then a three game series with the Mariners which begins on the 26th. This will clear the playoff up a lot and show who belongs and who really doesn’t. The Angels showed everyone ounce that they are for real, can they do it again? We will have to wait and see if this story can continue for the Angels.

On the rumor Side: With the bullpen being so thin lately, the Angels are looking to pick up a live arm for the bullpen. The Los Angeles Times reported more names on the Angels' trade target list -- Detroit's Juan Acevedo, Milwaukee's Mike DeJean and Tampa Bay's Esteban Yan. The newspaper earlier said the Angels do not want to trade their top prospects or pick up a fat contract. They might eventually yield on one or the other, but not yet.

PLAYER UPDATES

Bengie Molina- He may be out until Sept. 1 because of a partially torn left hamstring. The Angles are looking to replace him in a trade. So if you have him just drop him.

Brad Fullmer- Over his last five games he is batting .188 with no home runs and three RBI.

Adam Kennedy- In his last 21 at-bats Kennedy is batting a solid .333 and he has driven in two runs.

David Eckstein- He had three hits and three RBIs Friday against the Mariners. He has five hits and six RBIs in the last three games. He has been a consistent performer most of the season and he doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Troy Glaus- In the last seven days Glaus has one home run and eight RBI while batting .286. It looks like he might be popping out of his slump.

Garret Anderson- He continues to be the Angels hottest bat. In the last seven days he is batting .448 and he has two home runs with 10 RBI.

Darin Erstad- He has reported no pain in his foot in his last two games back. He is good to go and should be in your line up every game.

Tim Salmon- He tied a career high with five hits Friday against the Mariners. He also had five RBIs and a home run. He's batting .362 in July with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Since a slow start, Salmon has been on fire.

Scott Spiezio- In his last 21 at-bats he has one home run with three RBI and he is batting .333.

Shawn Wooten - With B. Molina in the DL, expect to see Wooten get some time behind the plate. He has only appeared in one of the last seven games.

Aaron Sele- In his last start he pitched seven games and gave up eight hits and two runs.

Ramon Ortiz- He won for the first time in five starts Friday. He held the Mariners to two runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Kevin Appier- He allowed seven hits and four walks over six innings Wednesday against Oakland. He kept the A's off the scoreboard except for two home runs.

Jarrod Washburn- He is the hottest pitcher in all of baseball. He won his 12th strait game Sunday against the Seattle Mariners.

John Lackey- He has not gotten a decision in his last two starts. In the two games he has pitched 9.2 innings giving up 14 hits and 10 earned runs.

Al Levine- The Anaheim Angels have activated him from the disabled list. The right-hander, who will replace Matt Wise in the bullpen, had been sidelined with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.

Troy Percival- He could throw in the bullpen Monday and pitch in a simulated game in the middle of the week.

INJURY REPORT

P Dennis Cook - Left shoulder 15-day DL (7/5)
P Steve Green - Right elbow 60-day DL (3/11)
C Bengie Molina - Left hamstring 15-day DL (7/17)
P Troy Percival - Left foot 15-day DL (7/11)

INSIDE THE SERIES

Angels vs. A's

In a two game series, the Angels lost one and won one against the Oakland A's. On Wednesday the 17th the Angels won 10-4 and lost 2-0 on the 18th.

In game one of the series the Angels really took it to Tim Hudson. The scored five runs (3er) off the starter. The Angels got big games from David Eckstein, Garret Anderson, and Scott Spezio. Eckstein went 2-4 with a home run off Hudson in the first, three RBI and he scored two runs. Anderson went 2-4 with a home run and two RBI. Spezio went 3-5 with three runs scored. The Angels bats were alive tonight and they also get a solid start out of Kevin Appier. He pitched six giving up seven hits and three earned runs.

In Game two Barry Zito had the Angels number. The Angels were shut out but the A's. No one hit the ball and big bat Troy Glaus went 0-4 and Eckstein also went 0-fer. Anderson continues to hit the ball going 2-4 in the loss. Aaron Sele pitched a good game going seven innings and giving up eight hits and only two earned runs. Schoeneweis pitched two perfect innings in relive.

Angels vs. Mariners

The Angels swept the series moving to only one game out of first, behind the Mariners. In the three game series the Angles out scored the Mariners 29-14.

In game one on the 19th the Angels whooped the Mariners 15-3. The Angels lit Freddie Garcia up on Friday night. Five was the magic number for Salmon on Friday night. He went 5-5 with five RBI. Eckstein went 3-5 with three RBI. Anderson went 3-5 with two RBI. The Angels got a good pitching performance for Ortiz. He went seven innings giving up seven hits, two earned runs and struck out eight.

In the second game the Angels won a close one 7-6. Lackey had his first rough start of the year. He only lasted 3 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits and five runs in the three innings. Lucky for him the Angels bats came to play. Anderson went 2-4 with two RBI; Glaus went 1-3 with his one hit being a home run and three RBI. Weber came in the ninth and converted the save in two perfect innings.

Bring out the brooms. In the third game the Angels finished the sweep of the Mariners. Washburn won is 12th strait game in converting the sweep. Anderson went 2-4 with an RBI and Jose Molina went 3-4 with an RBI. Washburn went seven innings giving up eight hits and five runs on route to his 12th victory. For the second night in a row Weber closed out the game, to earn his fourth save of the season.

QUICK VIEW

Washburn (GET) – If you can pull some kind of trade to get him do it. He is the hottest pitcher in baseball and this isn’t happening on accident. He has beaten some of the best teams in baseball.

Salmon (ADD) – He is on fire. If you’re lacking in the outfield then he will make a great addition. He is producing number in all three of the big categories.

B. Molina (DROP) – He is going to be out for a while and he is not worth holding on too. Just open up a spot on your roster and get rid of him.

J. Molina (ADD) – Until the Angels make a move for a new catcher, Jose will be their starting catcher. He is a decent replacement if your had his older brother on your team.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS

Tue. 23 - Appier (ANA) vs. Zito (OAK)
Wed. 24 - Sele (ANA) vs. Hudson (OAK)
Thu. 25 - Ortiz (ANA) vs. Lidle (OAK)

Any questions or comment on the information I am providing for you. If you like what I am doing or you dont like what I am doing. I want to hear some feedback. Go into the ANGELS MESSAGE BOARD and leave me your comments. Also if you want to get a hold of me directly you can e-mail me at svgros1@yahoo.com. I will respond to any comments you send me.