Angels 3/30 - Opening Day Preview
March 30, 2003
Anaheim Angels
Latest Team Info
With spring training over and the season coming up real fast, its time to break down the Angels spring training and season opener against the Texas Rangers.
The Angels did not have the spring that they were looking for. The Angels won nine games and lost 20. Garrett Anderson had a huge spring, hitting .283 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 21 spring training games. Troy Glaus had a slow spring going 10 for 46 with no home runs and five RBI. John Lackey, the Angels opening day starter pitched 15 innings giving up a total of 18 hits and nine earned runs. Mickey Callaway earned him self a spot in the rotation pitching 20 innings and surrendering only eight earned runs and finished with an ERA of 3.54. The Angels record does not show success, but as always shown, spring training records do not matter.
Spring training is over and the Angels play the first game of the baseball season on Sunday, March 30 at Edison International Field in Anaheim. They will face AL West foe, the Texas Rangers. After a season that had a fairytale ending the Angels are looking to pick up where they left off against the Rangers. The Angels bring in virtually the same team that won the title last season, with the same starting lineup and a few changes to the pitching rotation. The only big difference is that World Series MVP, John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez will be with the club the entire season. Lackey is going to be the opening game starter. Lackey gets his first career Opening Day start after Jarrod Washburn was pushed back to Thursday. Lackey is coming off an outstanding rookie year, in which he allowed more than four runs just once in 18 starts.
The Rangers are going throw Ismael Valdes (8-12, 4.18 ERA) at the Angels. Valdes rejoined the Rangers after being traded to Seattle in August. The veteran right-hander led the Rangers in innings pitched last season, with 146.2 prior to his trade. He pitched at least seven innings in 10 of 23 starts for Texas last season.
Meet the Team
Line-Up
David Eckstein, SS
Darin Erstad, CF
Garret Anderson, LF
Troy Glaus, 3B
Tim Salmon, RF
Brad Fullmer, DH
Scott Spiezio, 1B
Ben Molina, C
Adam Kennedy, 2B
Pitching Rotation
John Lackey, RHP
Jarrod Washburn, LHP
Ramon Ortiz, RHP
Kevin Appier, RHP
Mickey Callaway, RHP
Bench
Shawn Wooten, OF
Eric Owens, OF
Benji Gil, INF
Jose Molina, C
Chone Figgins, INF
Bullpen
Troy Percival, RHP (CL)
Francisco Rodriguez, RHP
Brendan Donnelly, RHP
Scott Schoeneweis, LHP
Ben Weber, RHP
Scot Shields, RHP
Players to Watch
Darin Erstad - He has had his second straight season where he did not meet expectations. He had a great spring and he hopes to carry that into the season. He is a hard nose player and he gives 100% every moment he is on the field. If he can have a season like he had in 2000 the Angels will be great.
Troy Glaus - This can be the season where he puts it all together. He has shown that he can hit the ball out of the ball park, but he needs to be more consistent at the plate. If he can get that average up like he did in the World Series the he can have a career season.
John Lackey - He just came off of a game seven win the World Series. He is going to have the entire season with the ball club and he is going to be one to keep your eyes on. He has the goods and he can post 17 plus wins this year.
Mickey Callaway - He is in the number five spot of the rotation. He had a big spring in which he earned the spot. Look for him to be a solid number five starter. Project him to post 12-15 wins this year. He can do what Lackey did last year.
Prospect Spotlight
Casey Kotchman (1B) - He has a sweet left-handed stroke, but was side lined by a wrist injury for much of last season as he played in only 81 games. Projects as the Angels' starting first baseman by 2005.
Injury Report
3B Glaus (wrist), day-to-day.
RHP Matt Wise (elbow) 15-day DL.
RHP Aaron Sele (shoulder), 15-day DL.
LHP Washburn (shoulder), day-to-day.
2003 Outlook
I am going out on a limb and say that the Angels are going to end the season exactly the same way as 2002. They will finish second in the American League west, behind the Oakland A’s, and they will take home the wild card. The only difference is that I do not see the Angels making it to the World Series again in 2003. They are not going to have the element of suprise they had last year and they did not make any major additions to make the team better.
