Angels 4/20

Anaheim Angels 8-9 Third in the AL West

Latest Team Info

The Angels pitching staff has started off real slow this season. As a staff they have a combined ERA of 6.08. The slow start from the Angels pitchers is a large reason for the Angels' 8-9. Starters are averaging slightly less than 5 2/3 innings per start. Kevin Appier is 1-2 with a 6.61 ERA, Mickey Callaway is 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA, John Lackey is at 1-1, 7.17, Ramon Ortiz is 2-2 with a 5.96 ERA and Jarrod Washburn is at 1-2, 3.92. Solid pitching is what lead to the Angels success last year and they are going to need the same this year.

The Walt Disney Co. agreed in principle to sell the Angels to Phoenix businessman Arturo Moreno for just over $180 million, The Wall Street Journal reported April 15. The 56-year-old Moreno, a former minority investor in the Diamondbacks, would become the first Mexican-American to become majority owner of a major league team. Sources state that Moreno has an estimated net worth of $940 million. The Angels won the first World Series in their 42-year history last fall, but Disney has taken steep losses since becoming involved with the team seven years ago.

Saturday Night the Rally Monkey came back to life. The Angels beat the Mariners 7 to 6. The Anaheim Angels rallied in the ninth inning against Kazuhiro Sasaki and pulled out a 7-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Trailing by five runs, Anaheim chipped away in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 6-4. the Angels produced four consecutive singles off Sasaki (1-1) to tie it. With the momentum on Anaheim's side, Salmon dunked Sasaki's next offering over the head of first baseman John Olerud and just inside the right field line, scoring Eckstein and tying it at 6-6. Troy Glaus came to the plate with runners at second and third and hit a grounder that was booted by third baseman Mark McLemore, allowing Eric Owens to trot home with the winning run.

Player News

Darin Erstad, CF - He left Saturday's game after four innings with an inflamed tendon in his right hamstring. Erstad is day-to-day and Eric Owens will replace him in left field.
Garret Anderson, LF - He is the Angels best hitter and he is off to a great start. He is batting .403 with 15 RBI.
Brad Fullmer, DH - He has been the best hitter for the Angels this short season. He is hitting .429 with three home runs and 15 RBI. He has reached base all 10 times he's been up the last two games. He is 6-for-6 with four walks over the two games.
Scott Spiezio, 1B - He went 0-for-4 and left seven men on base Saturday night against the Mariners. He is going to have to slump for quite a while to put his starting job into jeopardy. He won't produce as well as he did last year, but he's still a decent option in AL-only leagues.
Adam Kennedy, 2B - He has been on the DL for the start of the season. He hit a home run Friday in the first game of his rehab assignment. He is expected to come off the disabled list on Tuesday.
John Lackey, RHP - He is not off to a good start this year. He has an ERA of 7.17 and his early-season problems are mainly the result of him having the face the Rangers and the A's twice each. He'll be OK. If you have him in a league, keep him.
Kevin Appier, RHP - He will probably would miss his next start due to right elbow tightness. He has started the season slow with a record of 1-2 and an ERA of 7.36. He is not a good player to have in any league.
Mickey Callaway, RHP - He has not been as good as the Angels had hoped. He will probably only get one more start before Aaron Sele returns. Since it will come against the Red Sox, it's a good idea just to drop him now.

Prospect Spotlight

Casey Kotchman hit two homers and drove in five runs for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday. Kotchman, one of the top first-base prospects in the minors, is batting .317 with 3 HR, 10 RBI and 6 BB in 11 games this season.

Injury Report

SP Aaron Sele - Shoulder (DL) - Due to come off the DL within the week.
2B Adam Kennedy - Hamstring (DL) - He is rehabbing in the minors and will be back soon.
RP Matt Wise - Elbow (DL)

Quick View

ADD
Sele - He is coming off the DL and he could be a sold pick up.
Fullmer - He is one of the hottest hitters in baseball. He said it him self that he has never been in a grove like he is in now. The hot streak can last for a while with the hitters around him. If you have him you may be able to get some quality for him in a trade.

Drop/Deal
Callaway - With Sele coming back into the rotation he will be the one who get canceled out. He will not be in the rotation so there is no reason to keep him.
Figgins- Kennedy is coming off the DL and second base is his. Keep an eye on him though. He is a good player and Scioscia like the way he plays.