Angels 7/17

MID-SEASON REPORT

Anaheim Angels - 49-43: 3rd in AL West: 8.5 games out of first.

With the All-Star game over its time to evaluate the first half of the baseball season and take a look at what we can expect from the second half. There are many intriguing scenarios that will play them selves out in the second half. The defending world champion Angels are six games above the .500 mark, but they find themselves trailing the first-place Seattle Mariners in the tough American League West Division. Despite their struggles, the Angels believe they can reach the postseason in 2003. They won 12 of their last 16 games against teams contending for the playoffs. That includes sweeps over the Dodges and the Twins.

The bullpen has continued to pick up for the starting rotation and is doing some spectacular things. Anaheim's bullpen owns an ERA well under 3.00 and has been the best in the American League for most of the year.

Here are some notes and stats from the first half:

David Eckstein- He is having an off season so far. He is only batting .237 and an OB% of .315. His last of production at the top of the line-up has hurt the Angels bad this first half.

Troy Glaus- Glaus was selected to start at third in this years All-Star game. At the break he is hitting .257 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI.

Garret Anderson- Anderson is have a great season so far this year. He is batting .316 with 22 home runs and 78 RBI. Possibly the most underrated player in the league opened everyone’s eyes in the All-Star game on Tuesday.

Jeff DaVanon- As a replacement for Erstad most of the first half, DaVanon came out of nowhere to provide more than an offensive lift to the Angels. He made spectacular plays in the field, hit two homers in three consecutive games in June and continues to hit for a high average.

Ramon Ortiz- In 19 games started in the first half he has a record of 11-6. Ortiz has emerged as the best of a group that has struggled to find consistency early in the year. Ortiz won five games in a row in June and is on pace to increase his 15-win total from 2002.

Jarrod Washburn- The Angels ace is have a disappointing season this year. In 19 stars Wachburn has a record of 8-9 and an ERA of 4.22.

Francisco Rodriguez- The rookie phoneme has pitched in 33 games this year. Many expected him to be the AL rookie of the year this season. He struggled at the beginning of the year but has been almost unhittable for the last month. He has a record of 5-1 and an ERA of 3.00 so far this season.

Brendan Donnely - In 40 games pitched he had an ERA of 0.38, the best in the majors. He has 21 hold and has not lost a game this year. In 48 innings pitched he has given up only 2 earned runs. He is one of the main reason the Angels have been playing well this year.

Troy Percival- – In 30 games so far this season Perci has 20 saves and has only blow 2 games this year. If the Angels are going to make a run then he and the rest of the bull pen are going to have to keep up the good work.

In the home run derby on Monday, Garrett Anderson edged Albert Pujols to win the derby. Anderson wouldn't have even made the finals were it not for MLB's rule on having a true semifinal round instead of taking the top two out of four. In the semifinals, Anderson beat Jim Edmonds 6-4 and Pujols defeated Jason Giambi 14-11. Anderson then beat Pujols in the finals 9-8.

The Angels put three players in the all-star game, with Glaus starting at 3rd and Anderson in left. Donnely, who has the best ERA in the majors, earned the win with a perfect inning in the 7th. Anderson homered, doubled and singled in four at-bats to win the All-Star games MVP.

STAR POWER

Mike Scioscia counts Anderson among the top five players in baseball.
Just call Garret Anderson boom-boom. He came to Chicago as the quiet cog that propels the Angels. He left with a national reputation as a home run hitter. One night after his surprise win in the Home Run Derby, Anderson started the American League comeback with a two-run homer and was voted the first Ted Williams Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game after getting three hits in a 7-6 victory July 15. "It's been a good year, and this year's not over yet," said Anderson, who's been somewhat of a secret on the national stage, not even making an All-Star team until last year.----ESPN.COM

INJURY REPORT

Mickey Callaway's rehab assignment has nine days remaining, during which time the Angels must decide whether to add him or waive him.

Rumor Central

The Devil Rays and Tigers are each interested in acquiring LHP Scott Schoeneweis and using him as a starting pitcher. Schoeneweis has made it very clear that he is unhappy with his relief role in Anaheim, but the Angels aren't likely to trade their only lefty in the bullpen unless they clearly get something that can help them win now. They could use a lefthanded bat with Brad Fullmer out, but it's doubtful they'd want Tampa's Ben Grieve. Even if Schoeneweis is traded to a bad team, his value would jump by virtue of getting to start.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS

Thu. 17 @ Baltimore - Ortiz (11-6) vs. Lopez (2-5)
Fri. 18 @ Baltimore - Washburn (8-9) vs. Helling (6-6)
Sat. 19 @ Baltimore - Appier (6-5) vs. Ponson (12-5)
Sun. 20 @ Baltimore - Lackey (7-8) vs. Hentgen (1-5)

SECOND HALF PREDICTIONS

The Angels have a crucial stretch of games against some of the best teams in the AL from July 25-Aug. 7, when they take on the Oakland A's, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. Then, in September, they'll have their traditional late-season stretch against divisional rivals Oakland and Seattle. They'll play four against the A's and three against the Mariners on the road from Sept. 8-Sept. 14, then return to Anaheim for three against Oakland and three against Seattle (with a trip to Texas in between).

With this hard second half the Angels have, they are going to finish the season behind the Mariners and A's and they are going to miss the post season after winning the world series the year before. They have suffered injuries this year and things are not clicking like they were last season.

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