ANAHEIM ANGELES- 44-32
LATEST TEAM INFO
After losing three out of four games to the Texas Rangers the Angels find themselves three and a half games behind the Seatle Mariners and they are a half game up on the very hot Oakland A's.
In the three loses to the Rangers, Angels pitchers have given up 22 runs. After pitching so well during their most recent four game winning streak they hit a team that is on fire and hitting the ball real well.
With the All-Star break aproaching, the Angels can find them selves in a deep hole. Being three and a half games back at the All-Star break does not seem to be too bad, but the Angels are not know for being a second half team. Seatle is going to be completly healthy and they will not want to have to play catch up in the second half of the season.
The Angles have been shifiting their line up around lately. Scioscia has a rotation going in the out field. Orlando Palmeiro, Darin Erstad, Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon, Scott Spiezio, and even Jose Nieves has been seen time in the outfield. When one of the guys is in the outfield (nieves, palmeiro, spezio) Salmon, Erstad, or Anderson has been in the DH spot moving Brad Fullmer over to first base. The rotation is getting every bat in the line up for the Angels and they have been scoring runs lately.
PLAYER UP DATES
Bengie Molina- After a slow start, he has been heating up lately, raising his average from .225 to .308 over the last six games. Also, he had gone 241 at-bats this season before belting a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth inning off Rocker in the Angels' 7-6 victory over the Rangers.
Brad Fullmer- He has now hit safely in fifteen of his last seventeen games, raising his average from .183 to .294 in the process.
Adam Kennedy- He needs to start hitting the ball or else he is going to be sitting the bench or maybe even packing his bags.
David Eckstein- showing that his solid rookie year was no fluke, and is driving in runs to boot.
Troy Glaus- With just 18 hits in his last 110 at-bats (.164), wasn't in the starting lineup on June 26. He is curently 4th in the AL third base voting.
Garret Anderson- He continues to be one of the most underrated offensive players in the majors. Anderson currently leads all American League outfielders in doubles, RBI, extra-base hits and total bases, while his 15 home runs are second only to Torii Hunter's 18.
Darin Erstad- He went on a little slump recently, going 6-29 over a seven game streach. He got a day off last week, but he is back in the starting line up and is good to go.
Tim Salmon- He started real slow, but has been picking up lately. His number have been real good and diserves to be a reserve on the All-Star game.
Scott Spiezio- He has been moving all over the place. He has been playing first base, he has been playing in the outfield and has been a DH so far this season.
Aaron Sele- He has allowed four runs or more in his last three starts.
Ramon Ortiz- He was moved in the rotation. He is now between the two lefties, Schoeneweis and Washburn.
Kevin Appier- Appier won for the first time since May 20, allowing six hits in six-plus innings on Sunday.
Jarrod Washburn- He has not allowed more than three earned runs in his last 10 starts. He is starting to become an elite pitcher in the AL and is a start every time out.
Scott Schoeneweis- He has won for the fifth time in his last six decisions after losing his previous four. His record looks much better then his pitching has been showing.
Dennis Cook- With and ERA of 2.95, he is getting the job done getting games to be closed by Percival.
Ben Weber- He is going strong in the bulpen. His ERA is 2.82 which is very strong for a middle guy.
Troy Percival- He is getting the job done. He is his normal reliable self closing out games.
ON THE FARM
John Lackey got his first major league start on Monday. He pitched seven innings gave up three runs and struck out six on the Angles loss. Manager Mike Scioscia wants Lackey to get more experience, which he won't be getting at the majors right now.
Matt Wise (RHP) was recalled on June 25. Manager Mike Scioscia plans to use Wise in the bullpen as a middle reliever, but he will also be available for spot starts.
Robb Quinlan is tearing it up for the Angels in triple-A. He is batting .349 with 107 hits, 17 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI in 78 games played. There is no word to weither he is going to be brought up or not.
INJURY REPORT
Shawn Wooten could return just before or after the All-Star break. Wooten tore a ligament in his right thumb during spring training and had a pin inserted in the thumb, and then strained an oblique muscle on his right side May 31 during his rehab assignment.
QUICK VIEW
Scott Schoeneweis (TRADE)- His numbers are looking good and he is not piching real well. Someone might bite on him.
Bengie Molina (ADD)- He has been hot lately and he is at a thin position. If your looking to upgrade your catcher, he can get the job done. Wont hit for lots of power, but he will drive in runs and does hit for a decent average.
Troy Percival (HOLD)- Leave him be. If you have him keep him, if you dont have him and need a solid closer, go get him.
Brad Fullmer (ADD)- If you have an open roster spot he might be a good guy to pick up. He is a good hitter who is heating up.
Adam Kennedy (DROP)- He does not play every day. He isnt getting the job done so just cut him loose if you have him on your team.
ANGELES PROBABLES
6-27- @Texas. Washburn (7-2) VS. Bell (3-2)
6-28- @Los Angeles. Appier (6-6) VS. Ashby (7-6)
6-29- @Los Angeles. Sele (6-5) VS. Ishii (11-3)
6-30- @Los Angeles. Schoeneweis (6-6) VS. Perez (9-3)
Any questions or comment on the information i am providing for you. If you like what I am doing or you think i am an idiot let me know. 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.
LATEST TEAM INFO
The Angels are still a very hot baseball team and the boys of summer do not seem to be cooling off any time soon. The Angeles are getting everything going all at one time. The bats are hitting and the pitchers aren’t getting hit. The line up the Angeles put out every night is full of power and they have been showing it. Angels hitters have struck out 316 times this season, the fewest in the majors. The pitching staff got the tune up it needed and now they are getting to job done and are running full speed ahead, with Kevin Appier being an exception. The Angels do not have a legitimate ace, but they have five very solid pitchers.
Though the Angels have lost three strait they still find them selves only 2 games behind the Seattle Mariners. At this time last year the Mariners were running away with the division and the Angels were in third place not even looking to make a move into first or even into the playoffs. This year they can make a big run for first place and a birth into the playoffs. It’s safe to say the wild card is going to come out of American League East. With the A’s heating up and the Mariners getting healthy, this is going to come down to the team who makes the least mistakes and plays the smartest baseball.
The one weakness the Angles need to improve on in order to compete with the Mariners is in the bullpen. They have the starters and the closer to get the job done, but there are no reliable arms to get from one point to the other. Appier and Sele have been doing their jobs eating up lots of innings. With Appier and Sele going late into games it takes pressure off of the bullpen.
The Angles match great at every position with the Mariners.
ANGELS---MARINERS
C-Molina C-Wilson
1stSpiezio 1st-Olerud
2edKennedy 2nd -Boone
SS-Eckstein SS-Guillen
3rd-Glaus 3rd-Cirillo
LF-Anderson LF-Sierra
CF-Erstad CF-Cameron
RF-Salmon RF-Suzuki
DH-Fullmer DH-Marinez
SP-Sele SP-Garcia
SP-Appier SP-Moyer
SP-Washburn SP-Baldwin
SP-Ortiz SP-Pineiro
SP-Schoeneweis SP-Soriano
MRLevine MR-Rhodes
CL-Percival CL-Sasaki
PLAYER NEWS
Kevin Appier said he felt a sensation in his arm while throwing a breaking ball, but said he could simply throw it another way and still have the same effectiveness without the tightness. However, Appier has lost his last four starts, including the past two when he failed to last at least five innings. So something must not be working correctly.
Ramon Ortiz is pitching great lately. He has a 1.06 WHIP and a 3.40 ERA, and hasn't lost since May 24.
Troy Percival is up to his normal self. He is pitching strong and with a lot of command. He as 15 saves and an ERA of 2.61.
Scott Schoeneweis pitched his shortest outing of the year Saturday. In two innings, he gave up six runs and six hits, including three home runs. He had given up just one run in his last 15 innings. Every pitcher has a bad day; in general he is doing a good job for the club.
Jarrod Washburn is pitching great lately. Washburn is 5-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his past eight starts.
Troy Glaus is not hitting for a great average, only .252 and only has 13 home runs. Tell me this: Who Cares? He is have a great season and is on pace to break two club records. Glaus has 52 RBIs, which puts him on pace for 130. He has 51 runs scored, which puts him on pace for 127. Both numbers would be career and club bests and to Glaus are the only two numbers that matter.
Adam Kennedy has been loosing at-bats lately. Scioscia has been using Benji Gil or Jose Nieves at second base against left-handers. Kennedy is hitting .286 with 2 homeruns and 18 RBI’s.
Garrett Anderson is hitting the ball as well as anyone. He leads the AL with 38 extra-base hits (24 doubles, 14 home runs)
RUMOR MILL
There has been a rumor that Kennedy might be out of Anaheim. Management has not bee happy with the production and growth he has been making thought his career up to this point. The Talk is that Jose Nieves is the short stop of the future and that Eckstein will switch positions and play second base. This is not official (hence it’s under rumor mill) but it is a fact that management is not happy with Kennedy’s production.
ON THE FARM
The Angels drafted Virginia Tech left-hander Joe Saunders with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2002 draft. Saunders, a junior who turns 21 on June 16, was 9-2 with a 2.86 ERA this past season for the Hokies as their ace. He is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, and armed with what scouts call a "complete" repertoire of pitches.
The Angels made a move to bolster their bullpen, promoting right-hander Scot Shields from Class AAA Salt Lake. Shields, 26, was 2-2 with a 3.06 ERA at Salt Lake, which included a spot start. Shields made his major-league debut with the Angels last season, giving up one unearned run and eight hits in 11 innings in eight appearances.
INJURIES
CF Julio Ramirez- he is on the 15 day DL with a strained left calf.
DH Shawn Wooten on 60-day DL with a torn ligament in right thumb---- 1B/DH Shawn Wooten took live batting practice on June 18 for the first time since straining a muscle in his right side. Wooten isn't expected to begin a rehab assignment for at least another week.
P Steve Green is on the 60-day DL, recovery from shoulder surgery.
QUICK VIEW
ADD- Ramon Ortiz- if he as available get him. He is the best pitcher on this staff and he his pitching well.
Scott Schoenewies- He had a bad outing in his last start, but he might be a good guy of you need an extra starter.
DROP- Kevin Appier- We are not too sure what is up with him. He has a sore arm and who knows where this can go. Right now it is not a safe to start him for your team.
Adam Kennedy- He is loosing at-bats and this makes him a player you don’t want on your team.
