How many times are the Angels going to come back to win games this year? Brian Fuentes already has 30 saves in 33 chances this year, and he got the win last night in extra innings. The Angels win close, exciting games, which is a great reason to think that they will go far this year. They’re continually facing great adversity and prevailing as the better team.

I was at the game last night, and believe me, when I saw that Jason Kubel 2 run shot in the first inning, I was ready for a longgg day at the park. But Jered Weaver (7in, 4ER 5K) got through it and ended up lasting longer than Scott Baker, who was absolutely lights out before he hit the 5th inning. Since Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, and Juan Rivera were all out of last nights game, we had to rely on Bobby Abreu and Kendry Morales to be our source of power. They combined 0-8, but Abreu walked 3 times, while Morales a key sacrifice fly in the 5th to get the Angels on the board. It was the unlikely heros that carried the Angels into extra innings. There were key hits from the bottom of the order, including Howie Kendrick’s RBI single off the second base to tie the game. And of course, you can’t forget about Mike Napoli’s drive to right center to win the game. More excitingly, the Angels were able to get the best of Joe Nathan, one of the league’s premier closers.

Nothing can explain the feeling of being in that park when Howie Kendrick, who has had his share of ups and downs this season, gets that single off second base off of Nathan. Then to have your closer come in and go three up, three down, which brings out the heart of your order. Napoli is up with 2 on and 2 down, makes contact as you see Carlos Gomez tracking that ball running faster than the average human, only to see it drop and plate Abreu. Que the fireworks…

-Kevin H

Coming out of the All-star break, the Angels have had the privilege of taking on two of the worst teams in baseball: The Oakland A’s and the Kansas City Royals. They took full advantage of their two road trips by tallying 48 runs, resulting in 6 wins out of 7 games.

Ervin Santana (3-5, 6.79 ERA) threw an 8 inning, 3 hitter against the A’s, giving up 1 run. And although he gave up 5 runs to the Royals, he still managed to strike out 7, while only walking 1 to win his 3rd win of the season.

John Lackey (5-4, 4.39 ERA) pitched an absolute gem on the 19th, earning the win after 9 innings, allowing 3 hits, no earned runs and striking out 6. In typical dramatic Angel fashion, Bobby Abreu (.305, 51R 63RBI) had to hit a homerun in the 10th to win the game, giving him his 7th of the year.  He’s also managed to steal 20 bases on the year.

During this 7-game stretch, Brian Fuentes (2.86ERA, 30SV) has managed to notch 4 saves. Fuentes has been lights out in the past 2 months. He blew a save on May 30 against the Seattle Mariners, and since then, he’s had 18 consecutive scoreless innings, earning 17 saves. He’s given up 6 hits in 16 innings, striking out 17 in the process. He now leads the majors with 30 saves, 2 above New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera (2.18ERA, 28SV).

Howie Kendrick (.247, 5HR 29RBI) has been back for most of July, and has made the most of his split-time opportunities. Out of the 11 games he’s played in this month, he has hits in 9 of them, including 3 multi-hit games, which has raised his batting average 15 points. His platoon buddy, Maicer Izturis (.306, 42R 32RBI), hasn’t been showing any signs of letting go 2nd base. He’s hit in 11 of 14 games in July, and has 6 multi-hit games, raising his average 20 points since the beginning of the month.

Erick Aybar (.313, 37R 36RBI) has apparently been eating his Wheaties this month, raising his batting average 38 points in July. He has safely hit in 12 out of 15 games, and has thrown in 10 multi-hit games, adding 4 doubles, 2 triples, a home run, 3 stolen bases, and a partridge short of a Christmas carol. He has knocked in 15 runs and has scored 13 times, while only earning 4 strike outs.

Vladimir Guerrero (strained left knee) has been hitting the stationary bike and the treadmill, participating in resistance and strength training, and playing catch during the pre-game workout. It looks like he’s still about two weeks away from coming back, and when he does, Mike Scioscia doesn’t plan to really play him in the field. He’ll probably DH the rest of the season. Torii Hunter (strained adductor) has started doing some light workouts. They figure him to be ready around August 1.

Though the Angels have been winning, they’re still getting roughed up on the mound. While Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.73ERA) is a sexy option on the market, it seems like they can’t find a deal that will bring him to LA. Philly has been courting Doc, but it doesn’t seem like he’s going there either, and will likely stay an Jay for the rest of the season.

The Angels are currently on top of the AL West, and have the third best record in the majors. If they can fix their pitching problems, they look like they could make another solid run at a championship.

-Kevin H

The Angels (49-37) ended their first half with a 3 game sweep over the New York Yankees (51-37), scoring 29 runs. The Athletics (37-49) just won 2 of 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays (48-41), winning their first series since June 21st. On opposite ends of the standings in the AL West, here’s what you can expect in the next couple of games:

It has to be frustrating to be an Oakland A’s fan right now. If you take Mark Ellis’ 7 season out of the line-up, no one has more than 3 years experience with the Athletics organization (not counting Jason Giambi’s former years before he went to the New York Yankees and was still a relevant and powerful threat). Their first 4 hitters are all off-season/mid-season acquisitions. Scroll down the line-up and you’ll see an equation of too young or too old that equals 6th fewest runs scored in all of baseball. Take a look at the pitching staff and you’ll see an extremely young group of kids. In fact, during the 4-game series, the Angels won’t face a starting pitcher who was born before 1983. The Angels have won 3 out of the 5 games they’ve played this season against the Athletics, and despite injuries to Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, the Angels should take the series.

-Kevin H

The first half of the season for the Angels was full of both excitement and disappointment.  It is now time to turn the page.  Here are some things that need to happen for the Angels to be successful in the second half and in the postseason.

The Angels need to start beating the AL West - For those who say the AL West is a weak division haven’t looked at all four teams’ records against the other leagues.  At the same time, it is not unusual to struggle against your division because they are the ones that see you the most.  The Angels, however, need to start winning games against, especially, the Texas Rangers to establish some breathing room so they can prepare their rosters for the playoffs.

Ervin Santana needs to stay healthy or need to trade for a starter - A top three of John Lackey, Jered Weaver, and Joe Saunders is not bad by any means, but it is also not enough.  To beat the Red Sox, we need a starter that has dominating stuff each and every game.  Recently in the playoffs ,we have seen this from Jered Weaver, but not so much from Lackey and Saunders.  A healthy Santana, Roy Halladay, or Dan Haren is a necessity.

The Angels need a dominating set-up man - In the past, Scott Shields has been a huge part of the Angels success.  Without him we have had a lot of trouble getting to Brian Fuentes.  This problem can be fixed in a number of ways: a healthy Kelvim Escobar, and accurate Jose Arrendondo, an emergence of Jason Bulger or Kevin Jepsen, or a new member of the team.

-Tony C

In the spirit of the Mid-Summer Classic, it seemed the appropriate time to assemble the Angels’ all-time All-Star team.  The selections were made based on a variety of factors: 1) Statistics during tenure with the Angels; 2) Standing in franchise’s all-time rankings in numerous statistical categories; 3) Overall contributions to the Angels’ success; 4) Longevity in an Angel uniform. A starter and a backup (parentheses) were selected for each position. Let the debate begin…

Manager – Mike Scioscia

Undoubtedly, Scioscia deserves much of the credit for the team’s recent success.  He brought an attitude and style of play to the Angels that are conducive to winning baseball games and is a calming presence in the clubhouse.  Scioscia handles the pitching staff extremely well and seems most often to push all the right buttons and force the action.

C – Brian Downing; (Bob Boone)

Downing played 13 seasons for the Angels and was a longtime fan favorite.  He only played two seasons as the Angels’ everyday catcher, but one of those years (1979) was his best, where he made his only All-Star appearance.  Downing ranks third in franchise history in runs, hits, total bases, RBI’s, HR’s, 2B’s, and SF’s.  Boone spent seven seasons as the Angels’ backstop, collecting four gold gloves during that stretch.

1B – Rod Carew; (Wally Joyner)

Carew came to the Angels having made 12 consecutive All-Star games.  He would add six more to the streak as an Angel, giving him 18 consecutive appearances in the Mid-Summer Classic.  Carew also collected his 3,000^th hit as an Angel.  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, Carew remains the franchise leader in on-base percentage and ranks second in batting average amongst all Halos.  Joyner broke onto the scene with a bang as a rookie in 1986, hitting 22 homers and driving in 100 runs.  Avid Joyner fans quickly created “Wally World” in the outfield bleachers, which became a staple sight at The Big A in the late 80’s.

2B - Bobby Grich; (Bobby Knoop)

The sure-handed second baseman was a fixture in the middle infield for 10 seasons in Anaheim, making four All-Star appearances.  At a time when second basemen were seldom known for their power, Grich smoked 30 HR’s with 101 RBI’s in 1979.  He logged double-digits in homers for seven straight seasons.  Bobby Knoop was one of the very first Angels (’64-’69), and remains one of the slickest fielding Halos to date.  Knoop won three gold gloves in five seasons with California.

3B – Troy Glaus; (Doug DeCinces)

A Southern California native, Glaus provided some serious power in Anaheim from 1998-2004.  Glaus led the American League in HR’s with 47 in 2000, the first of three consecutive 100+ RBI seasons.  With a number of clutch hits, Glaus was an offensive force during the Angels’ thrilling 2002 World Championship run.  DeCinces had his best year in his first with the Halos, hitting 30 HR’s and finishing third in AL MVP voting.  While playing a strong third base, DeCinces stayed consistent; averaging 21 HR’s and 80 RBI’s in seven years for the Angels.

SS – Jim Fregosi; (David Eckstein)

Fregosi was the Angels’ first true star, appearing in seven straight All-Star games for the Angels (’64 - ’70).  Regarded as one of the best defensive short stops in the league, Fregosi was a double-smacking machine, logging at least 20 two-baggers in eight straight seasons.  He is also the franchise leader in triples.  Few players have ever displayed the grit of one David Eckstein.  Known as “the X Factor,” Eckstein was often the catalyst of the 2002 World Championship team.  Standing only 5’6”, Eckstein set career highs in 2002 as the Angels’ leadoff man, hitting eight homers, scoring 107 runs, and driving in 63.

OF – Garret Anderson; (Darren Erstad)

Garret Anderson’s name is pasted all over the Angels’ franchise record books.  The longtime Angel ranks 1^st in a number of categories, including: games played, runs, hits, RBI’s, total bases, extra-base hits, doubles, and sacrifice flies.  He is also second in home runs.  As far as consistency and longevity go, it would be extremely difficult to argue that any Angel matches Anderson.  Between 2000 and 2003, Anderson racked up 184 doubles, 121 home runs, and 479 RBI’s.  Erstad quickly became a fan favorite for his patented diving catches and his countless high-speed collisions with the outfield wall.  His tenacity and passion set the tone for playing the aggressive, pressuring style the Angels are often known for.

OF – Tim Salmon; (Jim Edmonds)

Beloved by all Angel fans, Salmon is the all-time home run leader for the Halos (299).  Playing his entire 14-year career with the Angels, he became the face of the franchise and a fixture in the middle of the lineup.  After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1993, he incomprehensibly never made a single trip to the All-Star game, despite averaging 29 HR’s and 98 RBI’s per year.  He won’t miss this All-Star team – he gets the start.  Edmonds had some strong seasons for the Angels before blossoming in St. Louis after a trade.  During Edmonds tenure, he was known for his reckless play in the outfield, crashing into walls, and winning two gold gloves while averaging .296 for the Angels.

OF – Vladimir Guerrero; (Fred Lynn)

When Guerrero arrived in Anaheim in 2004, the Angels finally had a sure-fire hall of famer in his prime.  Guerrero was an immediate success, winning the AL MVP in his first season in Anaheim.  He tops the franchise list in batting average, slugging pct., and OPS.  In five full seasons as an Angel, Guerrero has averaged 33 homers and 109 RBI’s with a .320 batting average.  Fred Lynn spent just four seasons with the Halos, but the former MVP and ROY was a three-time All-Star in that span.   The one year he missed the All-Star game with the Angels, Lynn still managed a .272 avg. and 22 home runs.

DH – Don Baylor; (Chili Davis)

Baylor spent six seasons as a steady OF / DH with the Angels.  No season was finer for Baylor than 1979, when he led the league in runs (120) and RBI’s (139), while hitting .296 and 36 HR’s on his way to winning the AL MVP.  Chili Davis provided steady run production during two stints with the Angels (’88-’90, ’93-’96), driving in 85+ runs in five of seven seasons.

Util. – Chone Figgins; (Gary DiSarcina)

Figgins is what makes the current Angels tick.  The franchise stolen base leader is one of the best leadoff men in the game, annually ranking among the league’s best in runs, steals and triples.  Figgins has played nearly every position for the Angels, logging over 100 games at 3B, LF, CF, 2B, and SS, and proving invaluable to manger Mike Scioscia.  Primarily a short stop, DiSarcina played his entire career in an Angels uniform.  From 1990 – 2000, DiSarcina’s steady hand was leading the troops in the Angels’ infield.
SP – Nolan Ryan

It’s no surprise that Ryan would get the ball on the all-time Angel team.  His eight seasons in Anaheim were some of Ryan’s best, as he led the league in strike outs in seven of them, while winning 19+ games four times.  It’s no shock that Ryan is the franchise leader in strikeouts, complete games, and shutouts.  Ryan ranks second in wins with 138.  He also compiled a 3.07 ERA in nearly 2,200 innings as an Angel.

SP – Chuck Finley

The franchise wins leader (165), Finley spent the majority of his career with the Angels (’86-’99).  Six times the lefty won 15+ games for the Halos on his way to finishing with an even 200 wins for his career.  Finley posted a .541 winning percentage and a solid 3.72 ERA over his 14 seasons on the mound at The Big A.

SP – John Lackey

The current ace of the Angels’ rotation, Lackey was the winning pitcher of the biggest game in franchise history as a rookie: Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.  Owning a 95-67 record in his 8 seasons in Anaheim, Lackey has already climbed to 5^th on franchise wins list.  Lackey can be counted on to be the horse of the rotation, averaging 217 innings pitched per season.

SP – Frank Tanana

Tanana spent his first eight years (’72-‘80) with the Angels, compiling 102 wins (4th), 1233 strike outs (4^th) and a 3.08 ERA (6^th).  The left-hander also ranks 2^nd among Angels in complete games (92) and shutouts (24) behind only Nolan Ryan.  Tanana won at least 14 games in six consecutive seasons and led the league in ERA and shutouts in 1977.

SP – Mike Witt

Witt is 3^rd among Angels in wins, strikeouts, and complete games.  He had his best season in 1986 when he posted 18 wins and a 2.84 ERA, helping propel the Angels to the Western Division title and finishing 3^rd in the Cy Young Award voting.  The right-hander was a two-time All-Star.

SP – (Bartolo Colon)

The big right-hander went 39-20 between ’04-’05, leading the Angels to the post-season both years.  Colon was rewarded with the Cy Young Award in 2005.

SP – (Mark Langston)

Langston is remembered for both his arm and his glove.  The lefty won five gold gloves in his seven seasons in Anaheim, as well as winning 88 games (6^th).

SP – (Jerrod Washburn)

Washburn led the starting rotation in the 2002 championship season with an 18-6 record and a 3.15 ERA.  He won his fair share of big games and finished 4^th in Cy Young voting.

SP – (Jim Abbott)

Abbott inspired us all when he burst on the scene in 1989 with the Angels.  Abbott won 18 games with a 2.89 ERA in 1991 despite missing his right hand.
SP – (Clyde Wright / Dean Chance)

The last backup spot in the rotation is split between Wright and Chance.  Both won 20+ games once and were both tough competitors.  If forced to choose, I might have to lean towards Chance, who had an exceptional season in 1964, winning the Cy Young with a 1.65 ERA and 11 shutouts.

RP – Troy Percival

The all-time Angel bullpen has to start with the franchise’s saves leader.  Percival compiled 316 saves in 10 seasons in Anaheim.  His 2.99 ERA and 5 All-Star appearances with the Angels speak for themselves.

RP – Francisco Rodriguez

Rodriguez showed up big on the big stage during the Angels’ 2002 post-season push.  The then-youngster was virtually unhittable, racking up playoff wins left and right.  Six years later, he would go on to set the single-season saves record with 62 in 2008.

RP – Bryan Harvey

3^rd on the Angels all-time saves list with 126, Harvey held the closer’s job prior to Percival’s emergence.  He led the league with 46 saves in 1991 and struck out 365 batters in 305 innings in an Angels uniform.

RP – Scot Shields

In 9 seasons, Shields has compiled a 46-41 record with a 3.03 ERA for the Halos, primarily as a set-up man.  Likely the best set-up reliever in Angels’ history, Shields has been an integral part of the team’s recent success.  He almost always seems to come up in team MVP discussions near the end of the year.

- Blake Warren

As you all know, Roy Halladay is on the market. Roy Halladay! The best pitcher in baseball! It is no secret that the Angels have had their share of problems in the playoffs the last few years. In addition, this year our pitching staff can not seem to stay healthy. With Roy Halladay we would have a rotation that consists of him, John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana. You tell me who is going to beat that in the playoffs.

You may be thinking that I’m crazy right about now, but I believe this is possible. The Blue Jays are said to be looking for a couple of major league ready players including pitchers, infielders, and some high level prospects. In the Sabathia deal Cleveland got five minor leaguers. I believe we can do better and keep our team intact. The Angels would give up Matt Palmer, Sean O’Sullivan, Brandon Wood, and two decent minor league prospects and in return we get the best pitcher in baseball. Yes we would be losing our best prospect, but there is no room for him on the major league roster anyway. Plus we still have Sean Rodriguez.

I’m tired of having a regular season team. We are ready for another world championship, and I believe Roy Halladay can give that to us.

-Tony C

Overcoming adversity

For the Angels, the beginning of the season was a roller coaster to say the least. It began with a plague of injuries to some of our key stars, especially, the pitching staff. This included John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Kelvim Escobar (who is still out). The problem, however, was alleviated due to the depth of the Angels pitching. This was topped by outstanding performances from Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders, and completed by a solid back end lead by top prospect Nick Adenhart.

Our heart was then broken by the passing of this outstanding young pitching prospect. The death of Nick Adenhart is something the team, and Angels fans will always remember. Most of us didn’t even know who he was, but it didn’t matter because he was one of our Angels. The young men that all of us at this end of the 5 freeway cheer for year after year. But, as many tragedies do, it made this team stronger both on and off the field. Lead by Torii Hunter, the Angels became a new team. One to be reckoned with.

Highlights

With all of the issues the Angels have had, some leaders have emerged. This begins with our Gold Glove and All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter. Most of us were pretty upset with the problems that arose with Gary Matthews Jr., but Torii has made us forget. His 17 home runs, 65 RBI’s, and amazing defensive play have been the Angels rock during the first half of the season.

Also, both Juan Rivera (.312 avg., 14HR, 50RBI) and Kendry Morales (.285avg., 14HR, 45RBI) have emerged as elite players in this league. With Mark Teixeira turning his back on us, most of us thought we would have a huge hole offensively. This has proven not to be the case, especially with the addition of Bobby Abreu.

With all the injuries to our rotation who can forget the 30-year-old rookie. With a 7-0 start, Matt Palmer locked down a much needed rotation spot and gave consistent starts when we needed them the most.

Finally, Chone Figgins has been has returned to the Figgins we all know and love, and plants a solid bat at the beginning of the lineup.

Outlook

With everything the Angels have gone through, and with the exception of Kelvim Escobar and Scott Shields, our team is healthy and performing. Mike Scioscia should win coach of the year and the Angels should win the division. Hopefully, the adversity the Angels have overcome has given them a toughness they have lacked in the past. And maybe, just maybe, they can take down the Red Sox this year.

-Tony C

After Wednesday’s brutal loss at the hands of the Texas Rangers, the Angels remain atop the AL West by half a game. After a torrid 14-4 run through interleague play – whereas the Rangers finished 9-9 – it would stand to reason that the Halos would have a rather comfortable lead in the division. They don’t, and the primary culprit is the Angels’ record against their division rivals.

If the Angels are to win their fifth division title in six years, they will need to fare better against Texas, Seattle, and Oakland in the second half than they managed in the first three months of the season. With 24 division games in the books, the Halos are just 10-14 versus division foes (while Texas boasts a 15-4 mark). Granted, most of that division record is a result of being severely short-handed, as much of the pitching staff and Vlad Guerrero were missing in action due to injuries. But in baseball’s division races, in order to be the best, you’ve got to beat the rest.

With the health of the active roster dramatically improving in recent weeks, there’s no reason to believe the Angels’ division record won’t improve in the second half. The pitching situation seems to be improving significantly. Ervin Santana is expected to make his return from the DL Friday versus Baltimore, and pitching coach Mike Butcher recently told the Orange County Register that John Lackey is closer to regaining his dominant form.

“These last two games, I’ve seen him taking steps to get back to where he’s been in the past,” Butcher said. “He’s commanding the fastball to both sides of the plate. His breaking ball is coming out of a good slot.”

With a healthy starting rotation and Juan Rivera picking up production for an underperforming Guerrero, the Angels would certainly figure to right the ship over the final three months of the season and take their third straight division crown. We all keep hearing that this is a different Rangers team than in years past, but they will have to overcome their recent history of faltering in the Texas heat down the stretch. The Mariners would seem to be hard-pressed to compete for the division into late September, while Oakland’s fate is often revealed by Billy Beane at the annual July 31 trading deadline.

With 29 games remaining against AL West opponents – Texas (12), Oakland (11), Seattle (6) - they’ll certainly have the opportunity to retain their claim as “the team to beat” within the division.

-Blake Warren

Bobby Abreu gave us a sign of things to come this weekend, knocking two out of the park for his first multi-homerun game as an Angel, and contributing 4 of the 5 totals runs scored by the Halos. He’s now second in RBIs for LA with 48, only trailing Torii Hunter who has 59.

With the 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, the Angels stop a two game skid after a visit to Texas , which almost resulted in giving first place back to the Rangers. This was not because of run support, as the Angels tallied 17 runs in the three game series. Rather, it was shaky pitching from Joe Saunders (3.2in, 8ER 5BB 2K) and Jered Weaver (5.1in, 7ER 3K). Juan Rivera tried to salvage Weaver’s outing by tying the game at 7-7 in the top of the 9th inning with a 3-run homerun, but Hank Blalock would hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.

This was a great game for the Halos. Fans saw a flash of Bobby Abreu’s power and John Lackey had a very solid outing, throwing 8 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, fanning 7 with 114 pitches. Brian Fuentes also earned his 23rd save of the year.

Look for the Angels to continue their hot play during the holiday weekend. Everyone have a happy and safe 4th!

Noteables: Ervin Santana (1-3, 7.47ERA) will pitch for the first time since June 11th after a brief stint on the DL with right tricep inflammation. Against the Orioles, he is 2-2 in 7 starts with a 4.60 earned run average, and nearly has a 1:4 BB/K ratio.

Torii Hunter has a 7-game hit streak, scoring 3 times and knocking in 7 during the span.

Kenry Morales also has a 7-game hit streak, scoring 4 times, earning two doubles, a triple, and a homerun. He is 10-26 during the span with a .385 batting average.

Matt Palmer came out of the bullpen two days ago and did not allow a hit. Although he walked 1, he struck out 2 in 2 innings.

By: Kevin H