The Angels have been hurting all year from a usually dependable pitching staff. Injuries and inconsistancies have seriously worried loyal Angel fans. Just when it looked liked they were going to have to head into the postseason hoping for the best, the Halos snagged the 2007 American League Strikeout Champ (239) and two-time All-Star Scott Kazmir for two minor leaguers recent call-up Sean Rodriguez. Let’s take a look at why this was such a steal.

“Rico Suave,” a nickname given to him by his teammates in Tampa Bay, was born on January 24, 1984, in Houston, Texas. He was a dual sport athlete, showcasing his powerful arm as both a quarterback in football and pitcher in baseball. On the mound, Kazmir modeled himself after Nolan Ryan, as well as hard throwing lefty Billy Wagner. He started to make a name for himself while at Cypress Falls High School, throwing four consecutive no-hitters as a junior. In 2002, Kazmir’s senior year, he struck out 172 batters in 75 innings, accumulating an 11-2 record with a 0.37 ERA. He now holds the strikeout record for the state of Texas, a title formally held by Josh Beckett. That year, he would be named Basaeball America’s High School Player of the Year, as well as receive First-Team High School All-American honors with teammate Clint Everts along with several others, such as Prince Fielder, James Loney, Cole Hamels, and B.J. Upton. Though Kazmir had verbally committed to the University of Texas, he entered the 2002 draft, where he would be selected 15th overall by the New York Mets, ten spots behind Everts. He was projected to go higher, but several teams passed on Kazmir because of his high price tag set by agent Scott Boras. Regardless, Everts and Kazmir became the fourth pair of pitchers from the same high school to be drafted in the first round.

Before Kazmir headed to New York, he was asked to pitch on the U.S. Junior Olympic team in Cuba. He was able to strike out 33 batters in 16 innings and did it while getting sick from the water, causing him to lose 10 pounds. His team would go on to win the silver, one year before teammate Kendry Morales helped his Cuban team win a gold medal.

Kamir made some waves in the minor leagues with the Mets, but didn’t make it to Citi Field in a New York uniform. In 2004, he was a piece of a controversial trade that sent to him to Tampa Bay and brought Victor Zambrano to the Mets. Whoops…

Kazmir pitched 33 innings in 2004 for the Rays, striking out 41, but ended with a 5.67 ERA. He played his first full season in 2005 with 32 starts and a 10-9 record. In 2006, he became the one of the youngest opening day starters since 1986. Kazmir had less innings and 8 fewer starts, but his franchise-low 3.24 ERA earned him his first All-Star nomination. In 2007, he didn’t get a nod for his second All-Star game, but he did end the season with his best record (13-9) and most innings (206.2). He also struck out 239 batters, becoming the AL strikeout champ. He became an All-Star again after another impressive 2008 season (12-8, 152in 166K).

Sco-Kaz actually started the year on the disabled list, and didn’t help the Rays when he came back. He was sent back to the DL after a terrrible 4-4, 7.69 ERA. It was the first time in Kazmir’s career that he had higher than a 3.77 ERA since being named a full time starter in 2005. When Kazmir came back to the Rays in late June, he was able to lower his ERA 2 points to a 5.92. While he had flashes of his old self, he was a huge buy-low candidate, which is exactly what the Angels did.

Since coming over to the Angels, Kazmir has two starts against the Seattle Mariners, and despite his 0-1 record, he has only allowed 2 earned runs in 13 innings while striking out 12.

If the Angels decide to use Kazmir in their postseason rotation, they will count on his experience when he went to the World Series last year. Don’t let his high ERA mislead you. He’s a 25-year-old monster who, when healthy, has a sub-4 ERA and can strike out guys by the dozens. The Angels needed started pitching this year, and they got some help in the form of Rico Suave.

-Kevin H.