Threat Level: 6
The Angels have not quite lived up to the hype of their recent off-seasons, as they have missed the playoffs for the last four seasons. Pujols and Hamilton have struggled to stay healthy and Wilson was inconsistent last season. Four years out of the playoffs is a long time for a team that is used to success. Mike Trout is a generational talent, but this is baseball. He needs the other 8 people in the lineup to step up if this team is going to compete consistently. They also need the back end of their rotation, of Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago and Garrett Richards, to provide quality starts. I am not feeling playoffs with this team though. Too many holes and question marks. But if those holes and question marks fade away, then this could be a perfect sleeper team.
Major Acquisition: David Freese
The Angels had a depth of talented, young outfielders, so they parted with Peter Bourjos to acquire Freese, who stabilizes the third base position for the Angels. He may not be a game-changing player, but he is a solid acquisition and should mesh nicely with a Mike Scioscia managed team.
Projected Lineup
1. Kole Calhoun RF
2. Mike Trout CF
3. Albert Pujols 1B
4. Josh Hamilton LF
5. David Freese 3B
6. Raul Ibanez DH
7. Howie Kendrick 2B
8. Erick Aybar SS
9. Chris Iannetta C
Projected Starting Rotation
1. Jered Weaver RHP
2. C.J. Wilson LHP
3. Garrett Richards RHP
4. Hector Santiago LHP
5. Tyler Skaggs LHP
Closer
Ernesto Frieri RHP
Yankee Killer: Mike Trout
In classic Mike Trout style, he fills that stat sheet against the Yankees with a .383 batting average, 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 6 stolen bases, and 9 walks (.479 OBP!) in 15 games. He’s good.
Angel Killer: Derek Jeter
Jeter sports a .333 batting average against the Halos in 161 career games, an impressive season’s worth of games against a single, non-division opponent. In those games, he has 17 home runs and 85 RBIs, along with 108 runs scored. That would make for a nice season.
When They Play The Yankees:
IN NY: 4/25-4/27.
IN LAA: 5/5-5/7.
