2007 Los Angeles Angels Preview
A 2007 Preview for the Second Best Baseball Team in Los Angeles
The 2007 Los Angeles Angels have good pitching, top speed, and Vladimir Guerrero. But will the defense and the balance of the offense be good enough to win the AL West?
The 2007 Los Angeles Angels have a great starting rotation, a solid offense, a good bullpen, and a sub-par defense. In the American league West, that adds up to a possible division champion. Here is the team's 2007 Baseball Preview.
Significant Arrivals
Shea Hillenbrand (1B/3B) – Free Agency (San Francisco Giants)
Gary Matthews Jr. (CF) – Free Agency (Texas Rangers)
Significant Departures
Darin Erstad (1B/CF) – Free Agency (Chicago White Sox)
Brendan Donnelly (CF) – Trade (Boston Red Sox)
Adam Kennedy (2B) – Free Agency (St. Louis Cardinals)
Last year, injuries and defensive lapses tripped them up early. They played well after the All-Star Break, but they could not recover and finished four games behind the Athletics. This off-season, owner Arturo Moreno signed center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. Always a journeyman, Matthews had a great 2006 season and parlayed it into a $50 million contract. Given the recent hGH investigation surrounding Matthews, the Angels may be regretting their huge commitment to the troubled player.
2007 Los Angeles Angels Pitching Preview
The Angels rotation has perhaps the best rotation in the majors. Ervin Santana, still just 24 years old, went 16-8. John Lackey was 13-11 with a 3.56 ERA. Kelvim Escobar was only 11-14, but his ERA is well under 4.00 over the last three seasons. So, his biggest obstacle to victory has been poor run support. Escobar is pitching well this spring, and makes a solid Number 3 or 4 starter for the Halos.
The most promising story for the 2006 Angels was super-rookie Jered Weaver. He went 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP after a late May call-up. Finally, Bartolo Colon, the 2005 Cy Young winner who missed almost all of last season, should return to the Angels by May.
Middle relievers Justin Speier (2.98 ERA) and Scott Shields (2.87 ERA) will get the ball to closer Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod rose to the level of the top closers in baseball in 2006. He saved 47 games and had an ERA of 1.73 to go along with his 1.4 strikeouts per inning. If the Angels are ahead after the sixth inning, they will win the game.
The 2007 Los Angeles Angels Offense
While the pitching should be fine, the Angels will have trouble scoring runs. Only Tampa Bay and Seattle scored fewer than the Los Angeles Angels total of 766 runs in 2006.
They should be a little better this year. If Matthews can ignore his steroid problems and play like he did in 2006, the team will take a step in the right direction. The addition of career .287 hitter Shea Hillenbrand is also a plus. Veteran outfielder Garrett Anderson, whose production has slipped since his peak years of 2000-2003, is finally healthy, and still has sufficient pop in his bat to give the Angels a .290 average with 20-25 home runs and 90 RBI. Add them to the speedy Chone Figgins and the powerful Vladimir Guerrero, and the 2007 Los Angeles Angels should be more of an offensive power.
The losses of Juan Rivera (broken leg), Adam Kennedy and Darrin Ertsad (both left via free agency) will hurt the Angels less from an offensive standpoint than from a leadership perspective.
Keys to Success: Vladimir Guerrero, Garrett Anderson, Figgins and Matthews all need to produce often and big if this team is to win the West. The best thing going for Los Angeles is a serious lack of competition in the West.
Prediction for the 2007 Los Angeles Angels
92-70 (First Place in American League West).
* Click the link for the Oakland A's 2007 Preview.
