Los Angeles Angels 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Los Angeles Angels 2009 MLB Record: 97-65
Los Angeles Angels 2009 MLB Home Record: 49-32
Los Angeles Angels 2009 MLB Away Record: 48-33

Los Angeles Angels 2010 Betting

Los Angeles Angels Odds to Win the American League: 17/2
Los Angeles Angels Odds to Win the World Series: 15/1

Los Angeles Angels 2010 Preview & Prediction

Losing key contributors such as John Lackey, Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero isn’t the best way to convince the fan base that things are going according to plan, but if there is a team that can maintain success, it’s the Angels. It was one thing for manager Mike Scioscia to keep the Angels headed in the right direction in 2009 after the tragic death in April of Nick Adenhart and the run-producing void left when Mark Teixeira signed with the New York Yankees. The Angels now head into 2010 without the guy at the top of the rotation (Lackey), the guy at the top of the order (Figgins) and the guy who won an MVP award in 2004 (Guerrero). Texas gave the Angels fits in 2009, and now comes news that Seattle is greatly improved. The Angels know how to weave their way through trouble but will have to do so with a young infield of Kendry Morales, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Brandon Wood.

As long as Aybar can settle into the leadoff role sooner rather than later and the pitching staff can be successful without Lackey (something it has done each of the last two Aprils), the Angels figure to ,be right back in the mix in the AL West. The division, though, will be a grind with Texas and the improved Mariners.

Los Angeles Angels Manager: Mike Scioscia (10 Seasons) Record: 900 – 720

Los Angeles Angels 2010 Projected Batting Order: SS Erick Aybar (S), RF Bobby Abreu (L), DH Hideki Matsui (L), CF Torii Hunter (R), 1B Kendry Morales (S), LF Juan Rivera (R), 2B Howie Kendrick (R), C Jeff Mathis (R), 3B Brandon Wood (R)

Los Angeles Angels 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Jered Weaver, LH Joe Saunders, RH Ervin Santana, LH Scott Kazmir, RH Matt Palmer

Los Angeles Angels 2010 Projected Closer: LH Brian Fuentes

2010 Los Angeles Angels Rotation:

With Lackey now in Boston, the Angels will attack opponents with a right-left 1-2 punch of Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders. When hitters started to catch up to Weaver and his deceptive delivery in 2008, he found another gear and got even nastier in 2009 by mixing speeds and balancing his two-seam fastball with a slider and change up. Saunders went through a brutal two-month stretch in 2009 when his ERA skyrocketed from 3.66 to 5.33 in a matter of eight starts, but it was corrected with a 19-day stint on the disabled list to treat shoulder tightness. He went 7-0 over eight starts after returning from the DL. Ervin Santana will need to show his 2008 form (16-7, 3.49 ERA) and not the 8-8, 5.03 numbers he posted in 2009. Late-season acquisition Scott Kazmir won only twice in six starts after moving over from the Rays, but he posted an impressive 1.73 ERA in those outings. Matt Palmer looks to have the edge for the final rotation spot over Sean O’Sullivan.

2009-2010 Los Angeles Angels Bullpen:

Veteran Darren Oliver was not offered salary arbitration, which could leave closer Brian Fuentes as the last left hander in the bullpen. Taking over a spot previously occupied by Troy Percival and Francisco Rodriguez was no easy task for Fuentes. The veteran did save 48 games in 2009, but he seemed to get as much notoriety for his 3.93 ERA and the occasions when he seemed to be throwing gasoline on a fire. Fuentes’ season is best summed up by his playoff performance – he recorded three saves, but the most memorable moment was the game-tying home run he allowed to the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez in the 11th inning, the only postseason run Fuentes allowed. If Fuentes falters, the Angels could turn to Fernando Rodney, a hard-throwing right hander who saved 37 games in 38 chances with the Tigers in 2009. Dependable setup man Scot Shields is back after missing most of2009 because of surgery to alleviate left knee patella tendinitis. Kevin Jepsen blossomed as Shields’ replacement and emerged as the team’s closer of the future. Jason Bulger also cemented his standing in the organization with a solid 2009.

2010 Los Angeles Angels Middle Infield:

All it took was one bad early stretch in 2009 for Kendrick to fallout of favor. Granted, that stretch was a brutal one and included a .193 batting average for the month of May before he was demoted to Triple-A. Whether it was his work ethic or the way he failed to make adjustments, something irked the coaching staff, and Kendrick was merely a part-time player when he returned in July, despite the fact that he batted .358 after the All-Star break. Maicer Izturis will push Kendrick for playing time at second base but might see the bulk of his time elsewhere. Aybar showed his potential with a solid season defensively at shortstop in 2009 and an even better season at the plate. He led Angels regulars with a .312 batting average and is in line to take over the leadoff spot from the departed Figgins. Aybar will need to show more plate discipline after working only 30 walks last season, compared with Figgins’ team-leading 101.

2010 Los Angeles Angels Corners:

In 2008, Morales (at first) and Wood (at third) were doing their thing at Triple-A Salt Lake. Now they are expected to contribute to a team with postseason aspirations, and in Morales’ case he is expected to contribute heavily. Morales was simply expected to hold his own in 2009 after .raking over first base from Teixeira, but instead he finished fifth in AL MVP voting, three spots behind Teixeira. Known as a significantly better hitter than fielder in his native Cuba, Morales hit 34 home runs in 2009 to go along with 108 RBI’s. He also had a .306 batting average and a .569 slugging percentage. Wood has also hit well, especially for power, during his development and will get a chance to show what he can do on a full-time basis.

2010 Los Angeles Angels Outfield:

Not much is expected to change in the Angels’ outfield as Juan Rivera, Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu, from left to right, will man the same positions they did in 2009. Rivera finally looks to be over the broken leg he suffered before the 2007 season. Hunter was putting on an offensive and defensive show in the first half of last season, earning a spot on the All-Star team. But a strained adductor muscle, near his groin, cost him over a month of playing time and sapped his power. Abreu’s addition on a one-year free agent deal was big not only for the outfield, but also for the entire lineup. His ability to go deep into counts became contagious for an offense that in prior years had been less than patient with guys such as Guerrero and Garret Anderson. Figgins and Abreu combined for 195 walks and 210 runs from the top two spots in the lineup.

2010 Los Angeles Angels Catching:

In 2009 the Angels went to Mike Napoli when they needed offense and Jeff Mathis when defense was the key. This season, Napoli might be in trouble. Mathis not only guided Angels pitchers to a run less per nine innings than Napoli, but he also became a hitting machine in the playoffs – at one point in the AL Championship Series he had a hit in six consecutive trips to the plate. Napoli is a huge power threat who also can work his way deep into counts, but if Mathis can show steady offense in spring training he could take over the job full time and end a platoon that is entering its third season.

2010 Los Angeles Angels Bench:

Hideki Matsui’s signing in December brought an end to the Guerrero era in Anaheim. Matsui, 35, might be a year older than Guerrero, but even on shaky knees he still seems like less of an injury threat. Matsui’s MVP performance in the World Series was enough to convince the Angels that he could still get it done. Gary Matthews Jr., who has asked for a trade going on two years now, could see even less playing time if Matsui gets some action in the outfield. Izturis could push Wood for the starting spot at third and could also see time at second if Kendrick falters like he did a season ago. He is also the primary backup at shortStop.

Los Angeles Angels 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Los Angeles Angels will finish 1st in the AL West Division .

Los Angeles Angels 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 1st AL West 97
2008: 1st AL West 100
2007: 1st AL West 94
2006: 2nd AL West 89
2005: 1st AL West 95

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