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Fantasy Forces:
LF-Garrett Anderson (30)- Anderson continues to fly under the radar despite being one of the ALs top run producers. While he
won't hit 40 homeruns, he will drive in a ton and hit for .300. He will again be among the MVP candidates.
SS-David Eckstein (28)- At 5'9", Eckstein is atypical for a shortstop but approaches the game in the manner of hardnosed
Astro Craig Biggio. Last year the Angels won more than 77% of the time when he scored a run while his defense continues to improve.
With a slap and run approach, he will get his stolen bases back into the 30s and is the ALs 5th best shortstop.
3B-Troy Glaus (26)- Glaus has more power than any third baseman in the game and the potential to hit .300 but needs to learn to
take advantage of the whole field. After struggling for much of the year to keep his average up he lit it up in September and was a
monster in the post-season. His World Series MVP is a sign of things to come.
CL-Troy Percival (33)- Percival overcame a tough start and a later stint on the DL and put together perhaps his most dominating
season. He has five straight 30-save seasons and will see huge opportunities again with Anaheim. He is confident with his
triple-digit fastball and usually pitches less than an inning to stay fresh.
SP-Jarrod Washburn (28)- Washburn passed up Ortiz, Appier and Sele to position himself as the ace of the Angels. He
doesn't have a deep repertoire, but is highly effective at changing speeds and hitting locations. Steady command and another high win
total will make him a Cy Young candidate.
Better Days Ahead:
RP-Francisco Rodriguez (21)- Following in Eric Gagne's steps, Rodriguez tossed ambitions to start aside and was converted to a
reliever in the high minors. And it paid off. Perhaps no player in history has risen as fast as Rodriguez. His debut
season included just 5 innings but he roared through the playoffs as he posted 5 of the Angels 11 wins. He has huge strikeout
potential and is a future closer but will be the primary setup man for now.
Past Their Prime:
RF-Tim Salmon (34)- Everytime Salmon appears past his injuries and back on track as a top run producer, he is beset by another
ache and subsequent downfall. His arm is not what it was and has a nagging back and will likely end up in a DH role. He will
start and should be helpful when healthy but is unlikely to play much more than 130 games. |
Supporting Cast:
CF- Darin Erstad (28)- Much as Eckstein gets by with grit and determination, Erstad simply gets the job done. He is one of
the top fielders in center and one of the fastest players on the Angels. More of the same although it's doubtful he will hit as many
homeruns as he did earlier in his career. He will be among the majors' hit leaders and if he can be more patient will be back above
.300.
DH-Brad Fullmer (28)- Fullmer is essentially useless in the field and against lefties, tightening his role to DH versus RHPs.
In the meantime he has good power and decent speed while making a yearly run at .300. If Spiezio goes down he will see an expanded
role.
2B-Adam Kennedy (27)- Kennedy was Anaheim's steadiest hitter last season as he nearly duplicated his stats first and second
halves. Another fast slapper, he showed a tremendous improvement against southpaws but his lack of pop and patience will keep him at
the tail end of the lineup.
SP-John Lackey (24)- Lackey stepped into the rotation last year when Schoeneweis was demoted to the bullpen and put up
impressive numbers. The tall righthander has natural movement on his heat and a continually developing curve/slider combo to match
good command. With Sele out to start the season, Lackey will pitch from the #4 spot.
C-Bengie Molina (28)- Molina did the impossible and pried the AL Gold Glove away from Irod but provides little else in the back
of the lineup. He is unlikely to approach the 14 homeruns he hit two years ago and owns a career .263 average.
SP-Ramon Ortiz (30)- After aging 3 years last offseason, Ortiz enjoyed a successful first half before faltering the second.
No longer expected to be an ace, he will face lesser pitchers at #3 and will benefit with nice win totals, although he continues to get beat
with the bases empty, allowing 32 solo homeruns as opposed to just 8 with men on.
1B-Scott Spiezio (30)- Spiezio was his usual vanilla self until a late season surge and subsequent playoff blowup, resulting in
a major league post-season record 19 RBIs. Although he is a steady hitter with double digit power, he has never been able to hold a
full-time job in the bigs and is a average hitter versus RHPs. The first base job is his but the results will put him in the lower
half of AL first base options.
Risky Business:
SP-Kevin Appier (35)- Appier showed glimpses of his former stuff last year before fatigue set in that resulted in less than 36
innings in his last 8 starts including the playoffs. He has battled arm troubles between big-inning years and may be seeing the scars
take their toll.
SP-Aaron Sele (32)- Sele resurrected his career while in Seattle and was signed to provide the same middle of the rotation
production. Instead he made a trip to the DL and missed the last five weeks of the season. At a time when his teammates were
winning a World Series, Sele was undergoing rotator cuff surgery and is likely to begin the season on the DL |
