The Angels did exactly the opposite of the A's this season and spent a ton of money. How much money, you ask? They gave Albert Pujols $240 Million. They gave CJ Wilson 77.5 Millon. They still owe Vernon Wells about 60 Million. They gave Jered Weaver 85 Million. They owe Torii Hunter 18 Million, and Bobby Abreu 9 Million. Did you get all that? Their payroll of about 138 million this year ranks fourth in the majors. It is double what the A's pay their roster.
Needless to say, I now think Arte Moreno looks like this:
The Angels are pretty sure they're going to be a contender this season, and I'm inclined to agree. When you spend the money, you generally bring in solid players that help your team reach the promised land that is the post season, and it's even nicer when those signings coincide with a coming of age of a big bopper and the return from injury of another. It's like, a perfect storm of making the Angels good. Unfortunately, this means we may be reintroduced to this chap at some point this year.
The Angels were good last year. But not that good, with 86 wins, they were easily second in the west, but still looked up at the Rangers from 10 games behind by the close of the season. They knew they had to do something drastic to compete with the juggernaut of a bridesmaid that the Rangers have become, so they did. They took an offense that finished with a .253 average (15th), 155 HR (14th), 667 Runs (17th), and a .714 OPS (17th), and added to it arguably the greatest hitter of the current era, Albert Pujols. Pujols, at 32, is still in his prime, and though I think the Angels are crazy for giving him 24 million a year until he's 41, his 37 HR and 99 RBI from last year would have done wonders in the middle of the LA lineup.
Beyond Pujols, the Angels also look to get full seasons from Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales. If I'm Mike Scoscia, I find some way to get Trumbo into the lineup every day. He's that good. Yeah, Callaspo is a better defender at 3B and you're paying Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter a lot more money, but Trumbo is the golden goose, he's got to play. Wells, Hunter, and Abreu are the three old men that should probably start taking a step back, but won't because they get paid too much. Abreu is 4-49 this spring and still thinks that he deserves every day playing time. Wells and Hunter are still solid, but starting them at the expense of Trumbo would be a shame.
The Angels also get Kendrys Morales back. Finally. He hasn't played since May of 2010, but he looks ready to play again. In 2009, he hit 34 home runs and had 104 RBIs. If the Angels can get 2/3 of that, they would be pretty thrilled, and I think they'll get more. Howie Kendrick returns for his age 28 season. His career has been on an upward slope since he broke into the majors, and his 20 home runs will be very welcome from the 2B postion.
So they've definitely got some pop - six guys that can hit 20 home runs or more - but what about the supporting cast? Center field will be manned by the speedster, Peter Bourjos. I've never been sold on this guy because of his weak bat, but his speed and defense make him an ideal center fielder. Erick Aybar plays great shortstop and is a pesky leadoff hitter. Finally, Chris Ianetta was brought over from the Rockies to try to get more out of a position that was a black hole of offense last year. It was the greatest joke in the majors last year - Jeff Mathis - HA!
The starting rotation is really, really good. When you take a team with the best ERA in the AL, and add another staff ace, good things will probably happen. Ace Jered Weaver (18-8, 2.91, 198K) saw his strike out total fall last year, but was still prettttyyyy, pretty good. Former Oakland Athletic Dan Haren (16-10, 3.17, 192K) was right there as well. Then, third in the rotation comes former Rangers' ace CJ Wilson (16-7, 2.94, 206K). He was never much of a reliever, but once he became a starter in 2010, he became one of the best in the AL. He's 32, and signed for the next five years, he should be a great starter for at least the next three. Fourth in the rotation will be Ervin Santana (11-12, 3.38), who though a bit less reliable, still qualifies for one of the best number four startes in the game. Rounding out the rotation will be journeyman Jerome Williams (4-0, 3.68 in 6 starts). He may not be much, but when you have the other four doing their thing, I'm sure there won't be much pressure on Jerome Closing games will be Jordan Walden (32 SV /42 SVO, who stepped into the role last year after a major bullpen shakeup early last year. He was an All-Star. The ten blown saves are little scary, but he'll be good.
The Angels broke the bank to win this year. They're going to have a go at it, but I believe anything short of an AL Pennant will be a disappointment in the OC.
Your 2012 Los Angeles Angels:
C Chris Ianetta
1B Albert Pujols
2B Howie Kendrick
3B Mark Trumbo/Alberto Callaspo
SS Erick Aybar
LF Vernon Wells
CF Peter Bourjos
RF Torii Hunter
DH Kendrys Morales
SP Jered Weaver
SP Dan Haren
SP CJ Wilson
SP Ervin Santana
SP Jerome Williams
CL Jordan Walden
Best Case Scenario
2012 proves to be one of the most exciting summers of all time. The Rangers and Angels go toe to toe all season to see who will win the west and who will be forced to play the wild card game. The Rangers throw the first punch, upgrading it's starting rotation when they take Wandy Rodriguez from Houston. The Angels respond by taking Aaron Harang from the Dodgers, and at the break the two find themselves tied.
Six Angels make the All-Star Game, including Morales, Trumbo (who earns the everyday 3B job), Weaver, Wilson, Pujols, and Haren. Oh yeah, Morales. He goes off and is right back on track from where he left off on that fateful day in 2010. His 36 home runs are second only to Pujols on the team. The two of them along with Trumbo combine to form the most potent 3-4-5 combo in the majors, and the Angels ride them, along with outstanding starting pitching, to a tie on the last day of the season. The Angels have the Mariners, and the Rangers take on the A's. The A's and Yoenis Cespedes play spoiler, and the Angels win the west.
It's a breeze on the way to the Pennant. They go up against the red hot Braves in the World Series. The lineups and the rotations matchup well, and every game is decided by 2 runs or less. 3 of them go to extras. When the dust settles, Haren outduels Hanson, and the Angels are world champions.
Worst Case Scenario
After spending all that money in the offseason, the Angels fail to see anything that even remotely resembles results. CJ Wilson falls back to earth, Chris Ianetta proves to be a bust, and Albert Pujols struggles to get going as he has trouble adjusting to the American League. Though he eventually does get going, it looks like it might be too little too late, as the Rangers take a commanding 9 game lead by the All-Star break.
The worst spot is in the outfield. Incensed after getting stuck on the bench, Bobby Abreu becomes a cancer in the clubhouse. He's eventually cut from the team, but the damage done to the clubhouse mood is irreparable. Hunter and Wells both begin to show signs of age, and Trumbo enters a sophomore slump with his irregular playing time. The Angels scramble and trade prospects for Josh Willingham and Scott Baker, but the too little too late meme keeps coming up in Orange County. What once had Angels in the Outfield now only has a hooker named Angel hanging out at the entrance to the parking lot, and the Angels fail to make the playoffs.
What Will Probably Happen
93 Wins and a Wild Card berth
Song for the Angels
It's gonna burn up one way or another, and I couldn't find a good fan song.
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