2006 Anaheim Angels Predictions & Season Preview
June 5, 2008
Here at Info Plays we feel pretty strongly about the chances with our Anaheim Angels predictions that show them coming out on top of the American League West in 2006. They won this division by seven games last season and while we do not see them winning in quite the same runaway fashion, they have the least amount of weaknesses and look like they can be a real contender to represent the AL in the World Series. This is the only team in the division that really combines solid pitching with a solid lineup from top to bottom, and is talented enough to contend for the Wild Card if one of the other pretenders somehow comes together and makes a strong run.
Anaheim has benefited by having only one main competitor in the Oakland A’s out West. They have then parlayed their regular season success into solid playoff runs the last couple of season. In 2002 they rode the rally monkey all the way to taking down the World Series against the San Francisco Giants, and last year they lost to the Chicago White Sox in the American League Championship game. This team will have another shot this season because their pitching is tough up top, and they have a solid pen that can come in and seal up games.
The top of the order is anchored by last year’s American League Cy Young winner in Barolot Colon. Colon put up massive numbers by going 21-8 while holding down a 3.48 ERA. John Lackey finally started to improve into the 2nd starter that the Angels had hoped for, mowing guys down while going 14-5 with a 3.44 ERA. Kelvin Escobar was hurt for most of last season, but this guy has the stuff to become another viable option in the 3rd starter role. Expect a high strikeout, high win season out of him this year if he can stay off the disabled list. The Angels also boast one of the most solid bullpens in the game with youngster Francisco Rodriguez closing out games to the tune of 45 saves last year. He also earned the nick name K-Rod since he struck out 91 strikeouts in only 67 innings. To help set up K-Rod for the save situations the team has Donnelly and Scott Shields, two guys with plenty of experience and good enough to close for lesser teams.
The team also has a contender for the American League Most Valuable Player award in their lineup with Vlad Guerrero. This guy isn’t stealing as many bases as he did early in his career, but he still hits for tremendous power while hitting for a high average. There also isn’t an outfielder with more of a cannon than this guy possesses in right field. While he is the only real superstar they have, Chone Figgins stole 62 bases last year at the top of this lineup and continues to improve. Adam Kennedy doesn’t hit for a lot of power but can steal an occasional base and hits for a nice average while Garret Anderson is steady producing year after year for this squad. While not the most intimidating of lineups, they have a bunch of above-average producers in which any one of them can produce on any given day.
In 2005, the Angels performed really well against right-handed starters. They ended last season 69-42 for a positive 18 unit gain against righties. This ended up being one of the most impressive stats of any team i the league last season. We are going to be keeping a nice watch on this trend to see if we can find value in a team that lost 28 units for bettors in the combined seasons of 2003 and 2004. We like Anaheim this year to beat the expectations of the public, since a lot of ESPN experts are going with Oakland to have a big year.