ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -There are a bunch of talented Angels in the outfield, in the infield – and on the disabled list.
With an overstocked outfield of Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Garret Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr., and a young infield with great potential, the Los Angeles Angels’ pitching staff is hurting as the team begins its pursuit of a fourth AL West title in five years.
The rotation figured to be at least six deep, but the Angels will start the season without their top two pitchers.
John Lackey, who was 19-9 with an AL-leading 3.01 ERA last season, is expected to miss the first month with a strained right triceps. Kelvim Escobar, who went 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 2007, has a shoulder problem that will sideline him indefinitely.
When new Angels general manager Tony Reagins dealt Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Jon Garland last November, the trade seemed odd because the team already had five quality starting pitchers.
Because of the injuries to Lackey and Escobar, it now looks smart.
Garland, who went 10-13 for Chicago last year, will follow opening-day starter Jered Weaver, with Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana also on tap to pitch in the four-game series that begins Monday in Minnesota. Dustin Moseley is expected to fill the fifth spot.
While the Angels wait for the pitchers to heal, their hitting and defense might just carry them. Signing seven-time Gold Glove winner Hunter, who hit .287 with 28 homers and 107 RBIs for the Twins last year, added pop – and protection for Guerrero – to the lineup.
“He’s just a huge addition to our team,” second baseman Howie Kendrick said.
Even Matthews, bumped out of center field when Hunter arrived, approved.
“We made our team better,” Matthews said. “He’ll not only give protection to Vlady, but when you add that kind of balance to the lineup, it gives protection to everyone.”
While Hunter will remain in center most of the time, manager Mike Scioscia intends to keep all four outfielders in the lineup, rotating them in and out of the DH spot. Guerrero wants to stay in right field most of the time, so that means Matthews and Anderson probably will get more time at DH.
Two other outfielders, Juan Rivera and Reggie Willits, probably could start for plenty of teams. Rivera, fully recovered from a broken leg, is a power hitter who got some work at first base this spring.
Although the infield has a question mark at shortstop, where Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar will vie for the job, the Angels look strong at the other positions. Kendrick, who missed time with injuries last year, seems to have the tools to become an outstanding hitter.
First baseman Casey Kotchman probably can improve on his numbers from last year, when he batted .296 with 11 homers and 68 RBIs. Third baseman and leadoff man Chone Figgins, although limited to 115 games by injuries, hit .330 and had 41 steals.
“We have a lot of offensive options,” Scioscia said.
Although the Angels have made the postseason four of the past six years, they’ve been in only one World Series in their history, when they won it all as a wild card in 2002. Last year, Boston swept them in the first round.
Kendrick thinks the addition of Hunter and Garland might be enough to change things.
“Hopefully, that will be what we need to carry us over to the World Series, that next level of the playoffs,” he said.
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