Last year the Los Angeles Angels were most people’s pick to win the World Series, especially with the high priced talent they brought in, including Albert Pujols, but it just didn’t work out like they wanted and they finished with a 74-88 record on the year. This year they made more off-season moves and I look for them to have a bounce back year. Vegas odds have the Angels as the favorites to win the AL West at +200. They are also +1000 to win the AL Pennant and +1800 to win the World Series.
Last year the Angels finished 7th in the league in runs scored (733), 12th in homers (164) and 5th in batting average (.264). The Angels do lose Mark Trumbo and leadoff man Peter Bourjos from last year’s squad, but they did bring in David Freese and Raul Ibanez, which are both solid power hitters and both can drive in a ton of runs as well. Now that makes this lineup very scary as those two will combine with Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout. I know that Hamilton and Pujols had down years last year, but I just don’t expect them to have back-to-back bad years in a row. Both are more than capable of monster years and if both can at least come close to their career numbers, then this offense may be unstoppable. Still overall this is a going to be a very good offense that will hit for both power and average and will score a lot of runs.
The Angels had some inconsistency on offense last year, but their overall struggles were more due to a pitching staff that was 24th in ERA (4.23) and 26th in batting average against (.261). The Angels lost Jerome Williams and Jason Vargas from last year’s team and I’m not sure that Hector Santiago (4-9 last year) and Tyler Skaggs (2-3, 5.12 ERA last year) are adequate replacements. The Angels still have Jered Weaver (11-8 3.27 ERA) and C.J. Wilson (17-7, 3.39 ERA) as their top pitchers, but after them there is not much as their 3-5 starters are below average starters at best. Good this they have the offense they do. The bullpen should be solid with Ernesto Fiero (37 saves) being entrenched as the closer. The Angels brought in Joe Smith, who went 6-2 with a 2.29 ERA for the Indians last year, to be the setup man for Fiero. Dane De La Rosa had a solid year last year (6-1, 286 ERA), while Sean Burnett should be another pen addition once he gets off the DL. He is expected to start on it as the season opens. This has the makings of a very good pen.
Outlook: This team is loaded again on offense, but will Pujols and Hamilton have bounce back years and will the aging Ibanez continue to produce at a good clip this year. He doesn’t hit for average much, but the power is still there and he is a good clutch hitter. Even with the questions I see this as an offense that will be feared and they will have to step up because other than Wilson and Weaver, the pitching staff is very weak. An improved bullpen will certainly help, but unless they somehow get another solid starter of two it may be their pitching that holds them back from winning it all. Still I see them in a dogfight all year for the AL West crown and thanks to their offense they should do just enough to win the AL West.
MLB $100,000 BIG SCORE CONTEST (1st place wins $20,000)
$10,000 Match Marco Baseball Challenge--- During the 2010 MLB season, Pregame Pro Marco D'Angelo won an unheard of 25 straight baseball games, never laying more than -$120! This contest replicates Marco's feat--- CLICK TO JOIN
Stay on top of the latest odds and line moves for CBB Season with our real-time odds from Las Vegas and offshore!
College Basketball Free Picks: Connecticut vs Florida Betting
What college Basketball bettors need to know about Connecticut Huskies vs Florida Gators in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday (4/05/14) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Marco D'Angelo, with Ken Thomson.