The Angels went a solid 5-2 last week as they outscored their opponents 45-30. Finally the bats came alive last week and the pitching stayed solid. The Angels are now 14-11 on the season which is good for first place in the American League West, 1.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners.

When Vladimir Guerrero is locked in like he is right now he’s impossible to pitch to because he can hit anything a pitcher throws up there. I think if a pitcher one hopped a pitch to the plate, Guerrero could still hit it 400+ feet right now. Guerrero has played in 20 games so far this season and he’s hitting .377 with a 1.172 OPS! Guerrero is 26 for 69 with 13 runs scored, 6 homers and 20 RBIs so far this season. The really amazing thing about Guerrero is that no one is really hitting behind him and he’s still ripping the cover off of the baseball. If not for A-Rod’s unbelievable start, people would be talking up Vald the Impaler.

The Angels offense isn’t good enough as a whole to carry a position that provides little with the bat. Mike Napoli is the starter and he’s off to a rough start. In 12 games he’s ony hitting .205 with a .664 OPS for the Angels. He is 8 for 39 with 4 runs, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. The Angels probably would forgive a low batting average from Napoli if he starts hitting for the power he showed he had last season. He does whiff a lot as he’s already went down 12 times in only 39 at bats. Jose Molina played in 7 games this season and he’s only hitting .208 with a .416 OPS. He has yet to drive in or score a run in 24 at bats this season.

The Angels went 3-3 last week as they were outscored 25-24. They will have to win with pitching while Chone Figgins and Howie Kendrick are both out. The Angels are now tied with the Oakland A’s for first place in the American League West, 1 game ahead of the Texas Rangers.

In the Angels neverending search for a lefty reliever they signed Darren Oliver who pitched pretty well for the Mets last season. But he’s been just as bad as J.C. Romero was last season for the Angels so far this season. Oliver has pitched in 6 games so far this season and he’s 0-0 with a 12.50 ERA and a 3.33 WHIP! In 3 innings this season, Oliver has allowed 6 hits, 4 earned runs and 4 walks. If Oliver doesn’t straighten up soon he will be relugated to mop-up duty for the Angels.