With Garret Anderson expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a injured hip it’s likely that Reggie Willits will again be the full time left fielder for the Angels. With Willits in the lineup it gives opposing catchers nightmares as they have to deal with him, Chone Figgins, Gary Matthews and Orlando Cabrera on the basepaths. Willits is hitting .329 so far this season and he has a good eye at the plate as he’s walked 32 times so far this season. Regardless of where Willits is hitting in the lineup he will be an asset for the Angels. He also improves the defense in left field as he’s light years better than Garret Anderson at this point in his career.

The Angels have placed Garret Anderson on the 15-day disabled list after he aggravated his injured hip yesterday. Anderson has played in 34 games this season and he’s 34 for 129 (.264 avg, .676 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 3 homers and 15 RBIs. The Angels should be ok until Anderson returns because they are deep in the outfield and at DH.

Chone Figgins has really exploded lately with the bat in his hands. In his last 5 games, Figgins is 11 for 25 (.440 avg, .880 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 4 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. His recent surge has improved his season average to .252. Mike Scioscia made a brilliant move by moving Figgins back to the leadoff spot. Batting in front of hot hitting Orlando Cabrera has protected Figgins and got him a lot of good pitches to hit which he wasn’t getting at the bottom of the batting order. With Figgins hitting well at the top of the Angels lineup it gives opposing pitchers fits because his speed gives them something else that they have to worry about.

The Angels are 9-4 the last two weeks as they outscored their opponents 84-64. The Angels offense has really picked it up as the pitching hasn’t been as good as it was a little earlier in the season. The Angels enter this week with a 40-24 record which had them in first place in the American League West, 4.5 games ahead of the Mariners.

The Angels have an amazing starting rotation and it’s super deep. The main five (John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Ervin Santana, Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver) are a combined 28-17 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. No one in major league baseball can compare arms in the rotation with the Angels as all five of their starters have #1 starter type stuff. It doesn’t end there either. If the Angels have any injuries they could bring Dustin Moseley out of the bullpen or they could call up their secret assassin Joe Saunders up from AAA ball. Moseley and Saunders are a combined 7-0 with a 1.79 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP so far this season which is amazing. If the Angels feel they need something to win the American League West they will have starting pitching to trade and other teams will be listening.