The Los Angeles Angels have demoted Ervin Santana to AAA ball after another awful performance this week. Santana was 5-11 with a 6.22 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP in 19 starts this season. Santana has thrown 110 innings this season and he has allowed 136 hits, 23 homers, walked 42 batters and whiffed 87. The Angels have recalled Joe Saunders to replace Santana in the rotation. Saunders has done well so far in his limited time with the Angels as he is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP in 5 starts. He has thrown 30.1 innings for the Angels this season and he has allowed 31 hits, walked 12 batters and whiffed 14.

Ervin Santana, Bartolo Colon and Darren Oliver have all had rough first halves to the 2007 season. Ervin Santana is 5-10 this season with a 1.54 WHIP so far this season. In 104 innings this year Santana has allowed 122 hits and 23 homers! That will need to change soon or Santana will be replaced in the starting rotation. Bartolo Colon has also had a rough first half of the 2007 season. He is now 6-4 with a 6.44 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP so far this season. He has allowed 107 hits and 15 homers in only 79.2 innings this season and that can’t be tolerated much longer. Darren Oliver is the only lefty in the bullpen for the Angels and he is 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. The Angels have been using him as a mop up man and that’s all he will likely be as he can’t be trusted in pressure situations.

John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields and Dustin Moseley have all pitched well so far this season. John Lackey has been the anchor of the Angels rotation as he is 11-5 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP so far this season. He has allowed 107 hits, walked 32 batters and has whiffed 98 in 120.2 innings as Lackey has been the workhorse of the Angels staff. Look for him to have a good second half as he’s really looked good this season. Escobar is having the best year of his career right now as he is 10-3 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP so far this season. Escobar has been really nasty this season as his stuff looks better than ever and I have a feeling he will have a strong second half as long as he stays healthy. K-Rod has been his usual dominant self this season as the game is likely over when he walks in from the bullpen. He is 2-2 with 24 saves, a 2.33 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP so far this season. He also has whiffed 53 batters in 38.2 innings which shows that he still has outstanding stuff. Scot Shields has been his usual outstanding self this season as he is 2-2 with 2 saves, a 1.70 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He would be a closer for most teams which just shows how good the Angels bullpen is. He has only allowed 26 hits in 47.2 innings so far this season. Dustin Moseley has settled into his role as the 7th inning man in the Angels pen. He is 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP this season. Moseley also could possibly return to a starting role if Ervin Santana and Bartolo Colon continue to struggle this season.

The Angels need to get more offense from the catching position. Mike Napoli has been the starter most of the season but he’s injured right now. He is hitting .243 with 35 runs scored, 8 homers and 29 RBIs so far this season. Napoli needs to get his average over .250 to really help the Angels offense. Jose Molina has not hit the ball at all either as he’s only 25 for 110 (.227 avg) with only 9 runs scored and 7 RBIs. Rookie Jeff Mathis is 0 for 6 with 1 RBI since being called up to replace the injured Napoli. Catcher could be another position that the Angels try to improve on at the trade deadline.

The Angels probably will be looking for a big bat to protect Vladimir Guerrero in the lineup at the trade deadline. He is hitting .325 with 46 runs scored, 14 homers and 75 RBIs so far this season. And Guerrero has done all of that without any real protection in the lineup. Orlando Cabrera is having the best season of his major league career as he is hitting .328 with 55 runs scored, 5 homers, 51 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. It’s doubtful that Cabrera can keep up that pace but he has been getting a lot of good pitches to hit batting in front of Guerrero so you never know. Reggie Willits has done a fine job for the Angels this season as he is hitting .312 with 39 runs scored, 25 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. It’s possible that teams will be asking about Willits in trade rumors with the Angels looking for a big bat. Chone Figgins has been outstanding since the end of May as he is now hitting .304 with 37 runs scored, 26 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.