Gary Matthews just isn’t hitting enough to justify the playing time he has been getting this season. The Angels are playing him because they gave him a lot of money but he is proving that he wasn’t worth it. Matthews has played in 52 games this season for the Angels and he is 43 for 198 (.217 avg, .662 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 6 homers, 28 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. My idea would be to platoon Matthews & Juan Rivera. Rivera hasn’t played enough to get into a groove at the plate this season. He has played in 20 games for the Angels this year and he is 7 for 42 (.167 avg, .436 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 1 RBI. But, Rivera has been a much better hitter over his career than Matthews. Rivera has a .287 career batting average with a .803 OPS while Matthews is a .259 career hitter with a .748 OPS). The Angels need some help on offense and I think making this move in the lineup would help them.

You would never know that John Lackey has missed most of the season with the way he has pitched in his first two games of the 2008 season. Lackey has started 2 games for the Angels this season and he is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. His velocity is there and he has whiffed 10 batters while only walking 4 in 14 innings. This is a good sign for the Angels as the rotation is very deep and talented.

The Angels have placed starting shortstop Erick Aybar on the 15-day disabled list with a dislocated right pinkie finger. He has played in 43 games this season and he is 41 for 152 (.270 avg, .649 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 1 homer, 16 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Angels will activate Chone Figgins to replace Aybar on the roster and to start at 3B. Figgins has played in 33 games this season for the Angels and he is 38 for 124 (.306 avg, .778 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Aybar’s injury opens up the starting shortstop job for Maicer Izturis. Izturis has played in 30 games for the Angels this season and he is 21 for 101 (.208 avg, .525 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 11 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He’s a better hitter than he has shown so far this season so he should be able to replace Aybar with the Angels not missing a beat. Sean Rodriguez will start at 2B until either Aybar or Howie Kendrick return from the D.L. Rodriguez is off to a slow start to his major league career so far. He has played in 13 games for the Angels this season and he is 7 for 40 (.175 avg, .458 OPS) with 2 runs scored. He has also whiffed an amazing 15 times this season. The Angels have also recalled Brandon Wood from AAA ball again. He has played in 11 games for the Angels this season and he is 4 for 26 (.154 avg, .483 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He has also whiffed an alarming 11 times this season.

The Angels appeared ready to stick a fork in Garrett Anderson after his performance in April but he’s started off May on a vengeance. Anderson has played in 10 games this May and he is 11 for 34 (.324 avg, 1.008 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. His recent surge has improved his season numbers big time. Anderson has played in 36 games this season for the Angels and he is 35 for 142 (.246 avg, .697 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 5 homers and 21 RBIs. Anderson will continue to play everyday and bat cleanup as long as he’s swinging a hot stick.

The Angels waited as long as they could before putting Chone Figgins on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Figgins has played in 32 games this season for the Angels and he is 37 for 121 (.306 avg, .776 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Figgins will be replaced at 3B by rookie Brandon Wood and Robb Quinlan. Wood is off to a slow start this season as he has played in 11 games for the Angels and he is 4 for 26 (.154 avg, .483 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Wood has whiffed an amazing 11 times and he will need to make more contact than that if he wants to stay in the majors. Veteran Robb Quinlan hasn’t got much playing time yet this season. He has played in 13 games for the Angels this season and he is 6 for 29 (.207 avg, .568 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. The Angels will miss Figgins big time for what he does at the top of their batting order.