The Los Angeles Angels have to be a little disappointed with 28-year old righty starting pitcher Ervin Santana’s production so far this year. Santana has started 9 games for the Angels so far this year and he is 1-4 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Santana’s career path shows that he has had a hard time in odd numbered years while pitching well in even numbered years. This is Santana’s 4th odd numbered season and he has worked in 84 games (81 starts) in which he is 28-34 with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. In his three even numbered seasons, Santana has worked in 98 games (all starts) in which he is 49-25 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Maybe the Angels should have known that 2011 was not going to be Santana’s year.

The Angels will be without 19-year old righty starting pitcher Cameron Bedrosian for the 2011 season and likely part of the 2012 season as he had Tommy John Surgery earlier this month. Bedrosian came into this season as the Angels’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America. He did not pitch at all this year. He pitched in 5 games (4 starts) in Rookie ball for the Angels last year and he was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. The Angels will be very careful with Bedrosian in his rehab as he projects to be a top of the rotation type of starter down the road.

27-year old righty swinging 2B/LF Howie Kendrick is finally turning into the player the Angels have expected him to. He has played in 42 games for the Angels so far this year and he is 52 for 168 (.310 avg, .876 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 6 homers, 17 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. His production numbers are way up this year, as is his batting average as it’s all coming together for Kendrick this year. If Kendrick keeps hitting like he is right now, he could set new career highs in runs scored (67), homers (10), RBIs (75) and stolen bases (14). The Angels hope that Kendrick can stay healthy (it has been an issue in his career so far), because he’s one of the best all-around hitters on the team.

28-year old righty swinging 3B Jeff Baisley is off to a great start in the minors for the Angels so far this year. He has played in 33 games so far this year in AAA-ball and he is 50 for 129 (.388 avg, 1.117 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 9 homers, 30 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Baisley has now played in 604 games in his first 7 years in the minors and he is 644 for 2,269 (.284 avg, .820 OPS) with 349 runs scored, 77 homers, 378 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Baisley did get 14 games of experience in the majors back in 2008 with the A’s when he played in 14 games and was 11 for 43 (.256 avg, .598 OPS) with 1 run scored and 5 RBIs. He is blocked at the majors by quite a few Angels like Alberto Callaspo and Maicer Izturis, but if Baisley keeps hitting like he is right now the Angels will have to call him up at some point.

27-year old 1B Kendry Morales needs a second surgery on his ankle that was broken during a walkoff celebration last year, which will cost him the rest of this season. He tried to rehab his ankle but he could just not get it right again. This is a shame as he was an emerging force for the Angels. Morales has played in 330 games in his first 5 years with the Angels and he is 323 of 1,136 (.284 avg, .838 OPS) with 155 runs scored, 57 homers, 192 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Angels will need Mark Trumbo to keep playing well as he is going to be the full-time 1B the rest of the year if he can handle the job.