21-year old rookie righty starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood could be on thin ice with the Angels. He has pitched in 23 games (all starts) for the Angels so far this year and he is 6-9 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He has given up 146 hits while walking 63 batters in his first 103 1/3 innings this year and at times he has been hard to watch. In his defense, he’s a kid that’s still learning while pitching in the majors. The reason that Chatwood’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy is the fact that the Angels have called up 29-year old righty starting pitcher Jerome Williams. Williams has pitched in 11 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball for the Angels this year and he is 7-2 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Williams also has some major league experience as he has pitched in 76 games (71 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 23-29 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

UPDATE: (8/19/2011) - The Angels have sent Tyler Chatwood to AAA. He will be replaced in the starting rotation by Jerome Williams.

The Angels have removed 32-year old righty starting pitcher Joel Pineiro from the starting rotation. He deserved to be yanked from the rotation as he hasn’t pitched well since May. In his last 11 starts (June, July and August), Pineiro is 3-4 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. Pineiro has pitched in 18 games (18 starts) overall for the Angels this year and he is 5-6 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. He hasn’t missed many bats this year as he has given up 135 hits in his first 103 1/3 innings so far this year. The Angels are in the heat of a penant race so they couldn’t afford to keep running Pineiro out to the mound every five days.

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.

34-year old righty reliever Fernando Rodney came into this season as one of the closer’s on thin ice. Well, that ice underneath him has cracked all the way as he has now been replaced as the closer by 23-year old righty rookie reliever Jordan Walden. Rodney did get one save so far this year but he worked 1 1/3 innings in his first two games and he gave up 2 hits, 2 earned runs and he walked four batters. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia just couldn’t continue to overlook Rodney’s shortcomings as a closer any longer. Jordan Walden brings the heat as he’s routinely in the high 90’s with his fastball. He got his first save of the season last night against the Rays and he made it look very easy. Walden has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Angels so far this year and he is 0-0 with 1 save, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP. He has only given up 1 hit and walked 1 batter while whiffing 6 of them in only 3 1/3 innings. This was a very smart move for Mike Scioscia as the Angels can’t afford to be giving away games late.

27-year old lefty Scott Kazmir got drilled by the Royals yesterday. He pitched 1 2/3 innings and he gave up 5 hits (1 homer), 5 earned runs and he walked 2 batters. Kazmir will likely have a short leash for the Angels this year as he was awful for them in 2010. He pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Angels in 2010 and he was 9-15 with a 5.84 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Kazmir probably will get a couple more starts but if things don’t start getting better for him I see the Angels replacing him in the starting rotation by May 1st.

UPDATE: (4/9/2011) - The Angels have placed Scott Kazmir on the 15-day disabled list with a case of lower back stiffness. The Angels have recalled 32-year old righty Matt Palmer to replace him in the starting rotation starting tonight. Palmer pitched in 14 games (1 start) for the Angels last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. He has now pitched in 54 games (14 starts) in his first two years with the Angels and he is 12-4 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Angels are hoping that they get the Palmer of 2009 instead of last year’s version.