The Angels need starting 2B Howie Kendrick to stay healthy this season. He is light years better than either of his backups (Maicer Izturis & Erick Aybar) as a hitter so the Angels need his bat. Kendrick has played in 10 games so far this season and he is 18 for 36 (.500 avg, 1.220 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 4 homers and 2 stolen bases. Kendrick is a little banged up right now and the Angels can’t afford to be without him too long.

A lot of people were starting to write off the 35-year old Garrett Anderson after he was injured in the first half of the season and he started a little slow. But, he has proven all of his skeptics wrong with a monster second half of the season that has kick started the whole offense. Anderson has played in 55 games in the second half of the season and he is 64 for 213 (.300 avg, .908 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 12 homers and 57 RBIs. His strong bat had been a huge boost to the offense because it forces teams to pitch to Vladimir Guerrero who’s hitting right in front of him. Anderson has now played in 95 games this season and he’s hitting .294 with 58 runs scored, 15 homers and 72 RBIs. The Angels need him to keep swinging like he is right now thru October.

Vladimir Guerrero has played in 37 games since the All-Star Break and he is 48 for 152 (.316 avg, .903 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 5 homers and 25 RBIs. Still the Angels are wondering where his power has went. The answer lies in the fact that the Angels don’t have a legit hitter behind him to protect him in the lineup so the opposing teams are getting more careful when pitching to him. Still it’s hard to be upset with Guerrero because he is by far and away the best player on the Angels. In 122 games this season Guerrero is 149 for 463 (.322 avg, .944 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 19 homers and 100 RBIs.

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.

Orlando Cabrera definately deserved to be on the All Star Team with the way he has played this season. Cabrera has played in 83 games this season and he is 111 for 337 (.329 avg, .814 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 5 homers, 48 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Cabrera has also played great defense like he always does. Cabrera was unlucky for two reasons 1.) Jim Leyland selected his own shortstop (Carlos Guillen) as Derek Jeter’s backup and 2.) The Rangers had to have someone make the team so Michael Young was chosen despite the fact that Cabrera has outplayed him this season so far. Basically, Orlando Cabrera got stiffed.