The Angels have signed outfielders Dee Brown and Chad Hermansen to minor league contracts. 29 year old Dee Brown played in 8 games last season for the A’s and he was 0 for 3 with 2 whiffs. Brown has now played in 271 games in his major league career and he is 190 for 814 (.233 avg, .613 OPS) with 86 runs scored, 14 homers and 89 RBIs. 30-year old Chad Hermansen hasn’t played in the majors since 2004 with the Blue Jays. Hermansen has played in 189 games in his major league career and he is 96 for 492 (.195 avg, .584 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 13 homers, 34 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Hopefully, the Angels won’t need either of these guys next season.

The Angels pretty much have the American League West wrapped up as they are 89-62 which has them 8.5 games ahead of the Mariners with 11 games left in the season. With the ineffectiveness of both Bartolo Colon and Ervin Santana this season the Angels wouldn’t be where they are without lefty starter Joe Saunders. Saunders has started 16 games this season and he is 8-3 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. In 96.2 innings this season he has allowed 111 hits, walked 30 batters and whiffed 60. Saunders will probably be the #4 starter in the playoffs for the Angels.

The Angels are sitting with a 85-59 record which has them in first place in the American League West by 9.5 games over the Seattle Mariners. Look for the Angels to rest a lot of veteran players the last week or so to have them fresh for the playoffs in October. The Angels appear to be in really good shape for the playoffs as starting rotations shrink and John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver will be a tough match up for any team in the American League Playoffs.

The Angels beat up on the Mariners last week to give themselves a little cushion in the American League West. The Angels are now 81-56 which has them 6.5 games up on the Mariners in the American League West. The Angels are thought of as a pitching team but they have scored 711 runs (5.2 per game) which is the 4th highest total in the American League. Vladimir Guerrero is the leader on offense as he is hitting .326 with 78 runs scored, 22 homers and 110 RBIs so far this season. Orlando Cabrera is having a career season hitting right in front of Guerrero in the lineup. He is hitting .312 with 91 runs scored, 8 homers, 77 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Chone Figgins is the leadoff man and he got off to a slow start this season but he is smoking hot right now. He is hitting .335 with 70 runs scored, 3 homers, 49 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. The pitching has been solid as always led by John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Francisco Rodriguez. Lackey is 16-8 with a 3.26 ERA as he is stepping up this season. But, Kelvim Escobar has been even better than Lackey so far this season. Escobar is 15-7 with a 2.99 ERA this year which is easily the best season of his career. K-Rod has been finishing up whatever the Angels starters get to him as he is 5-2 with 33 saves and a 2.86 ERA.

The Angels are 9-4 the last two weeks as they outscored their opponents 84-64. The Angels offense has really picked it up as the pitching hasn’t been as good as it was a little earlier in the season. The Angels enter this week with a 40-24 record which had them in first place in the American League West, 4.5 games ahead of the Mariners.