The Angels got battered in the first week of the season as they finished up with a 2-5 record which has them tied for last place in the A.L. West with the Mariners, 3 games behind the Oakland A’s. The Angels were outscored 44-24 last week as they played all around bad baseball. Things don’t get any easier for the Angels as they travel to Yankee Stadium for a three game series starting tomorrow and then they fly to Toronto for a three game series over the weekend against the super hot Blue Jays.

The Angels are glad to see the Twins leaving Anaheim. The Angels started off 1-3 against the Twins as they were outscored 22-12! The Twins whacked 9 homers in the four game series! It doesn’t get much easier for the Angels as the hot starting Oakland A’s (3-1) come to town this weekend. The Angels need to get back to the basics as they are a better team than they showed against the Twins.

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.