One-Sixth of the Way Through...

The Angels have played well but so much has happened in just the first 27 games. The Angels have had both a hot streak and a cold streak. They've looked like a cellar dwelling team (on the road trip from hell) and a dominant team (first week of the season and against Seattle). They had a big scare when Vlad was plunked and visions of anemic offense danced in my head.

So without further ado.....a review.

Record: 16-11 on pace for a 96-66 season.

The Good

Starting pitching, a solid 3.41 ERA (second in the AL). Lackey (4-2, 2.19, 8.51 K/9) has looked like the ace we all knew he was. Colon (3-0, 3.79, 8.05 K/9)has come back and given us more than we could have hoped for. Escobar has been solid with Saunders and Moseley filling in admirably for the injured Weaver and Colon.

Vlad (1.194 OPS) has been the man. Mathews (.832 OPS) has played like his deserves the money (well, almost). Kendrick (.855 OPS) was hitting before being injured and will be coming back soon.

The Bad

Relief pitching, a pedestrian 4.26 ERA (1oth in the AL). Outside of K-Rod and Speier this pen has been awful. Hopefully Shields will come around but I think Carrasco and Oliver are hopeless.

Napoli (.603 OPS) has struggled mightily. GA has been ice cold with runners in scoring position.

What Could Go Wrong

Vlad gets hurt. It's number 1, 2 and 3 on the list of things Angels fans want to see least.

What Could Go Right

Scot Shields finds his form and the Angels have a dominating back of the bullpen. Napoli finds his bat and Figgins comes back strong.

What will happen

The Angels will match their first 27 games win for win and go another 16-11.

Okay, So That's Over....

Well now, that wasn't too good of a road trip, was it?

A 1-7 record. Scoring just 10 runs. Four of them in the first game of the trip. A .214 team batting avg., .551 OPS. A team 5.40 ERA. Defense not making anybody forget about 2006.

Having your two best hitters plunked and missing the next few games (in Howie's case a few weeks). The rest of the offense unable to pick up the slack. Pitching that looks hittable.

But it's done and now time to come back to some home cookin'. The Angels had a bad start in '02 and came out fine. I think they can turn things around and get back to where they should be.

No time to hit the panic button.

Aybar Should Not Steal

Erick Aybar may be a fast runner but he isn't a good base stealer. So in the ninth inning trailing by one Scioscia puts Aybar in to pinch run and has him try to steal second base. Aybar is thrown out to end the game. And what really hurts is that Kendrick is at the plate. A 4-for-4 Kendrick is at the plate. The percentages here dictate that you let Howie swing the bat. Aybar cannot be allowed to try to steal a base in such an important situation.

And some people agree.

What!?

It's just been one week and Rich Lederer is saying maybe K-Rod has lost a little something.

Is it the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end for K-Rod? I don't know, it might be neither. After all, the season is less than a week old. But he looks more like Don Stanhouse than his old self in the early going.

Everyone struggles occasionally. Everyone. Way too early for the speculation.

Ooooorrrr... Maybe K-Rod isn't doctoring the ball this season.

No, it's just a bad start. Check out Seitz's blog for why the accusation is crap.

1-0

Okay, that was good. Lackey was shaky, he threw 96 pitches over his five innings of work and walked four but managed to keep the Rangers in check. The bullpen was superb (I'm not counting Oliver's performance), allowing no hits and no walks.

Matthews was pretty much sensational with his glove (except that little pop fly) and added a walk and a hit along with it. But the man of all men was Kotchman who homered, singled and walked. If this is a sign of things to come this will be a very good Angel year.

Nothing like starting off the year with a win. Now if they could just tack on 99 more....

National League 2007

Okay, time for me to look into the future and see the senior circuit results.

Mets 90-72
Phillies 87-75
Braves 81-81
Marlins 75-87
Nats 69-93

Cardinals 85-77
Cubs 84-78
Astros 83-79
Brewers 74-88
Pirates 67-95
Reds 66-96

D-Backs 88-74
Padres 86-76
Rockies 80-82
Giants 76-86
Dodgers 71-91

NL Winner: Diamondbacks

American League 2007

Here are my predicted standings for the AL in 2007

AL West

Angels 93-69
A's 86-76
Rangers 84-78
Mariners 72-90

Central

Indians 90-72
Twins 89-73
White Sox 88-74
Tigers 87-75
Royals 60-102

East

Yankees 93-69
Red Sox 88-74
Blue Jays 84-78
Orioles 80-82
Devil Rays 74-88

AL Winner: Angels (OF COURSE)

I'm optimistic that Napoli, Kendrick and Kotchman will help the Angels improve upon last years offensive perfomance. And the defense can't be as bad as last year, can it?