Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Preview

ABOUT BASEBALL breks down & previews the 2005 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

2004 Record: 92-70, 1st in AL West
'04 Playoffs: Swept by Boston in ALDS
Home Ballpark: Angels Stadium of Anaheim
Manager: Arte Moreno

2005 Prediction: 94-68, 1st place in AL West

Heaven Sent
Paul Byrd (SP, rhp) from Braves
Orlando Cabrera (SS) from Red Sox
Steve Finley (OF) from Dodgers
Macier Izturis (IF) from Expos (Minor Leaguer)
**Lou Merloni (IF) from Indians
Juan Rivera (OF) from Expos
Esteban Yan (RP, rhp) from Tigers

Gone, Goodbye
Alfredo Amezaga (IF) to Rockies
David Eckstein (SS) vto Cardinals
**Andres Galarraga (DH) to Mets
Troy Glaus (3B) to Diamondbacks
Jose Guillen (OF) to Expos
**Shane Halter (3B) to Devil Rays
Bobby Jenks (RP) to White Sox
Raul Mondesi to Braves
Ramon Ortiz (SP, rhp) to Reds
Troy Percival (RHP) to Tigers
**Aaron Sele (SP, rhp) to Mariners
**Signed Minor League Deal

Lineup
Chone Figgins 2B
Darin Erstad 1B
Vladimir Guerrero RF
Garrett Anderson LF
Steve Finley CF
Orlando Cabrera SS
Dallas McPherson 3B
Bengie Molina C
Tim Salmon DH

Rotation
Bartolo Colon RHP
Kelvim Escobar RHP
Jarrod Washburn LHP
John Lackey RHP
Paul Byrd RHP

FUN FACT: Rookie Dallas MacPherson, the club's new starting third baseman, slammed 40 homers and drove in 126 runs combined in two minor-league stops last year.

Outlook: The Angels look to rebound from their humiliating three-game sweep from the playoffs at the hands of Boston.

The face of the team is changing, as longtime closer Troy Percival is now in Detroit, and power-hitting Troy Glaus became an Arizona D-Back. Reigning AL MVP Vlad Guerreo teams up with Steve Finley & Orlando Cabrera to anchor a still-solid lineup. Bartolo Colon must pitch like the ace he's supposed to be. If he does - and I think he will - the Anges take the AL West crown by at least five games.