Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

By R.J. Anderson SBN American League Manager of the Year 3rd Place: Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2nd Place: Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins SBN National League Manager of the Year 3rd Place: Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers Winner: Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs

By Peter Bendix This series is a Secret Sauce bonanza, featuring two teams with strikeout pitchers, great bullpens (well, at least a few great relievers), and fantastic defense. For all the talk of the Rays’ excellent defense – and it was indeed excellent – the Red Sox actually had the highest park-adjus...

By Peter Bendix Yes, the Angels struggled with runners in scoring position in this series. But during the regular season, they were one of the best teams with runners in scoring position.         *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *

By R.J. Anderson Only Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood are meaningful contributors eligible for free agency (sorry Jim Edmonds, Bob Howry, and Henry Blanco.) Given the market (read: insane money) thrown at starters and closers I'm not so sure either will return, although given their special circumstances...

By Peter Bendix Without Mark Teixeira, the Angels are a .500 team (that 77-71 third order record becomes 74-74 if you downgrade from Teixeira to Morales). They could be even worse if they lose K-Rod, too. Furthermore, Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Scot Shields, Jon Garland, Gary Matthews Jr., and Darre...

By R.J. Anderson Manager: Mike Scioscia General Manager: Bill Stoneman Inspirational Symbol: Rally Monkey Scot Shields Being inexperienced - gasp - was a common theme for this pen. Yes, Shields was 26, but prior to 2002 he had all of 11 major league innings. Francisco Rodriguez

By Peter Bendix The Angels finally made a bold move. By trading for Mark Teixeira, they attempted to improve their team for a run deep into October. Unfortunately for them, by trading Casey Kotchman in the process, the Angels hardly improved their team at all.

By Mike Pindelski Thanks in large part to an offense that is both tops in the American League in runs scored (538) and OPS (.816), the Texas Rangers are making the AL West race a little interesting currently sporting a 50-46 record, sitting 7.5 games back of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

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