Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: MLB Breakdown 2009

The Angels were the best team in baseball a year ago. They won the AL West division by a whopping 21 games, with a record of 100-62.

Everything seemed to be going right for the Angels in 2008. This year, everything seems to be going wrong. 

Over the off season, they didn't do a whole lot. 

The highlights were the signings of outfielder Bobby Abreu and closer Brian Fuentes, and the departures of slugging first baseman Mark Teixera, record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez, and veteran outfielder Garret Anderson.

At this point in the season, the Angels have the most severe case of the injury bug in all of baseball. 

Currently, they have seven players on the disabled list: Vladimir Guerrero, Ervin Santana, John Lackey, Dustin Mosely, Darren Oliver, Kelvim Escobar, and Kevin Jepsen.

Add that to the tragic death of 22 year old pitcher Nick Adenhart.

Not only does this leave the Angels with virtually no starting pitching, but it also leaves them without their best hitter (Vladimir Guerrero) and their most consistent reliever (Darren Oliver).

It's not a surprise that the Angels aren't playing well. To tell the truth, I don't think that any team would be playing well after suffering the type of losses that the Angels have in this young season. 

Don't get me wrong, though; even without these injuries, the Angels are not the team that they were in 2008. They sorely downgraded at the closer role, and the not-so-young Bobby Abreu doesn't come very close to replacing the bat of Mark Teixera. 

But, when a few of their key players return—mainly Lackey, Santana, and Vlad—the Angels will return to being a solid team. 

The question is, will they make the playoffs?

That depends on a couple of things.

Mainly, it depends on how far back they are in the AL West by the time that they get back to being near full force. 

Secondly, it depends on the bullpen. The bullpen is, without a doubt, the Angels' weak spot—when the team is healthy, that is. Scot Shields, Jose Arredondo, Jason Bulger, and Kevin Jepsen are all off to rough starts, to say the least.

Relief pitching can easily make or break a team—but which one will it be for the Angels?

Finally, we get to the offense. The Angels don't have a bad offense. That being said, they also don't have that good of an offense. They'll get some power production from Torii Hunter, maybe Bobby Abreu, and, until Vlad gets back, that's about it. 

Their only real speed threats are Figgins and Izturis. Other than those two, they aren't going to be stealing a lot of bases.

The most important games that the Angels play this year are going to be for the next month or so. The one thing that will define their season will be how they play now, while they're crippled by injury. 

My bold prediction: second place, AL West, 80-82. Tomorrow: Oakland Athletics.