Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Staying Afloat Despite Decimated Rotation

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

With roughly one-sixth of the 2009 regular season in the books, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—widely considered the favorites to win a mediocre AL West—sit in third place, a game and a half behind the division leading Texas Rangers. 

The Halos' 13-14 ledger is unimpressive on paper, but because it masks the effects of a vicious injury bug, it also means that Mike Scioscia's squad is poised to surge into the playoffs. 

Thus far, the Angels' Achilles heel has been their pitching staff, which ranks 23rd in the majors with a bloated 5.01 aggregate ERA. 

However, it's important to note that the top-three starters in Anaheim's rotation—John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Kelvim Escobar—haven't made a single start this season.  With a combined $22.3 million in salary commited to that disabled trio for 2009, GM Tony Reagins was forced to scramble to reassemble his rotation, leading his manager to hand the ball to the likes of Matt Palmer, Anthony Ortega, and Shane Loux every fifth day. 

Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver have done their best to compensate for the makeshift staff, amassing a 7-2 record with ERAs of 3.29 and 2.66, respectively, but can't possibly carry the team by themselves. 

Fortunately for the Halos, help is on the way. John Lackey and Ervin Santana are just one minor league rehab start from rejoining the rotation, and Kelvim Escobar should be ready to contribute at some point in June. Of course, they can only solve half of the team's pitching woes. 

Perhaps even more-so than the rotation, the Angels' bullpen has been a glaring weakness this season. 

Scioscia's relief corps has been saddled with a whopping eight losses already, and is dead-last in the majors with an abhorrent 7.52 ERA. Walking 45 batters in 79 innings while allowing opposing hitters to bat .311 is a recipe for disaster—and a disaster it has been.

Lefty Brian Fuentes—signed by the Angels to a two-year, $17.5 million contract this winter to replace the departed Francisco Rodriguez as the closer—has struggled mightily, converting only seven of his nine save opportunities, and already sporting a pair of losses on his record. 

Fuentes has been tagged for 13 hits and four walks in 9.2 innings on the mound, looking like a shadow of the pitcher the Halos expected for their money. 

Scot Shields and Justin Speier have also struggled to earn their paychecks, which total a pricey $9.75 million for the 2009 season. Anaheim's primary right-handed setup men have allowed 37 baserunners in 20.2 innings, providing about as much relief to the team as the Santa Ana winds to the wildfire burning 100 miles north. 

Middle-relievers Kevin Jepsen and Jason Bulger have also been awful, the former sitting on an absolutely putrid 19.29 ERA, and the latter surrendering a run per inning. Young righty Jose Arredondo—viewed as a potential alternative to Fuentes in the ninth-inning —has struck-out 18 batters in 12.2 innings, but has also been charged with a run in five of his fourteen appearances. 

Only the left-handed specialist, veteran Darren Oliver, has done his job, posting a 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings of outstanding work. 

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