Angels emerge as the team to beat in the American League

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are proving to be a tough team to beat this season with a well balanced team.   Manager Mike Scioscia can be given a lot of credit for bringing over his National League style of "little ball" to make the Angels the best team in the American League.  At the All-star break the Angels had the best record in the majors at 57-38.   The Angels were rewarded with three pitchers in the historic last All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium.  It was the first time the Angels had three pitchers in an All-Star Game.  Two starters, Joe Saunders (12-5 3.07) and Ervin Santana (11-3 3.34) and closer Francisco Rodriguez with 37 saves and a 2.41 ERA.

"K-Rod" has an excellent shot at breaking the single-season save record of 57.  He became the fastest closer in Major League history to 40 saves, collecting his 40th save on July 20th and it came against the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, which made it even sweeter as he preserved a 5-3 win.  The win also made the Angels the first team to 60-wins this season as K-Rod has saved 40 of the Angels first 60 wins.

The Angels proved they are the team to beat in the AL sweeping the Red Sox twice after the All-star break, with three wins in Anaheim, including a dominating 11-3 win July 18th, them swept them in Boston, including a 9-2 win in the finale July 30th.  The Halos have been the hottest team in the AL since the All-star break going 11-2 and finished the month of July with a 19-6 record.

What makes LA tough to beat is they have arguably the best starting pitching rotations in the majors with the potential of having three 20-game winners.  Saunders has been the surprise ace of the team at 14-5, 68 strikeouts, 3.09 ERA thru August 3rd; Santana has the second most wins for the Angels at 12-5, 143 ks, 3.38; John Lackey has comeback from injuries to go 9-2, 85 ks, 3.10. John Garland (10-6, 63 ks, 4.30) was a key free agent signing in the off-season, and even the fifth starter Jered Weaver (9-9, 101 ks, 4.37) has nine wins.  The only blow to the Angels pitching staff was when Kelvin Escobar, an 18-game winner last season, had season-ending shoulder surgery in July.

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