Angels Fans Don't Fret: Pitching Still a Strength

Kelvim Escobar could be done for the year, and possibly his career.

John Lackey is out for at least a month and possibly longer.

A shoulder tear (Escobar) and a tricep strain (Lackey) have Angel fans worrying. I will admit that to lose the No. 1 and No. 2 starters for a long period of time will be hard to overcome.

But if anyone can do it, the Angels can.

The Angels have an amazing farm system and can replace the missing parts in two ways. One way to overcome the injuries is through the farm system itself and the other being via trade with prospects.

The Angels have become winners by establishing their minor league teams.

Each year, someone gets hurt, and the Angels respond with young talent.

Last year, Reggie Willits provided a charge. In 2002, Francisco Rodriguez made his name known, and people like Kendrick, Figgins, Rivera, Napoli, Weaver, Lackey, Escobar, and countless others all came up in the Angels' system.

This year’s wave of newcomers will be in the pitching and infielding. We will see Brandon Wood, Kendry Morales, and a few others get the call more than likely.

I also suspect another no-name prospect, of whom not many fans will have heard, to get the call and perform admirably and earn a roster spot like Willits did last year.

With the starting pitching rotation not clearly set, we see four starters already.

Jered Weaver is the new ace; Garland, Santana, and Saunders fill in the next three most likely in that order. The final spot is still up for grabs.

Either Dustin Moseley will come out of the bullpen and become a starter again or Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old flamethrower, is thrust into the rotation.

Adenhart is the people's choice and possibly the smart one. Moseley is needed in the bullpen. Shields is not ready for the season, and Bootcheck is hurt for awhile.

This leaves two key cogs in the bullpen out. Moseley would be better fit to fill one of those roles. Adenhart could come in and work his kinks out now.

He performed well in Spring Training, and although he is not perfect, I see an early call up being a smart move.

The Angels face a relatively weak schedule in the first month of play. This means Adenhart will be able to get his work in against the weaker teams of the AL.

Adenhart could even begin in the bullpen like Joba Chamberlain and Jonathan Paplebon have done. Moseley could fill in the fifth and Adenhart works the bullpen to gain experience. It is a great learning curve to be placed into.

There is one last option for the Angels and that involves going to a four-man rotation. But this has not been done since the early '80s, and that option seems unlikely, but possible.

The Angels have made deals this offseason already, and I would not be surprised to see them pull the trigger again.

Wood and Adenhart could go as well as the beloved Figgins. Rivera and Willits are also prime suspects to be traded.

Finally, Francisco Rodriguez could be shopped around as he is in his last year and no contract extension is in sight.

A trade in the first month is highly unlikely, however.

If Lackey's injury is more serious, Escobar's is as serious as feared, and Adenhart, Moseley, Santana, or another pitcher is not getting the job done, then look for the Angels to grab a pitcher from a non-contender.

The Athletics are shopping their two young arms in Harden and Blanton, but don't count on the A's to trade within the division.

If the Angels can get one of those two look for a three-team trade or cash for the Angels to be involved.

As for other teams, the Astros and Marlins could be potential trade partners. If the Astros begin to lose ground, look for the Angles to try and get Roy Oswalt near the deadline. They would probably have to give up Willits or Rivera, Wood, and possibly Adenhart or more to get him, though.

Mike Soscia hinted at the possibility of the Angels trading for more arms, but he is determined to fix the problem within the organization first.

If the Angels have proved one thing the past couple of years, it's that there's always someone waiting and willing to take over and become the next star.

Look for Adenhart on that mound sometime soon.

No matter what happens, the Angels will find a way to fill the hole and contend.