Angels 2007 - Series 1 - Texas Rangers
by user Angels Fan
Tonight, the Los Angeles Angels start their 2007 season with a contest against the Texas Rangers. This is the fun part of the season for most teams because they all have hopes and aspirations of glory, and they all start out even. The Angels and Rangers both have legitimate reasons for feeling optimistic this season. Both have supplemented old faces with new and each feels that they have plugged enough holes from last season to top the AL West, maybe even to grab a ring. Here's how I see the opening series breaking down.
Games
| Game
| Rangers Starter
| 2007 Data
| 2006 Data
| Angels Starter
| 2007 Data
| 2006 Data
|
| 1
| Kevin Millwood
| 0-0, 0.00 ERA
| 16-12, 4.52 ERA
| John Lackey
| 0-0, 0.00 ERA
| 13-11, 3.56 ERA
|
| 2
| Vicente Padilla
| 0-0, 0.00 ERA
| 15-10, 4.50 ERA
| Kelvim Escobar
| 0-0, 0.00 ERA
| 11-14, 3.61 ERA
|
| 3
| Brandon McCarthy
| 0-0, 0.00 ERA
| 4-7, 4.68 ERA
| Ervin Santana
| 0-0, 0.00 ERA
| 16-8, 4.28 ERA
|
What each team needs to do
The Angels rely heavily on their pitching to hold off opposing teams, while the Rangers try to punch out enough runs to get to the weaker bullpen pitching. The problem the Rangers have with the Angels is that their bullpen is pretty solid throughout.
The key for the Rangers will be to hit hard in the middle innings when the Angels starters are slowing down. At this point in the season, most starters go 6, maybe 7 innings, and if hit hard get pulled early. If the Rangers can rattle the starters in the middle innings, they have a change to break the game open before the Angels can get to their 1-2 punch of Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez.
The Angels need to try to get as much quality pitching out of their starters as they can. While they have a strong bullpen, their offense will have a tough time coming back from any major deficit. They also need to focus on defense since giving away runs through errors killed them last year when they lead the league in unearned runs allowed.
Key Personnel
Rangers
Akinori Otsuka - While Eric Gagne is on the DL, Otsuka will be closing games for the Rangers. He did admirably last year, converting 32 of 36 opportunities.
Mark Teixera - Hit 33 home runs in 2006, 24 in the second half. If he can build upon that, the Rangers will score a lot of runs.
Hank Blalock - Has been a disappointment for years, but he can make everyone forget with a breakout season. At 26 years old, he needs to make his mark now.
Angels
John Lackey - The ace of the staff, Lackey looks primed to have an All Star caliber year, some even mention Cy Young. The Angels need him to step up and make the pitching staff his, particularly while Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver are on the DL.
Vladimir Guerrero - If the Angels are to have any kind of decent offense this season, they need a good year from Vlad. In 2006, he hit 33 HR and drove in 116. The Angels need him healthy and swinging to have any offense at all. Fortunately, he kills Texas pitching so he should get off to a good start this year.
Injuries
Rangers
Angels
Prediction
Angels take 2 out of the 3 games.
Results
| Game
| Result
| Winning Pitcher
| Losing Pitcher
| Save
| Rangers Line
| Angels Line
| HRs
| Recap
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
| 1R, 5H, 2 Err
| 4R, 9H, 2 Err
|
| link
|
| 2
|
|
|
| none
| 3R, 4H, 2 Err
| 8R, 13H, 1 Err
|
| link
|
| 3
|
|
|
|
| 3R, 6H, 1 Err
| 5R, 11H, 0 Err
|
| link
|
Date
Mon 04/02/07, 7:08 pm PST
