Anaheim Angels Betting Blog And Roster

Athletics beat Angels in 10 innings

2006-10-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

As unlikely as it appeared throughout the season and again early Sunday, Frank Thomas had a feeling the Oakland Athletics were going to Minnesota.

Fortunately, he knows what to expect.

Thomas homered and drove in four runs, Jeremy Brown scored the go-ahead run on pitcher Brendan Donnelly's throwing error in the 10th inning, and the A's beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-10 Sunday to avoid being swept in a season-ending four-game series.

The A's, who played the finale like an exhibition game, open their best-of-five division series Tuesday at the Metrodome against the Twins, who won the AL Central Division championship on the season's final day.

The Twins went 6-4 against Oakland this season, including 5-1 at the Metrodome, and beat the A's in a division series four years ago before losing to the Angels in the AL championship series.

"We match up well - great pitching, great defense. They're grinders, we're grinders," Thomas said. "I tell people, they have the ultimate homefield advantage. When you get 50,000 people in there, it's very noisy."

Thomas should know, having played the first 16 years of his career with the Chicago White Sox - who also play in the AL Central.

The Twins, 25-33 at one stage of the season, needed to beat the White Sox and have Detroit lose to Kansas City in the finale to win the division and nudge the Tigers to wild-card status and a playoff date with the Yankees.

Even when the Tigers led the Royals 6-0 after three innings Sunday, Oakland manager Ken Macha issued a word of caution while speaking before the A's-Angels game.

"We've seen some other leads dwindle also - some of ours included," he said with a smile.

The Royals beat the Tigers 10-8 in 12 innings and the Twins topped the White Sox 5-1.

The A's (93-69), who clinched the AL West championship last Tuesday, enter the postseason having lost six of their last nine games.

They know that doesn't mean a thing now.

"Our team feels pretty good about themselves," Macha said. "They should, having won a bunch of games and the division."

The Angels (89-73) won seven of their final nine.

Brown started the winning rally by hitting a two-out double off Chris Bootcheck (0-1). Donnelly relieved and walked D'Angelo Jimenez before Jay Payton hit a liner that hit Donnelly in the stomach. The ball bounced toward the third base line before Donnelly picked it up and made a wild throw to first.

Chad Gaudin (4-2) pitched a perfect ninth to earn the victory. Ron Flores, the sixth Oakland pitcher, worked a 1-2-3 10th for his first major league save.

The first five batters in the Oakland lineup were all on the bench by the sixth inning. Thomas hit a three-run homer and a sacrifice fly in his only plate appearances; Mark Kotsay had two hits and a walk, drove in a run and scored three times; and Milton Bradley had two hits and an RBI with a run scored.

Tim Salmon was hitless in four at-bats with a walk and a run scored in the final game of his 15-year career - all with the Angels.

The 38-year-old outfielder-designated hitter is retiring with franchise-record totals of 299 homers and 986 runs scored along with 1,674 hits and 1,016 RBIs. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of 44,107 after popping up in the eighth in his last at-bat.

"About the only word I can think of is finality. It's over," Salmon said. "It just didn't seem like that day would come, but it's starting to sink in now. This whole weekend's been kind of like a dream, in a sense. It's been surreal. It was pretty spectacular. That's why it's special to play your whole career in one organization."

Rookie Jeff Mathis had a career-high three hits, including his second homer for the Angels, who also got home runs from Dallas McPherson and Robb Quinlan.

Oakland's Rich Harden was ineffective in his third start since coming off the disabled list, issuing a season-high six walks and allowing three hits and six runs in 3 2-3 innings. Harden, a possibility to start Game 3 of the division series, threw 91 pitches - only 44 for strikes.

Los Angeles' Dustin Moseley, making his second big league start, gave up 10 hits and seven runs in four innings.

Notes: The first three games in the Oakland-Minnesota division series are day games. The A's were an AL-best 40-21 in day games and the Twins were 27-20. "We're used to playing during the day - we have the second-most day games in baseball," Macha said. "I don't think it's going to matter." ... The Angels' 54-29 record since July 1 was the best in the majors. ... Thomas has hit 235 of his 487 homers as a designated hitter, tying former White Sox teammate Harold Baines for second on baseball's career list. Seattle's Edgar Martinez hit 243 homers as a DH. ... The Angels finished the season having committed an AL-high 124 errors and 80 unearned runs - second-most in the majors to Cleveland. ... Salmon's wife, Marci, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, with Salmon serving as the catcher.

MLB: LA Angeles 4, Kansas City 3

2006-06-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

ANAHEIM, Calif., June 13 (UPI) -- Orlando Cabrera had three hits and drove in a run to extend his on-base streak, as the Angels held off Kansas City, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game series.
Ervin Santana lasted 6 2/3 innings for his second straight win and Francisco Rodriguez left the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning, striking out three batters in the last frame, as Los Angeles snapped a three-game skid.
Dallas McPherson had three hits and drove in two runs for the Angels, who have beaten the Royals in 15 of the last 17 meetings, including seven straight.
Cabrera has reached base safely in 42 straight games, extending his franchise record.

LA Angels of Anaheim at Cleveland

2006-06-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

John Lackey hurled seven brilliant innings, and Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera each drove in three runs as the LA Angels of Anaheim routed Cleveland, 14-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Jacobs Field.
Lackey (4-3) gave up just two hits and struck out four for the Angels, who have won four of their last six contests. Morales finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Rivera was 2-of-4 for Los Angeles.
Chone Figgins,Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Napoli and Dallas McPherson each belted home runs for the Angels in the blowout.
Victor Martinez and Ben Broussard had solo home runs for the Indians, who lost for just the second time in six outings. Jason Michaels recorded two hits for Cleveland.
The Indians' ace, C.C. Sabathia (5-2), was torched. The bulky-lefty surrendered seven runs on eight hits in just five innings of work. Sabathia walked four, struck out five and gave up three home runs.
The Angels jumped on top with three runs against Sabathia in the top of the first. Figgins led off the game by turning on a 3-2 pitch and drilling his third home run of the year. One batter later, Guerrero took Sabathia out of the park. Tim Salmon then cracked a line drive single to left and Morales plated him with a double.
Los Angeles manufactured another run in the second. The speedy Figgins drew a two-out walk and swiped second to set the table for Orlando Cabrera. The Angels shortstop then delivered a line drive single to make it 4-0.
The Angels continued to distance themselves with three more runs in the third. Salmon got on with a one-out walk and moved to third on a single by Morales. Rivera plated Salmon with a sacrifice fly to right. Napoli capped the inning with a towering two-run home run to left.
Lackey finally gave up his first hit in the fourth. Michaels lined a single to left to put runners on first and second with no one out but the veteran right- hander settled down and got out of trouble. Lackey got Jhonny Peralta to ground into a 4-6-3 double play and, after walking Travis Hafner, punched out Martinez.
Los Angeles really put the game away with a four-run sixth. Morales' two-run double and Rivera's two-run single put Los Angeles on top 11-0.
The Angels tacked on another run in the eighth when McPherson crushed his fifth homer of the year.
A pair of RBI doubles in the ninth, by Adam Kennedy and Erick Aybar, made it a 14-0 game.
Cleveland finally got on the board with back-to-back home runs from Martinez and Broussard in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final margin.

Angels' rally trims Twins in 11th

2006-05-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

For most of the game, the Minnesota Twins saw the light at the end of a tunnel, suggesting they actually might win a game outside their own time zone.
But, alas, it was just another pair of headlights as the road-kill Twins were struck down by Orlando Cabrera's run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 4-3 comeback victory at Angels Stadium.
After two shutout innings of relief, right-hander Jesse Crain (0-3) took the loss in his third inning, creating most of his own problems with an errant pickoff throw that allowed one of the fastest players in the American League, Chone Figgins, to go from first to third on the play.
Cabrera drove the next pitch through the left side of a drawn-in infield for the game-winner that snapped the Twins' four-game winning streak.
The Twins fell to 1-12 in games outside the Central time zone and 7-18 on the road overall.
This after taking a lead into the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Angels, who had lost seven of 11 entering the game, scored the tying run off Twins setup ace Juan Rincon after the right-hander retired the first two batters of the inning.
But the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters then reached on a walk and an infield single, and Figgins followed with a line drive toward Gold Glove second baseman Luis Castillo for what should have been the final out.
Castillo drifted a few feet to his right to make the play but had the ball glance off his glove into center field for a run-scoring single that could have just as easily been ruled an error.
Another sloppy play in the top of the ninth squandered another possible scoring chance when Rondell White was picked off second to end the inning with a 3-0 count on Tony Batista.
For all the misfires and drama in the way the game ended, the Twins took some optimism in the way it started, if only because struggling starter Brad Radke escaped a rocky first inning and survived six innings for only his third quality start of the season.
Radke faced seven men in the first inning but allowed just one run, leaving the bases loaded when Dallas McPherson popped up to end it.
The Twins tied it with a Minnesota special in the third inning - Batista leading off with a single, taking second on a wild pitch, third on a passed ball and scoring on a one-out sacrifice fly by Jason Kubel.
They rallied with two outs in the fourth inning to take the lead, with maturing No. 5 hitter Michael Cuddyer hitting his fourth homer in nine games for the first run, and Justin Morneau following with a double to the opposite-field gap in left. White then singled him home for a 3-1 lead.
Cabrera's leadoff double in the fifth off Radke turned into the Angels' second run when Garret Anderson singled to center with one out.

Quarterly Report on Major League Divisional Races (NL WEST)

2006-05-24T15:33:00.001-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look on in the Divisional Races:

NL WEST

Here’s a division where all the teams are in the hunt for the title. Not much has been determined in the first quarter of the season except that the division is not nearly as bad as many thought it would be. All four teams currently have winning records and they are only separated by 2.5 games.

Arizona has been led by Brandon Webb (7-0), who is probably the early leader in the NL CY Young race. Unfortunately, the rest of their pitching staff has about a 6.00 ERA. Jose Valverde (13 saves), Luis Vizcaino (3.38 ERA) and Brandon Lyon have led a bullpen that is improved over last year’s version. After a miserable start, Shawn Green has been on a torrid pace and Chad Tracy was recently rewarded with a $13 million plus contract extension for his fine work. The offense has been a moneyball fan’s dream: Craig Counsell (.387 OBP), Conor Jackson (.372) and Luis Gonzalez (.387) have certainly managed to get on base. Most analysts of the minor leagues rank Arizona near the top of the list and they are going to need to dip into their system to get some rotation help if they are to win the division or compete for the wildcard.

Colorado has been one of this year’s early surprises. One of the best bets in recent years was against the Rockies on the road, but they have dramatically improved this year. The skepticism usually associated with their gaudy numbers are not valid this year as guys like Brad Hawpe who is hitting .340 overall is hitting .383 on the road. Matt Holliday has added 11 dingers and Garrett Atkins has filled out what has been a very productive, albeit no name, middle of the order. In Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, the Rockies have developed two nice young starters. Brian Fuentes (10 saves, 1.45 ERA) is having his second straight good year. The Rockies appear to finally have a sound plan in place. In a division that will beat up on each other, you can’t count the Rockies out.

The Dodgers have gone the high risk/high reward strategy the last couple of years. Nomar Garciaparra is the perfect example. He has hit .369, but injuries have limited him. J.D. Drew has 8 homers and 33 RBI so far, but don’t you wish wagerweb.com let you bet on whether or not he would make it through the season? Kenny Lofton (.350 OBP) keeps chugging along, but the Dodgers are waiting for Furcal (.244) to get going. Brad Penny has been pitching well (4-1, 2.53), but also has a dicey injury history. Will Eric Gagne be healthy and effective for the second half of the year? Like Arizona, the Dodgers have a strong farm system. Unlike Arizona, they may be willing to trade a few to fill holes.

Most of the attention surrounding the Giants has been around Barry Bonds. The fact that Bonds is hitting close to .250 and still has an OBP close to .500 speaks volumes about the Giants offense, especially without Moises Alou. The starting rotation led by a resurgent Jason Schmidt (3.07 ERA), the recently returned to action Noah Lowry (3.38 ERA) and Jamey Wright (3.38 ERA) have pitched well enough to keep them in contention, but it would seem another bat is needed for them to stay in the race.

The San Diego Padres recently won 15 out of 18, but still appear to be the weakest team in the division. Mike Piazza has hit 6 homers and has hit better of late, but 15 RBI for a cleanup hitter is just not going to cut it. The challenges of Petco aside, this team has a definite power outage. Only Khali Green has joined Piazza in hitting over 5 homeruns to this point. As usual, Brian Giles continues to get on base with an OBP over .400 and Trevor Hoffman (7 saves, 1.20 ERA) and Scott Linebrink (3.27 ERA) lead a strong bullpen.

So it will come down to Arizona’s farm system, Colorado’s youngsters, The Dodger’s health, The Giants pitching and San Diego’s ability to keep doing it with mirrors. Stay tuned.

Quarterly Report on Divisional Races --- NL CENTRAL

2006-05-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

After a few weeks and with some surprises, the NL Central has begun to look a lot more as expected, particularly at the very top.

With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and
seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI). Barring an injury or a stunning slump, he’s practically locked up the MVP Award in May. Underrated David Eckstein has an OBP of .390 and provides the kind of spark few leadoff hitters can match. While injuries and age have slowed Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen to some degree, they are both still dangerous hitters. Juan Encarcion and Yadier Molina have been disappointments, but the rest of the lineup has picked them up so far. Chris Carpenter has continued to pitch like an ace and starters Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, and Jason Marquis form a solid rotation that always keeps the Cardinals in the game. After a slow start, closer Jason Isringhausen has rounded into form. Only injuries will keep the Cards from playing in October.

Losers of 10 of their last 15, the “Big Red Mirage” are starting to play like their talent level indicates they should. Bronson Arroyo has been an outstanding acquisition and is obviously thrilled not to have to face those tough NL lineups, but you simply can’t send out such a mediocre starting rotation and expect to stay in the race. I told you a few weeks back to bet against them and those who listened are a bit richer today.

The Astros got off to a hot start before their starting pitching went through a horrid stretch. Roy Oswalt remains one of the league’s top pitchers and Wayne Rodriguez has been a nice surprise, but Andy Pettitte has struggled, Brandon Backe is out for the year, and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent. Brad Lidge has struggled (mostly with his control), but expect him to turn things around. Morgan Ensberg hit home runs in six straight games early in the year and Lance Berkman would be an MVP candidate in a league without Pujols. Also, very quietly, Brad Ausmus has put together a very good year (.418 OBP). The Astros could stay in the wildcard race and may soon get the kind of help that could rocket them to the finish line.

The Brewers are fun to watch. They lead the majors in home runs, and youngsters Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall mix nicely with veterans Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee, and Corey Koskie. The only thing is they may be too dependent on getting home runs and they strike out too much. A bit of small ball might help them at times. Getting Ben Sheets healthy would help a rotation that has one underrated star (Chris Capuano) and mostly back-of-the-rotation types. Derrick Turnbow is showing he’s no fluke, but the bullpen lacks depth. This year’s trendy sleeper pick will stay around a while, but ultimately doesn’t have enough for the playoffs.

First the Red Sox, then the White Sox, now the Cu … stop right there. Derrek Lee’s injury has revealed just how impotent the rest of the Cubs lineup is. Juan Pierre has an OBP of .271. Aramis Ramirez is hitting only .231. It’s ugly on the North Side. Greg Maddux’s May has been very different than his April and still no sign of Mark Prior. Dusty Baker must be on edge. No playoffs here, folks.

The Pirates were expected to be an improved team this year, but their starting pitching has failed them. Zach Duke has hit a bit of a tougher time facing teams the second time around, and whatever happened to Oliver Perez, who was thought to be a fast rising star? Not much hope in the Steel City either.

So early on, it looks like it’s the Cards division to lose and the Astros waiting for Roger Clemens to make them serious wildcard contenders.

Major League Surprises and Disappointments at the Quarter Pole

2006-05-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

By Mike Brody
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

We're a little over a quarter of the way through the major league baseball season, and like every season, there have some been some great stories and some sad tales so far. With Barry Bonds finally catching the Babe in home runs, we can now focus on the teams and the pennant races.

Detroit 'Stop' City
The biggest surprise in all of baseball has to be the Detroit Tigers. Heading into Tuesday's games, Detroit has the best record in the majors at 30-14, one game ahead of the defending world champions, the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers were expected to improve under new manager Jim Leyland, but no one could have predicted this kind of success.
Detroit will be in the race for the long haul because of their outstanding starting pitching. The Tigers’ staff is leading everyone with a 3.26 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Veteran Kenny Rogers has led by example in his first year in Motown. He's headed towards another all-star birth, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.91 ERA. Rookie Justin Verlander has been outstanding, winning 6 of his 9 starts including a 5-hit shutout of Kansas City on Monday night. Fourth-year pro Nate Robertson is 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA, and 23-year-old Jeremy Bonderman, who was expected to be the club's ace coming into the season, has a 1.14 WHIP and is averaging 8 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Angels Can't Get Out of the Infield
No American League team has been more disappointing than the Los Angeles Angels. Mired in last place in the AL West, only the anemic Royals have a worse record than the Angels. Their offense has been pathetic. They are dead last in the majors with a .299 on-base percentage and last in the AL in slugging percentage.
The only player hitting anywhere close to his average is Vladimir Guerrero. But the Angels have no one in the lineup to protect Guerrero, so teams have already started to pitch around the all-star outfielder. Los Angeles had a chance to acquire Manny Ramirez in the off-season, but decided the price tag was too high for the Red Sox slugger and went with unproven youngsters like Casey Kotchman, Robb Quinlan, and Dallas McPherson. They have combined for 2 HRs and 11 RBIs so far.

Return of the Big Red Machine
Over in the Senior Circuit, Cincinnati has gotten off to a Red-hot start. Cincinnati is hanging tight with St. Louis in the NL Central and would be the National League wild card representative if the season ended today.
The Reds have belted the second most home runs in the National League behind only the Brewers. Adam Dunn leads the team with 16 big flys, trailing only Albert Pujols, who is in a league of his own. Dunn and fellow 26-year-old outfielder Austin Kearns are both slugging over .500 and with the return of Ken Griffey Jr. to the lineup, Cincinnati's offense should continue to put up impressive numbers all season.
While the Reds' offense was expected to be good, not much was expected of the pitching. A March trade with the Red Sox changed all that, though. Cincinnati acquired Bronson Arroyo in the deal for outfielder Wily Mo Pena with the hopes that he would turn out to be the team's ace. Arroyo has not disappointed as he has an NL-leading 2.40 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He even blasted a home run in each of his first two starts. The rest of the Reds' staff has been average at best, however, and ultimately will be their downfall.

The Loveable Losers
In a position all too familiar to their long-suffering fans, the Chicago Cubs are struggling again. Like the Angels in the American League, the Cubs can point to their pitiful offensive output as the reason for their problems. Chicago is last in all of baseball with a .364 slugging percentage and their .301 on-base percentage ranks last in the NL.

Injuries have decimated the Cubs. Star pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have been out all season with shoulder injuries. Wood just returned but was tagged for 3 home runs in 5 innings in a loss against the light-hitting Washington Nationals in his first start of the season last week. Prior has just started throwing off the mound in his rehab assignment and the club hopes he can return to the majors in early June.
The other devastating injury to Chicago was to first baseman Derek Lee. Lee, who was a triple-crown contender last season, was off to another brilliant start batting .318 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs through 14 games. Lee is still in a cast after breaking his wrist and most likely won't be back until after the All-Star break. Even if the Cubs get all of their stars back from injury, don't bet on them making a run in the NL Central. They'll be too far back with not enough time left.

Fantasy Tip of the Week

2006-05-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

We are about 1/3 of the way through the 2006 MLB season, and whether you are doing well or are struggling, this is a crucial time. You know what categories you need to improve on and one of the best ways to improve your standing is to pick up guys who have started off slowly but are due to break out. Here is a list of players to target who have had a bad spring but should soon get as hot as the weather:

Batters:

Marcus Giles, 2B, Atlanta –He is historically a .300 hitter who is currently hitting .235. He’s a perfect buy-low candidate.

Manny Ramirez, OF, Boston – Usually good for 40 HRs and 130 RBIs, he is currently in single-digits in HRs and very low in RBIs. He is the ONE player who is due to go crazy in the month of June.

Juan Pierre, OF, and Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs – Both players have seen their value decrease with the injury to Derrek Lee. Pierre isn’t scoring or hitting as well as normal, and Ramirez’s numbers are all down. When Lee returns, watch these numbers start to rise.

Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Cincinnati – IF he can stay healthy, a power surge is coming. Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado – Now over his mysterious stomach ailment, he should be sending many homers into the Mile-High air shortly.

Reggie Sanders, OF, Kansas City – Should be good for at least 15 homers and 15 steals in the upcoming months.

Garret Anderson, OF, LA Angels – The Angels’ offense has been horrible so far, so look for Anderson to have more RBI opportunities as they begin to heat up.

Jeff Kent, 2B, LA Dodgers – Kent is always good for 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, so take advantage now and reap the rewards later.

Cliff Floyd, OF, NY Mets – Floyd has really struggled so far, barely batting over .200. That won’t continue. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY Yankees – Along with Manny Ramirez, he is the highest-profile player on this list. Look for A-Rod to really explode soon. He is too good a player not to.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, and Bobby Abreu, OF, Philadelphia – It’s amazing the Phillies have done as well as they have with two of their biggest players slumping. Abreu is about to bust out, so snag him quickly. Rollins is the best SS in the NL, but you wouldn’t know it judging from his numbers so far. He will hit over .300 and get you at least 20 steals the rest of the way, so grab him now!

Jason Bay, OF, Pittsburgh – He’s already started to break out, but if you can find an owner who isn’t paying attention, go get those 20-25 HRs and 75-80 RBIs that are coming. Richie Sexson, 1B, and Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle – These two were supposed to be the Mariners’ power duo of the future, but it just hasn’t happened….yet. Look for both of these guys to get it together soon and help Ichiro out.

Jim Edmonds, OF, St. Louis – With only 5 HRs so far, Edmonds is a very good candidate to bust out. He’s normally good for 35, so look for him to get at least 25 more for the year…IF he can stay healthy, which is always his biggest issue.

Carl Crawford, OF, Julio Lugo, SS, and Aubrey Huff, 3B, Tampa Bay – All 3 of these guys have had slow starts due to injury (Lugo/Huff) or just a sub-par performance (Crawford). All 3 should start to pick it up together.

Mark Teixeira, 1B-DH, Texas – With only 4 HRs so far, Big Tex is my bet to hit the most homers in the AL from here on out. He is simply too good a player not to have a huge hot streak and in the 100-degree Texas heat, the ball simply flies out of the stadium.

Jose Guillen, OF, Washington – This is a talented player if he can keep his head on straight. He was projected to have 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, so pick him up now and hope he stays on the straight and narrow. The numbers will come if he can.

Obviously not all of these players will break out and start to hit immediately, but they have done much better historically than this year. Next week, I’ll take a look at some pitchers to acquire that fall under the same classification.

LA Angels Of Anaheim (17-26) At Los Angeles Dodgers (23-20)

2006-05-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

Losers of four in a row, the struggling Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will attempt to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the intrastate rival Dodgers when the rivals collide this afternoon at Chavez Ravine.
Ervin Santana will take the hill for the Angels today, and he is 4-1 this season with a 4.50 earned run average. Santana is coming off a strong performance against Toronto on Tuesday, in which he allowed only two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work to win his second straight start.
Santana does carry a 6.35 road ERA in today's tilt.
He has only faced the Dodgers once in his career and surrendered only one run in 6 2/3 innings en route to a victory last June.
Derek Lowe is only 1-3 this season, but his 3.45 ERA suggests that he has been better than his record suggests. Lowe has lost his last two starts, including Tuesday's game at Colorado in which he surrendered five earned runs on nine hits in six innings.
In eight career games against the Angels, Lowe is 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA.
On Saturday, Willy Aybar slammed a three-run home run and scored twice as the Dodgers rallied to beat the Angels, 8-4, Saturday in the middle game of the Freeway Series.
J.D. Drew hit a go-ahead pinch-hit solo home run in the seventh inning for the Dodgers, who won for the fifth time in their last six games. Rafael Furcal had three hits and an RBI while Nomar Garciaparra doubled and scored a run.
Starter Brett Tomko recovered from a rough first inning and finished with four runs allowed on 10 hits through six innings. Joe Beimel (1-0) struck out the side in the seventh for his first win of the season.
Dallas McPherson hit a two-run home run in place of third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, whom the Angels released before the game. Alfonzo struggled for the Angels, batting just .100 (5-for-50) with one RBI in 18 games.
Erick Aybar, Willy's brother, recorded his first-career hit for the Angels, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Kevin Gregg looked strong through five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth. He finished with four runs allowed on seven hits, while striking out seven and walking one.
Scot Shields (1-3) gave up Drew's homer in the seventh to take the loss.
The Angels took five of six meetings between the two area rivals last year, including two of three in Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers own a 77-71 all-time mark in interleague play, while the Angels are 83-77 against the National League.

“Ain’t no sucker like Jim Duquette”

2006-05-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A baseball trade is basically a wager by two general managers that the player each acquires will be better than the one he gives up. It may or may not work out well. That’s gambling.

Now that Scott Kazmir is off to a great start at 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA and Victor Zambrano has just undergone season-ending surgery, it might be a good time to review how Jim Duquette, the Mets GM at the time, broke every single rule of gambling.

NEVER BET MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD
When the Mets traded Scott Kazmir, their farm system was almost completely bare. The only true blue-chip pitching prospects at the time were Phil Humber, who has since undergone Tommy John surgery, and Alay Soler, a Cuban defector who just made it to the U.S. this season and is currently pitching at AA. This year the Mets are throwing out such retreads as Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez as they wait for Mike Pelfrey and the next wave of prospects to be ready. Do you think they would rather have sent out Jose Lima – or Scott Kazmir, to try and sweep their arch-rival Braves last week?

NEVER BET WHILE INTOXICATED
Right around the time of the trade in 2004, the Mets had just swept their cross-town rivals, the New York Yankees, in an exciting three-game series. The Mets, who had been dead in this town since 2000, finally had some juice. They were close to first place and back on the back page. Of course, they still had a .500 record and not much talent. But Duquette, drunk on the city’s enthusiasm, wanted to “win now” no matter what the future cost.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK
You wouldn’t bet on a Falcons game without checking if Michael Vick was hurt, would you? Yet Mr. Duquette failed to adequately check into Victor Zambrano’s injury before the trade. Zambrano admitted he has been hurt the entire time he has been a member of the New York Mets. The week the trade was made, Zambrano skipped a start because of arm stiffness. Shouldn’t some alarms have gone off? Duquette blamed Tampa doctors for downplaying the injury, but you don’t need to be able to read medical charts to know something might be amiss.

LOOK FOR VALUE
Barbaro, who was such a good bet on Derby Day, might not be such a great bet for the Preakness. You won’t get enough in return. A lefty who throws 97 MPH has more value than a barely over .500 pitcher with control problems. Had Mr. Duquette waited until the off-season, he might have received Tim Hudson or Mark Mulder in return.

KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY
This is the one Mr. Duquette clearly missed. Tampa officials were said to be laughing to themselves when they realized what they were getting. Mr. Duquette should clearly have just walked away. Next time you’re in Baltimore and you’re looking for someone to round out your poker game, look up Mr. Jim Duquette because there ain’t no sucker like the one who doesn’t know the rules.

“It’s Not Rocket Science”

2006-05-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan WachsWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer Wagerweb.com has posted odds offering bettors the chance to predict which Major League Baseball team Roger Clemens will return to. Clemens is clearly enjoying the attention he is garnering from his four suitors. Let’s take a look at how Clemens has played this situation thus far, and how it will play out at the end. THE EASY MARK:Roger Clemens enjoyed opening day in Arlington Stadium, sitting next to owner Tom Hicks. When Clemens was introduced and shown on the scoreboard, the fans went crazy. Do the Rangers, who have gone all these years searching for pitching, really have a shot at Roger Clemens? Well, the Rangers are an improved team, with Kevin Millwood leading some young up-and-coming pitchers. And it would do wonders for Clemens’ legend to ride into Arlington on his horse and lead them to their first World Series Championship. Is it going to happen? No. Why would Clemens pitch in a hitter’s park for a team which, despite their improvements, is not a serious World Series contender? More likely, Roger was paying attention when Tom Hicks bid against himself to sign Alex Rodriguez to his franchise-crippling $250 million dollar contract. This is exactly the type of guy you want to draw into the bidding. Wagerweb.com has the odds on Clemens going to the Rangers at 6-1. Trust me, it’s far longer than that. AN OFFER HE CAN’T REFUSE:Roger Clemens still keeps in touch with buddies Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, and there were reports that Jeter had his ear during the World Baseball Classic. And if Clemens is looking for a sure bet to get to the playoffs, it’s been a while since the Yanks sat out October. Can Clemens return to the Yankees? Probably not. Roger Clemens already got a Hummer as a retirement gift, and you have to figure, after feasting on weaker National League number eight hitters, and pitchers’ feeble attempts to catch up to his fastball, he might not be dying to face more formidable American League lineups. If Randy Johnson keeps looking his age, can George Steinbrenner make Roger Clemens an offer he can’t refuse? Could happen, but George will never let Clemens skip road trips in fear that all of his stable of superstars will demand the same special treatment. At 1:2, this is not a good bet. FINISH WHERE HE STARTEDImagine the nostalgic feeling of coming back where you began your career, and leading that team to a World Series. What a perfect symmetry to a career. Almost like a movie script. Only the impact of leading the Red Sox to a World Series is not nearly what it was two years ago. The Red Sox already have had a hero who started in their organization come back and lead them to the Promised Land. And that hero wore a bloody Red Sock. How can Clemens possibly top that? Besides, if the Red Sox really get close, Mr. Steinbrenner may very well make him an offer he can’t refuse. At 1:1, I just can’t see this as a good bet. FINISH WHAT HE STARTEDThe first year, Clemens led the Astros to the playoffs. His second year, he helped them to their first World Series. Why not finish what he started? The Astros are off to a great start. Besides, the Mets, Cardinals and, possibly the Phillies, who can you remotely predict can stop them from at least getting there? His best friend Andy Pettitte has mentioned the possibility of retirement after this year (Don’t bet on that, though). Houston offers him a chance to stay close to home and it lets him skip those pesky road trips. They have already made him a generous contract offer. The odds are 2:1. After all that analysis, it must come down to this: If you could work closer to home, travel less, and not have to work as hard, for similar money, what would you do? Come on, this may be Roger Clemens, but it is not rocket science. Bet the 2:1 on him returning to the Astros. It may be the best bet available on the entire website.

Return of Salmon proving to be strong addition for Angels

2006-05-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is what Tim Salmon's career came down to — a non-roster invitation to spring training from the Los Angeles Angels so a player synonymous with the franchise could leave the game with his head held high.
The Angels were convinced the 37-year-old, one of baseball's most consistent run producers during the 1990s, was done. After all, he missed most of 2004 with left knee and shoulder injuries and recovery from surgery on both cost him all of 2005.
The club had cut him out of their future plans. But by bringing Salmon to camp, they could let him walk away in a dignified manner while avoiding the PR mess of shunning a longtime fan favourite.

Baseball’s First-Month Awards

2006-05-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The calendar has turned on the first month of the 2006 baseball season. While there is plenty of season left, it’s a good time to evaluate who has the early lead on baseball’s top awards.

American League MVP:

1) Jim Thome – While he has slowed somewhat since his sizzling start, Jim Thome has been the best acquisition any American League team has made. Many questioned what he had left, but he put any doubts to rest immediately by homering in his first 2 games and 6 times in his first 10 games. His 10 homeruns and 24 RBIs are tops on the American League’s most talented team.

2) Jason Giambi – His .542 OBP is fantastic as Giambi continues to expand on last year’s comeback- player-of-the-year performance. While he leads the AL in walks with 27, Giambi is not just being passive, as he also leads the AL in RBIs with 27. Only his statuesque defense and stubbornness about embracing the DH role make him second choice.

3) Vernon Wells – The Blue Jays went on baseball’s biggest shopping spree, this off-season, but one of their incumbent players has turned in his best effort so far. With 9 homers, 25 RBIs and a .374 batting average, Wells is carrying a heavy load as Toronto tries to prove that they can keep pace with the Red Sox and The Yankees.

National League MVP:

1) Albert Pujols – Provided he stays healthy, it appears as though this award will be his to lose for many years to come. His record-breaking 14 homeruns in April and 32 RBIs have led the Cardinals to another great start.

2) Lance Berkman – The reason for the Astros’ slow start, last April, was likely because they missed Berkman’s bat. Berkman has had a fast start, this year (10 homeruns, 31 RBIs and .240 BA), and so have the Astros.

3) Carlos Delgado – The best acquisition any National League team made, this off-season, Delgado has really carried the load (10 homeruns and 21 RBIs) while Beltran was injured and Cliff Floyd slumped.

American League Cy Young:

1) Jose Contreras – His 4-0 record and league-leading 1.45 ERA still leads a pitching staff that makes the White Sox the best bet to win the AL Pennant at the sports book.

2) Curt Schilling – Baseball’s biggest loudmouth is once again able to “walk the walk.” His 4-1 record, 2.88 ERA and durability (40.2 IP) have led the Red Sox to an early tenuous hold on first place in the AL East.

3) Kenny Rogers – The ace on a staff of promising young guns, veteran Rogers has done everything you can ask for the Tigers (4-2, 2.59 ERA and a great 0.98 WHIP).

National League Cy Young:

1) Greg Maddux – Talk about giving a club a lift. Once again frustrated by injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the cursed Cubbies are thrilled by Maddux’s early renaissance (5-0, 1.35 ERA).

2) Pedro Martinez – The daily updates by a panicked New York press corps on Pedro’s toe during spring training are long forgotten as Pedro has been fantastic (5-0, 0.89 WHIP). He already has beaten the hated Braves twice.

3) Bronson Arroyo – Wow, after the AL East, this is sure easy. Arroyo (5-0, 2.06 ERA) has led the way for baseball’s biggest early season surprise.

Rookies of the Year:

American League:

Jonathan Papelbon – Thrown into the Boston pressure-cooker, Papelbon leads the AL in saves (10) and has yet to allow a run in over 15 innings.

National League:

Prince Fielder – Unlike his father, Cecil, Prince didn’t need to serve some time in the Japanese League to find his stroke. Fielder’s .343 average leads all rookies.

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Macha says hard feelings toward Angels won't linger

2006-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

A day after the A's were involved in a bench-clearing incident in Anaheim, Manager Ken Macha tried to extinguish any lingering ill will between his team and the Los Angeles Angels.
``Sometimes things happen,'' Macha said before Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Indians. ``I know one thing, I respect the Angels. They play very hard. We've had very intense games against them, the last two years in particular. It's very entertaining for fans. I hope they respect us and the way we play the game.''
Trouble began when Oakland's Jason Kendall charged the mound in the sixth inning Tuesday after Angels right-hander John Lackey barked at him for leaning over the plate. Both teams spilled onto the field, and Kendall and Lackey were ejected.
Angels Manager Mike Scioscia was upset after A's reliever Chad Gaudin plunked Robb Quinlan with a pitch in the ninth with Oakland leading 10-3, saying the A's were ``trying to send a message.''
The A's Mark Ellis had been hit by a pitch from J.C. Romero in the top of the ninth.
``We're not trying to hit anybody,'' Macha said. ``We've got an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the last inning. We're trying to finish the game and get out of there.''
Kendall said he had yet to hear from Major League Baseball regarding a suspension. He was in the lineup Wednesday and got a hearty ovation from the home crowd as he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat.
Ellis said he doesn't believe more fireworks will be in store when the teams meet in Oakland on July 6-9.
``Time heals a lot of things,'' he said. ``It's always an intense rivalry. It's hard to get more intense than it already is.''

Bonds’ alleged cheating scandal hurting baseball history

2006-05-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

By Bill Kugelberg
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Having just finished reading Game of Shadows – the alleged tell-all book in which the authors claim to have records detailing Barry Bonds’, as well as other athletes’, use of performance-enhancing drugs – it has become crystal clear that Bonds cheated, continues to cheat, and could not care less about it.Bonds just about says this when he claims in his grand jury testimony that he hasn’t played in a baseball game since college when he attended Arizona State University. Basically, what he’s saying, and what he continues to say, is that he is an entertainer and not a competitor.

He conveniently forgets how his alleged cheating has impacted the other players in the game, both past and present. And how, every night, in every stadium he plays in, he is the only person who is in on this little secret.When I go to a game, I’m not there to be entertained. I’m there to see the team I support try to win. And when I make a wager on a team, I’m not doing it for the entertainment; I’m doing it to win. If I go to Vegas and play blackjack or craps, I consider that to be entertainment. While I would like to win, and I don’t believe the outcome has been predetermined, I still understand the odds are against me coming away a winner.But Bonds apparently doesn’t see playing baseball as a competition. It sounds as though he views it as our opportunity to watch an “entertainer” stand up there and be walked two or three times a game and, maybe, just maybe, see him grace our presence with a home run.

Get over yourself, Barry. Not only are you coming off like a pompous ass, you are also making an impact on the game that the record books will reflect forever.For example, since 1999, when his steroid use is alleged to have begun, the San Francisco Giants have won or finished second in the NL West every year, except for last year when he spent just about all of the season on the disabled list, and they finished third. Take away Bonds’ production, or fill in the production that most players would contribute, and the Giants find themselves in a different position. Also, as he approached 40 years old, his numbers would naturally decline, not go up. With that factored in, the Giants truly would be hurting for production from Bonds.Just ask Albert Pujols, who has finished second to Bonds in National League MVP voting twice, how Bonds’ steroid use has impacted his post-season award possibilities.

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Unfortunately, the players who have truly been impacted by Bonds’ steroid use are the players who finished playing the game years ago. Bonds, along with Mark McGwire, has succeeded at setting the bar so high that no one will be able to approach their records. In doing so, they have made the average fan believe that 40 home runs a season is nice, but not Hall of Fame-worthy. One player who has been affected by this is Andrew Dawson. Dawson hit 438 home runs and drove in 1,591 RBIs. He also played baseball for 21 years and has 2,774 hits with 8 Gold Gloves and 314 stolen bases.

With close to 10 knee surgeries, Dawson should have been the one allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs, not Bonds.One thing I love about Bonds is that he refuses to even admit that Game of Shadows exists. The book has been out for about three months now and I have yet to hear of a lawsuit filed on Bonds’ behalf that contests the contents of the book. And yet everyone just casually goes about their sports day, without a care that Bonds continues to cheat because, as an entertainer, he feels he can.As the book explains, Bonds has never had to stand before anyone and explain his actions – not even when he was a kid. He was always the best player on the team, received the benefits that comes with that title, and he continues to expect that to be the case. Regardless of how it impacts his body, the other players in the game, the kids growing up who are learning the game, or the record books – Bonds is concerned with one thing – reaping the financial advantages that being an “entertainer” in baseball provides.And regardless of who has to pay to make that happen, Bonds is only too happy to stand there and take the paychecks and accolades that come with it.

I’ve often wondered how he sleeps at night, knowing that he has an advantage that many other players don’t have – that he has cheated to get to where he is. And the only answer I can come up with is that when you are on the stage and being an entertainer, it’s just acting. It’s not who you really are – so you can get away with more. The question I have for Bonds is, when the show is over and you walk off the stage – who are you then?

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The Next World Series Champion

2006-05-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Just like clockwork, every spring brings the same hopes to major league baseball teams all over the country. Some fans of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers are just hoping to stay in the pennant race after the first few weeks of the season, while other fans have higher aspirations.Take the rabid fans of Boston Red Sox nation or the equally intense fanatics who root for the New York Yankees. Not only do these fans demand that their teams be in the playoffs or World Series every season, they also demand that the two clubs beat each other.Boston and New York are separated by about four hours in a car, but their baseball fans and ideas are separated by much more space than almost anyone can imagine.The best word, although not too politically correct, is “hate.” It is not a stretch of any imagination to say that the fans of these clubs hate each other. Every year, fights break out in the stands or in sports bars across America, and they are all involving Yankee or Red Sox fans. Ever seen or heard about a Cardinals and Braves fan fight?Both Boston and New York have fans who are living in various cities away from their hometown, and this has spread the rivalry across many time zones. Trust me from first-hand experience, you can find New Englanders and New Yorkers almost anywhere in the USA.The rivalry and bad blood runs fairly deep for me, and I would not be able to write with such certainty on the topic had I not been so directly involved through many years.Being born and raised in New York, you have a choice between teams. Once you select the Yankees (in my case, passed down by dear ol’ Dad), the next step is to immediately work up a hatred for Red Sox fans, Red Sox management, New England Clam Chowder and even anybody foolish enough to be wearing actual red socks.

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If you’re a Yankees fan, that is your first given in life – hate thy Red Sox fan. With their annoying accents, general lack of knowledge toward the game, their laughable track record of winning over the years and barrelful of excuses for losing, it is fairly easy to work up a good lather against them.Another year is upon us, and 2006 will see these two teams meeting 19 times. The first pair of these games takes place on May 1-2 in Beantown. If you’re a baseball fan and you’re not watching these games, you either better be getting married or mourning a death in the family. If you’re a Yankee or Red Sox fan, there is no excuse not to be watching—just keep the volume low on your mini TV and nobody at the funeral should get too upset.But emotions and people getting upset are actually the hallmark of this rivalry. It’s easy to go back and cite all the times on the field that these two teams have mixed it up, which in turn usually carries over to the stands or the bars.More recently, we had Alex Rodriquez taking on Jason Veritek, and Don Zimmer battling it out with Pedro Martinez. Granted, the names and faces change, but the intensity between the two teams and their fans is legendary.I can personally attest to one infamous episode during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship series. It was the game where New York recovered from a 5-3 deficit to defeat Boston with a home-run from Aaron Boone that sent the Yankees to the World Series.Drinking a beer amidst hoards of Red Sox fans at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, I was resigned to watching the Sox advance to the World Series. Soon, the Yankees mounted their comeback, and my bravado had started taking the best of me. Although very conservative in my early remarks, I saved the best for last: When Boone’s shot landed in upper reaches of Yankee Stadium, my outburst lasted for several minutes—which most likely felt like hours for Red Sox fans.Now this incident took place before Boston finally won a World Series title, so Red Sox fans were more surly than usual.With my yelling ringing in their ears and their sorrow turning to desperation, two New England tourists started hurling insults my way, and we exchanged profane remarks for several minutes before your classic dimwitted Red Sox fan charged at me, telling me to keep quiet.Now, telling a Yankee fan to keep quiet is like telling Pam Anderson not to show any cleavage, so it quickly turned ugly. In the end, Red Sox fan lost the fight but had some red blood to show for it on his nose, and his wife was also the recipient of some collateral damage.If you’re curious, all charges were dropped.I would expect nothing else from the loyal, overzealous fans of either team. In the end, being a Yankee or Red Sox fan is like defending your country. If attacked and provoked—or just not a fan of a particular nation—let them know you’re serious and that they best not challenge you again.Winning a World Series title hasn’t made Red Sox fans any smarter or relevant, it just gave them a one-year sense that everything was fine—but pinstripes will always be the real color of choice

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Next week on TV (5-1/5-7)

2006-05-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Both the NBA and the NHL close out the first round of their playoffs. In baseball, you’ve got the Orioles and the Blue Jays, matching up in what has to be one of the biggest questions of the baseball season. One of these teams might hang on to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox, but probably not both, making this early season tilt a little more interesting.

*All times Eastern.

Monday, May 1
NFL Europe, Berlin at Rhein (3 p.m., NFL Network)
Stop arguing about who your team drafted and check in on the sport’s minor league with this mid-afternoon match-up. Though NFL Europe might not get the attention of its big brother, the league offers a good chance to figure out which back-up players might break through come the fall.

Tuesday, May 2
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., DirecTV, regional)
Every Yankees versus Red Sox match-up gets covered like a playoff game in Boston and New York, so expect tempers to flare in this tilt. The Sox have had the early season advantage, but that’s nothing new, as the Sox always have a division lead in the Summer – the question is whether they can hold it in the Fall.

Wednesday, May 3
Boxing (9 p.m. ESPN2)
Sharmba Mitchell takes on Jose Luis Cruz in a 10-round welterweight tilt. Cruz plays the role of the fighter on the way up, taking on former two-time champion Mitchell, who wants one more shot at the gold. Mitchell was knocked out in the sixth round in his last fight, but that was against Floyd Mayweather – one of the best in the division – so he’s aiming to prove that was a fluke and knock Cruz off the ladder of contention.

Thursday, May 4
Wachovia Open (4 p.m., USA)
A Tiger-less field should leave this one pretty wide open. Vijay Singh attempts to repeat as champion, a title he took last year in a three-way playoff with Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk.

Friday, May 5
College Volleyball (Midnight, ESPN2)
Catch the men’s semifinal of the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament. This might be your last chance to see some of your favorite players before they turn pro and head out on the lucrative men’s volleyball tour.

Saturday, May 6
Kentucky Derby (6 p.m., NBC)
Horse racing only matters three times a year to the average fan, but the Kentucky captures the best of the sport. Because it’s the first Triple Crown race, every Derby winner stands the chance of being the first horse to bring home racing’s most elusive prize since Affirmed in 1978.

Sunday, May 7
Premier League Soccer (5 p.m., FOXESP)
Two of the big powers in the Premiership face off as Newcastle battles Chelsea in an attempt to cut into Chelsea’s overall lead in the standings. Chelsea did just fall in the FA Cup semifinal, but their big lead in the regular season standings makes clinching the title almost inevitable.

Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do” is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

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Fantasy Baseball Breakdown

2006-04-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

By Mike Brody
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
The Six-Month Grind
We’re three weeks into the 2006 baseball season, and if your fantasy team looks anything like mine, you’re ready to unload half of your roster. I know it’s hard, but be patient. The worse thing you could do right now is panic and make a bad trade or drop a good player.
Baseball, more than any other sport, is driven by statistics. It’s a long season with a lot of ups and downs for most players. In the end, the numbers usually even out. If you stick with your guys long enough, they should come around and start producing like you expected them to.
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Off to a Hot Start
While it’s very difficult to watch your team stumble out of the gate (as I’m writing this, my offense is a collective 0-15 today and I’m about ready to have a fire sale), there was a reason why you drafted these guys. If you were lucky enough – or smart enough, depending on how you look at it – to draft Chris Shelton, Jonny Gomes or Nick Swisher, you’re probably at the top of your league, right now. But are these guys really going to lead the league in home runs?
Manny Ramirez hit his first two home runs of the season, last weekend. Mark Teixeira and Richie Sexson have three and two homers, respectively, through the first three weeks. These guys are all perennial 40-home-run-hitters, and barring injury, you can be sure that they will get their numbers by the season’s end.

Waiting for the Right Time
Everyone’s heard the cliché “buy low, sell high.” It’s sound advice. Knowing the right time to deal that guy who’s off to a hot start is the key to making this happen. There’s no way Shelton, Gomes and Swisher are going to keep up the pace they’ve set so far – Shelton’s already started to slow down – but how can you not ride their hot streaks a little longer? Just don’t wait too long if you’re planning on dealing them.
Knowing players’ trends is another key in making the right deal at the right time. Some players are traditionally slow starters, like Ramirez and Jim Edmonds, and trading for them at the end of their slow start could mean big stats for you the rest of the way. A lot of hitters heat up when the weather does too, so they could be busting out of these slumps any day now.
On the Rise
Targeting players who are showing signs of breaking out is another key to making the right roster adjustments. Here are a few players who might be available and could definitely help some teams:
Josh Barfield – The rookie second baseman has excelled since being moved to the No. 2 spot in the Padres lineup. He’s got his average over .300 and has 2 HRs and 6 steals. Grab him if he’s still available.
Ty Wigginton – Playing for his third team in four years, the journeyman third baseman seems to have found a home in Tampa Bay. He’s taken advantage of Aubrey Huff’s knee injury and already has 8 home runs and 20 RBI. Playing in hitter-friendly Tropicana Field should help, too. Ride him while he’s hot. Brad Hawpe – The Colorado Rockies outfielder has established himself as the everyday right fielder and is firmly entrenched in the heart of the Rockies lineup. He’s batting over .340 and already has slugged 5 HRs. The 2000 College World Series MVP is well on his way to a .300-30-100 season. You never can go wrong having a Rockie in your lineup.
The Pitching Hole
While there is plenty of time to make up ground on offense, falling behind in the pitching categories – especially ERA and WHIP – can be a killer. Avoiding those complete disasters in the early season is a key to remaining competitive on the mound.
With pitchers, it’s all about the matchups. Don’t be afraid to bench one of your better pitchers for a riskier play if the matchup is right. Throwing a marginal starter against Kansas City or Pittsburgh is always better than having just about any starter face the Yankees or pitch at Colorado.
Whether you find yourself at the top of your league or at the bottom of the pack after these first three weeks, don’t stop looking to make your team better. Stocking your bench with productive players who could be used as trade bait is always a good idea. The inevitable injuries will come, and having players to step in during those times will help you avoid having to make a desperate deal. Bet MLB Baseball Player and Game Propositions @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook

Michael Brody
Writer/EditorWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Mike has been writing and reporting on sports for 14 years.
He started his career as a sports writer and radio broadcaster at Cal State Northridge. Mike has written for the Los Angeles Daily News and has been a writer/editor for KNBC in Los Angeles, where he worked on the nightly sportscast with Fred Roggin. He also wrote and edited material for NBC network specials and has more than 10 years of online journalism experience. Although he lives in Southern California, Mike was born and raised in the Boston area and is a diehard fan of all the Boston professional teams.

Chicago White Sox vs. LA Angels

2006-04-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 29th 2006 10:00 PM ET
Angel Stadium

Chicago had a pretty good game against the Twins and their star pitcher Johan Santana last week. Santana considered one of the best pitchers in the baseball league if not the best, still with no victories this year and against the White Sox wasn’t the exception. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 6th when Thome hit a two run homer to take the lead.

And in the 8th inning due to the substitution of Santana the White Sox took advantage of that and made 5 runs in that inning making the final score 7-1 in a game the Twins never had a chance to win even with their star pitcher.

The last thing you think about against that guy is hitting a home run," Thome said. "That guy can pitch". So can Buehrle (3-0), he allowed four hits over eight innings to get his third straight victory as the defending World Series champions. They won their sixth straight and their 10th in the last 11 games.

Lineup
1. Scott Podsednik, LF. 2. Tadahito Iguchi, 2nd B. 3. Jim Thome, DH. 4. Paul Konerko, 1st B. 5. Jermaine Dye, RF. 6. Joe Crede, 3rd B. 7. A.J. Pierzynski, C. 8. Juan Uribe, SS. 9. Brian Anderson, CF.

John Lackey was the starter for the Angels in last week game against the A’s, he pitched five innings allowing only two hits and two runs. But it wasn’t enough against Oakland that needed this victory to boost the team morale because it was going down with so many losses in the past week.

Anderson gave the Angels a lead with a solo homer in the sixth and also drove in the tying run in the fourth. Harden settled down to extend his winning streak to four games and he didn’t give any more opportunities to the Angels, who got stock with three runs and couldn’t beat the A’s at home.

In other news A’s LHP Barry Zito when asked if he considered the Angels for the next season stated “Yeah SoCal is great. I love Southern California. The Angels have a great stadium, a great team, you know, but right now I'm not thinking about it. It's almost like if you ask any of these guys what they're going to do in the offseason, what trip they will take with their family, none of that stuff crosses their mind. It's not productive. I wish I could give you something more substantial but the reality is that it really doesn't help my job".

Lineup
1. Chone Figgins, LF. 2. Orlando Cabrera, SS. 3. Vladimir Guerrero, RF. 4. Garret Anderson, DH. 5. Darin Erstad, CF. 6. Maicer Izturis, 3rd B. 7. Casey Kotchman, 1st B. 8. Jeff Mathis, C. 9. Adam Kennedy, 2nd B.

The Sports Betting industry will probably put as a slight favorite the Oakland A’s, but if you are a baseball fan you might think differently so don’t waste your time and get the latest odds at WagerWeb.com and make the best of this series.

Waiting for Take-Off

2006-04-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

By J.D. Jackson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

You would not know it by their 10-4 record through the first two-and-a-half weeks of play, but the Houston Astros need Roger Clemens pitching for them.

It’s not too often that you read about a team needing a 43-year-old pitcher to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, but Clemens is not a pitcher who comes along that often. At 42, he put together one of his more stunning seasons in his illustrious 22-year career by going 13-8 with a 1.87 ERA, striking out 185 batters and walking just 62 in 211.3 innings. While Chris Carpenter won the Cy Young for the National League, last season (Clemens finished third behind Carpenter and Dontrelle Willis), his 2005 was one of his three or four best seasons over the course of his career (better than his 2004, in which he did win the Cy Young Award). His 1.008 WHIP was the second-best in his career (bested only in 1986), his 1.87 ERA was the best in his career, and his 44 earned runs allowed was also the best in his career with a minimum of 100 innings pitched. And he was 42.

Clemens tired down the stretch. He labored his way through the playoffs, going 4-3 while helping guide the Astros to the World Series. It was clear that Clemens had worn down, and an injured Clemens posted a 13.50 ERA in his lone outing as the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox. Had Clemens not been injured and tired, the history books might remember the 2005 season a little differently.
Without Clemens, this season, Houston is winning games by mashing the ball, which is not something that the ’Stros are accustomed to. They are second in the National League in team average, fourth in home runs, tied for second in runs scored, and second in OPS. This is largely the same team that finished near the bottom in all of those categories in 2005. Though Roy Oswalt continues to prove that he is an ace pitcher, and Brandon Backe has surprised early on, Andy Pettitte has struggled to a 1-2, 6.35 ERA start. Wandy Rodriguez has started off well, but he is a guy who would come out of the bullpen, ideally. Ezequiel Astacio, the Astros’ emergency starter in the 2005 playoffs, has been downright pathetic in his two appearances, this season. The presence of Clemens allows everyone to shift down a spot in the rotation: Oswalt becomes the #2, Pettitte becomes the #3, Backe becomes a #4, and then the Astros can choose between Rodriguez, Astacio, or Taylor Buchholz for the fifth spot. The rotation goes from being second-best in its own division (behind the Cardinals’ deep rotation) to becoming the best rotation in the game, simply by adding Clemens. Assuming that the Cardinals turn it on like they are able to do, assuming the Mets continue to play spectacular baseball while the Braves play their normal brand of solid ball…the Astros without Clemens will have a hard time winning even the Wild Card. The offense just is not good enough, and the pitching just is not deep enough.

The possibility still exists, of course, that Clemens will rejoin the Astros in May. That period exists because the Astros did not offer Clemens arbitration. There are other teams, though less realistic, in the mix. The Red Sox have spoken to Clemens, but here’s to doubting that you will ever see Clemens back in a Red Sox uniform. It is awfully hard to cross a river when you have burned just about every single bridge that leads back to the other side. The Texas Rangers are also interested and seem more than willing to pay any amount of money required to get Clemens to pitch in Arlington. It is just not evident that Clemens reciprocates those feelings, though pitching for the Rangers would satisfy his requirement of staying close to home. The Yankees have called, as well, but Clemens left the Yankees to return home; it is unlikely that Clemens would leave home to return to the Yankees.
Besides that, Clemens’ leaving the Astros for any of those teams would leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. Clemens went to Houston to pitch specifically for the Astros. He wanted to be close to his home, close to his family, and able to spend more time away from the game while still competing. In other words, while he was getting paid the highest salary of his career ($18 million in 2005), Clemens was not doing it for the money. The man has made $121 million over the course of his career in salary alone. If he became the latest Yankee hired gun, it would be a disgusting act to many, many people.
No, the only place where Clemens truly fits is in Houston. And though there was some tension about the Astros’ not waiting on Clemens’ decision about retirement and not offering him arbitration, it is apparent that Clemens would return to Houston in May after taking the first month of the season off. It would allow Clemens to continue resting, the entire month of April, essentially adding a month onto his stamina and effectiveness in 2006, assuming that he is healed completely (and after a 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.81 WHIP in two starts during March’s World Baseball Classic, it is safe to assume that he is the same old Rocket). For Houston, the equation is simple: Clemens equals another trip deep into the playoffs, while no Clemens might mean no playoffs at all for 2005’s National League Champions.
Even at 43, Clemens still makes all the difference in the world.

MLB Early Season Observations

2006-04-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

Is there a more dominant threat to opposing pitchers in the National League than Albert Pujols? The monster slugger has lit up scoreboards early in the season and sent several managers home wondering why they ever challenged the 26-year-old future Hall of Famer. Pujols’ nine dingers lead the league and this guy must be now considered, along with Alex Rodriquez, one of the best players in baseball. Pujols clearly leads the list of standout individual performances as the 2006 baseball season gets underway.

Other players making an early impact in the senior circuit include David Wright, the steady third baseman on the resurgent New York Mets, and Ryan Langerhans of the Atlanta Braves. Both of those teams should stay in the hunt for the NL East title as the Mets will try to break the stranglehold on the division that Bobby Cox and Atlanta have maintained for more than eleven years.

But back to Pujols. We kind of had a hint that this would be his year from the way he ended the 2005 season with that massive blast that gave the Redbirds a victory over Houston in game five of last year’s NLCS.

Now Pujols has a new stadium to play in, fans who love and adore him, and the serious potential to reach 60 home runs this season. The only thing that Pujols needs is for his Cardinals to reach the heights that the White Sox did last year and win their first World Series title since 1982.

A few hundred miles to the north is the sleeping giant known as the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a team that has already surprised some with its ability to come back; if they can get their bats heated up with the weather, they could challenge for a wild card berth. Overall, the early theme of the 2006 season might be parity.

The Cardinals lost pitching and won’t be as dominant this year, while the NL West should continue to be mired in mediocrity. Unless the New York Mets can keep up their hot start and add an arm or two in mid-season, this league is definitely up for grabs. It’s still too early to tell what will happen in the American League, but the usual contenders are starting to emerge. The Red Sox have their energetic new pitcher, Josh Beckett, and Curt Schilling appears to be at full strength, while the Yankees are going to rely on the older arms of Mussina and Johnson. Boston has more speed in 2006, while New York’s bullpen is practically brand new.

If you’re looking for early season surprises in the American League, that honor goes to Chris Shelton of the Detroit Tigers. This kid might revitalize the entire city of Detroit and bring baseball back to a somewhat competitive level. It is very uncommon for an unknown player like Shelton to be hitting with such power. Shelton had hit only 19 home runs in his previous 434 at-bats and now he is leading the league in long balls. Shelton is doing all this from the sixth position, but expect him to move up to the cleanup spot eventually. The team to watch in the AL is Oakland, with its fearsome trio of Chavez, Thomas, and Bradley.

If those guys stay hot and the young arms produce, Oakland will have a great chance to top Anaheim and win the West. The White Sox also have a good chance of repeating, but for the sake of our sanity, I would rather listen to Metallica than Ozzie Guillen any day. What would the early season be without a mention of Barry Bonds? The Giants slugger has been getting more publicity off the field lately and maybe that is why his hitting and home runs (none yet) are starting to suffer. The other explanation is that Barry is just getting old and all of his various injuries have added up to Bonds becoming not quite the player he used to be. In the end, I’m going to say Barry hits about 25–30 home runs and retires after the season but before he has a chance to pass Hank Aaron for the all-time lead. Would that make Commissioner Selig happy? Here are some of my observations on the opening weeks of the season around baseball.

New Busch Stadium – I can see the Arch more clearly, but did they even try to make it look different than old Busch stadium?

Giants’ outfield – Pass the Geritol. If these guys last the entire season then McCovey Cove will freeze over.

Pedro – The guy has nerves of steel and will continue to be successful unless a manager steps up and throws a ball near his head. He takes way too many liberties with players, with fewer consequences than any other pitcher I've ever seen.

Soriano – Shhhh …. They don’t want you to play 2B because they have an all-star there already and somebody in management must have watched a film of you bobbling balls in the Bronx for two seasons.

Marlins – and this hasn’t moved yet because….

Upcoming Devil Rays’ name change suggestion – Flounders

Beckett – Okay, we get it, you’re excited and happy that you struck somebody out. Bring that act to the Bronx and see what kind of reaction you will get.

Jeter – How come this guy doesn’t have a bubble gum endorsement contract yet? Hubba Bubba, are you listening?

Colon runs into tough luck

2006-04-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

BALTIMORE -- The Angels got better pitching and some offense Saturday against the Orioles. But the clutch hitting wasn't there, the defense rested once again, and the team's losing streak continued to grow.
Bartolo Colon looked more like his old self, but catcher Jose Molina made a costly error, and the Angels couldn't find timely hits as the Orioles rallied for a 3-2 victory before 24,497 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Angels now have dropped three straight games, including the first two of this four-game series.
Colon gave up three runs (one earned) and scattered eight hits through seven solid innings after struggling in his first two starts. But Molina's error was the focal point of a three-run, five-hit Baltimore fifth inning. In addition, the Angels left runners in scoring position four times and lost chances to take bigger leads early in the game.
"We played a poor ballgame, that's the bottom line," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "It was just a poor day all the way around. It was a poor day defensively and at the plate we had some opportunities to execute, we just couldn't get it done."
The loss frustrated Scioscia because it wasted a solid performance from Colon. He looked much more like the right-hander who won the Cy Young Award in 2005.
Colon shut down the Orioles for most of the game. Even in the five-hit fifth inning, the Orioles had to manufacture offense. They had a bunt single and an infield single as part of their rally. Colon (0-2) threw 65 strikes in his 95-pitch effort and looked strong despite taking the loss.
"I felt by far the best I've felt," Colon said through an interpreter. "The thing I had in mind today was to throw a lot of fastballs. Today, I thought I was really on top of the game."
Scioscia also was frustrated with his team's lack of ability to get runners in. The Angels missed on bunts to move runners over, couldn't get Tim Salmon in from third after he tripled to start the second, and weren't able to get the clutch hit that the Angels usually come up with.
"We didn't get our bunts down and ended up hitting into a couple of double plays," Scioscia said. "We couldn't get them in from third with less than two outs. ... We just couldn't get it done."
The defensive problems proved the most costly as the Angels let the Orioles rally from an early deficit for the second straight day. The Angels led the American League with 10 errors coming into the game and made two more in this contest.
The Angels took an early lead as they did in Friday's 6-5 loss. Orlando Cabrera doubled with one out in the top of the first and scored later on Garret Anderson's RBI double for a 1-0 lead.
They stretched it to 2-0 in the fifth on Cabrera's RBI double. But the Orioles answered with three in the bottom half. Molina couldn't hold on to second baseman Chone Figgins' throw at the plate while trying to tag out Jeff Conine on a Brian Roberts infield single. That let the tying run in.
The miscue also allowed Melvin Mora to hit an RBI single later in the inning for a 3-2 lead. The play was odd all the way around as Colon sawed off Roberts' bat with an inside fastball, and the second baseman hit a soft liner that Figgins raced toward first to try to catch.
But he had to fight off the tough sun and shadows and the ball bounced off his glove. Figgins then made a good throw home, but Molina couldn't hang on and make the tag.
"I think it hit the heel and came out of my [glove]" Figgins said. "It was a little tough to see."
That was enough for Orioles starter Erik Bedard, who gave up two runs and eight hits over eight innings. Bedard (3-0) seemed to grow stronger as the game went on, much like Rodrigo Lopez did on Friday. The left-hander struck out four and didn't walk anyone, retiring the final eight batters he faced.
"Bedard did a nice job of getting out of some jams after we had some guys in scoring positions," Scioscia said. "He threw the ball very well. Against a guy who's throwing well, you need to maximize your opportunities."
Chris Ray came on in the ninth for his fourth save. The right-hander struck out two, including pinch-hitter Casey Kotchman looking to end the game and give the Orioles their third straight win and fifth in the last six games.

Escobar puts his finger on pain

2006-04-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

ANAHEIM -- Kelvim Escobar's therapy turned out to be a quick manicure.
Escobar had the nail on the middle finger of his right hand filed down and he will make his scheduled start in Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers.
Escobar split the nail in the third inning while facing the Yankees on Friday, his first start of the season. The right-hander continued through six innings and allowed one run on six hits to pick up the win. He said he pitched through some pain in the sixth, but that has subsided and he's ready to go.
"I feel good; I don't feel any pain," Escobar said. "To be honest, I don't want to miss any games. I feel so good. I want to get out there every five days. Spring Training was great and the [World Baseball Classic] workouts. Then in the first game, I broke the nail."
Escobar would have a right to be frustrated. He appeared in only 16 games last season, with nine of those coming in relief when he pitched out of the bullpen in September, and added six more relief appearances during the postseason.
He opened last season on the disabled list with a strain to his right elbow and eventually went on the DL two more times before having bone spur surgery on his elbow in June. Escobar has been waiting to return to the rotation since then, and enjoyed a solid camp both in Arizona and pitching for Venezuela in the Classic.
Escobar said the nail particularly bothered him when he threw the split-finger, his best out pitch, and plans to keep the nail at a uniform length in hopes of strengthening it.
He played catch Monday and will not throw a bullpen session before Wednesday.

A special day for Salmon

2006-04-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE -- Making an Opening Day roster would seem second nature for Tim Salmon, who can count 13 big-league seasons on his resume.
Breaking camp with the Angels this year, though, was anything but expected for Salmon, who was invited to Spring Training as mostly a courtesy to a longtime veteran. More than mere charity, Salmon earned his roster spot.
"I was on the flight and it hit me: I'm going on the road again," Salmon said. "The baseball season has really started; I'm on the team again."
Salmon was not in Monday's Opening Day starting lineup, but he will probably start Tuesday at designated hitter. While he is expected to provide some much needed power off the bench, the plan with Salmon is more than just to be a pinch-hitter.
"If he gets enough at-bats, he will be able to stay sharp to be effective," manager Mike Scioscia said. "If he is getting two, three starts a week and then has to come off the bench, then he is going to help us."
Salmon is the franchise leader with 290 home runs and hasn't had a pain-free season since Scioscia has been manager. Scioscia's first season was 2000. Salmon had surgeries on his left shoulder and left knee in 2004 and rehabbed all of last season.
A starter for most of his career, Salmon must now adjust to playing on an as-needed basis.
"I'm still trying to feel my way and what my role is going to be," Salmon said. "I can't come in every day thinking I'm going to play and feeling that intensity."
Salmon also said he will have to pace himself initially and work with the same mentally that carried him through spring.

Notes: Erstad returning to his roots

2006-03-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

TEMPE, Ariz. -- One of the biggest baseball moves the Angels made for the upcoming season is a position switch, with Darin Erstad returning to his roots in center field.
It's a spot where he earned two of his three Gold Glove awards, the first in 2000, when he hit .355 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs, and the second in 2002, a season that culminated in a World Series title. Erstad added a third Gold Glove in 2004 as a first baseman.
Facing the 11-year veteran this baseball season, though, is the prospect of injury and declining offensive numbers. Erstad is nagged by shoulder stiffness this spring as he adjusts to the demands of throwing from the outfield, and the added stress of more running could affect his hamstrings, which have bothered him in the past.
Since collecting 240 hits in 2000, Erstad hasn't had more than 177 in a season, and his strikeouts eclipsed the century mark last year.
Erstad's numbers are respectable this spring, 12-for-39, and he doesn't anticipate that his shoulder and hamstring will cause him problems. But he is willing to take any assignment, even if it means the bench at some point during the season.
"I'm all about what gives us the best chance to win," Erstad bet. "If I'm not performing and somebody else is doing better, [I'll do] whatever gives us the best chance to win. We have great depth. It's a situation where you have to perform, and if not, you have to sleep in that bed you made."
Erstad's move to center was more about defense than offense, however, and the club said that another change is not imminent.
"Our team starts with pitching, and part of our pitching is the defense that goes behind it," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Erstad is a part of that defense."
The depth: Serving as backups to Erstad will be Chone Figgins and Juan Rivera. Figgins is opening the year as the starting third baseman, and the Angels would rather leave Garret Anderson in left to reduce the amount of running for the veteran.
That leaves Rivera as the second option to back up Erstad in center, and the reserve player will see time out there during the year.

"It gives us a lot of options and it helps on the depth chart," Scioscia said of Rivera. "Right now, Figgy is our backup center fielder, and any time you have a starting third baseman as your backup center fielder, it creates issues with your depth."
Rivera has played the two corner outfield spots nearly exclusively in his career, with most of his time coming in right field. He has played a total of 18 games in center over his five big-league seasons, with four appearances there last year. The Angels said that Rivera has the tools to play center.
"Juan is running better, he has surprising range and he throws well," Scioscia said.
Day off: Anderson was out of the lineup on Tuesday after two straight starts, which included a homer in Monday's 15-2 win over the Padres.
"He was fine last night," Scioscia said of Anderson, who was out 19 days with a strained left arch. "He was a little stiff today and got some treatment."
Anderson is scheduled to play the final two games of the Cactus League schedule and in the exhibition series with the Dodgers, but will be off on Sunday in order to rest for the regular-season opener, in Seattle on Monday.
Sent down: The Angels reassigned right-handed pitchers Scott Dunn and Jason Bulger to Minor League camp on Tuesday. The moves reduced the number of players in camp to 36, which still includes four non-roster invitees: Tim Salmon, Curtis Pride, Jered Weaver and Brian Specht.
Getting work: Ervin Santana made his sixth start of the spring in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Padres. The right-hander worked 5 1/3 innings and got his pitch count up to 100 while allowing three runs on five hits, including two homers, and three walks. He also struck out three.
"It took him a while, but he got into a groove for the most part," Scioscia said of Santana, who will make his last exhibition start on Sunday against the Dodgers.
Hector Carrasco chipped in with 1 1/3 innings of relief and allowed a run on two hits, and Brendan Donnelly tossed a scoreless inning.
Francisco Rodriguez had a rougher outing, allowing three runs, one earned, in the ninth, as he blew the save and took the loss in the process. He also allowed one hit and walked two without recording a strikeout in one inning of work.
"He had a little trouble getting the ball in the zone early," Scioscia said. "The ball was coming out of his hand great. He was just missing, but not by much."
Asides: Dallas McPherson appeared at first base on Tuesday and made a fine stop on a sharp ground ball in the eighth, but he committed a critical error, one that led to the go-ahead run in the ninth. ... Vladimir Guerrero went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. ... Salmon drilled his third spring homer.
On deck: The Angels will host the Cubs at 11:05 a.m. PT on Wednesday, with right-hander Bartolo Colon scheduled to start against Chicago right-hander Carlos Zambrano. Right-hander John Lackey is slated to face the Brewers in Tempe on Thursday, with right-hander Jered Weaver scheduled to go against the Giants in San Francisco.

BASEBALL BETTING ODDS!!!