Coming into the 2004 season the Anaheim Angels looked like the team to beat in the AL. I had high hopes for this very well balanced team. Injuries have detoured their success but I still believe that this can be a very dangerous and potent club as long as Vlad the man can continue his all-star year.Glaus, Anderson, Guillen, Ersted, Salmon, Percival, and Washburn. Just a few of the many Anaheim Angels players that have received tickets for the disabled list this season. Troy Glaus is out indefinitely, Anderson has just been reactivated, and bench players such as Chone Figgins have had to do the dirty work. How does Anaheim do it? One word, Vlad. Vlad Guerrero has been the heart and soul of this injury plagued Angels club. Without Guerrero, the Angels may be sitting back in last place.
The question now is, how long can superstar Vlad shine in the spotlight before he trips and falls over? The answer is not very long. I picked the Angels to go to the World Series, and I’m not going back on my word now. The only thing the Angels can do is try and persevere through their struggles until their team is back in full form.
If the Angels are to succeed in winning the West, their starting pitching will need to throw a gem of a year. Anaheim’s offense will always produce, but the bullpen is somewhat shaky due to injuries. Troy Percival, Anaheim’s closer, is still on the disabled list; though his replacement, Frankie Rodriguez, is a great pitcher, he is inexperienced at the closer spot. The sooner the Angels can piece their bullpen back together, the better off they will be down the stretch.
The Angels have played extremely inconsistent baseball after their injuries and unless they can find a way to bounce back soon, teams such as the Rangers or A’s may sweep the AL West from under their feet. Early in the season this team seemed to be on a rage, sweeping through the competition, now they appear to have lost their flare. There is still plenty of time for Mike Scioscia to recuperate his club and put them back in shape.
Although the Angels are beginning to get some of their players back, I have to question how ready these players actually are; most of them have been out for if not all, but most of the season. When Jose Guillen returned from his stint on the DL, he performed well, knocking a few homers off the Yankees. Other players such as Tim Salmon, and Darin Ersted may not perform to their true potential upon their returns. The Angels will need every player on the lineup card to perform to their fullest potential or it will be a long season in California.
A potentially devastating blow to the Angels morale may be the fact that the Oakland A’s, despite losing much of their offensive firepower and their all-star caliber closer, are still very much alive and well in the AL West. Not only must the Angels deal with their own team problems, they now have the A’s and the Rangers breathing down their necks for the division lead.
These next few weeks are going to bring out the true colors of Vlad Guerrero, whether he likes it or not. True superstars shine when the pressure is on them the most. Not only will we see these if the Angels are a contending team, but we will also see if Vlad is a true superstar in this league. A pinnacle moment in Vlad’s career; can Vlad Guerrero carry a team on his shoulders to victory? If Vlad is truly a special player the answer will be yes.