2005 Overview:
Mike Scioscia and his 2005 Anaheim Angels entered the new season equipped to defend their 2004 American League West Title. Although the 2004 season resulted in a disappointing three recreation ALDS sweep to the World Series Boston Red Sox, the Angels remained poised and confident they might go back to the postseason another time. The Angels correct fortunes persevered in 2005 as they ended clinching the American League West with an impressive 95-67 record. Unfortunately, the 2005 postseason resulted in 4 straight losses to the Chicago White Sox because the Angels had been eliminated 4-1 in the American League Divisional Playoffs.
Lead via movie star Vladimir Guerrero (.317 32 108) the Angels beginning lineup supplied a balanced assault towards the competition in 2005. The new additions of Juan Rivera (.271 15 fifty nine) and shortstop Orlando Cabrera (.257 8 57) helped offer a lot better offensive balance as they joined outfielders Garret Anderson (.283 17 96) and catcher Bengie Molina (.295 15 sixty nine) to provide one of the more consistent lineups within the AL.
The 2005 Angels pitching turned into led by using Bartolo Colon (21-eight 3.Forty eight) and John Lackey (14-5 three.44) along side journeyman pitcher Paul Byrd (12-11 three.47). Byrd emerged as a nice marvel in 2005 posting an 8-5 report with an 3.73 ERA previous to the all big name spoil which changed into 2d only to Colon on the stop of the 1st half of the season. While pitchers Brendan Donnelly (9-three 3.Seventy two in sixty five relief appearances) and Francisco Rodriguez (2-5 2.67 45 saves) anchored one of the nice bullpens in baseball.
Off Season Moves:
The Angels remained conservative in their off season. Free Agent Pitcher Hector Carrasco (5-4 2.04) turned into signed after an impressive year for the Washington Nationals whilst additional bullpen help became delivered with the aid of buying and selling 2B Alexi Casilla for J.C. Romero (4-3 3.Forty seven) from the Twins. Pitcher Jake Woods (1-1 4.55) was also picked up for past due inning relief assist, obtained off waivers from the Mariners. The Angels modified little or no to their offense, including Edgardo Alfonso (.277 4 43) to their lineup in a exchange for Steve Finley (.222 12 54).
2006 Analysis:
The Angels have been clever to feature pitchers Hector Carrasco and J.C. Romero as both have to help them enhance an already robust bullpen and pitching body of workers. Finley did not supply the equal outcomes as he did when he became received within the 2nd half of of the 2004 season (thirteen HRS forty six RBI with Anaheim) so the Angels felt he was worth trading. Unfortunately for the Angels, Alfonso’s nice seasons are actually in the back of him – but as an upside he can nonetheless be depended on to power in runs. The Angels also prevented arbitration with 7 one of a kind players at some point of the off season so the ball club is pretty a great deal similar to it turned into while it commenced the year in 2005. The starting 2006 lineup is balanced even losing Molina to unfastened organization. The beginning pitching ought to possibly use any other steady starter. However with simplest 3 other groups to compete in opposition to in the AL West, there may be simply no purpose to trust the Angels won’t contend in 2006 again.