Series Preview

AL WEST SHOWDOWN
Angels, M’s Series Preview
By Adam Dodge – Angelswin.com Senior Writer

August 27th, 2007

2002 saw the unlikely emergence of the then Anaheim Angels into the American League West pennant race. Many thought at the time that the Angels would falter down the stretch. Of course, that did not happen. The Angels could not overtake the Athletics in the division, but did win the Wild Card and ultimately the World Series.

Likewise, many have waited for the 2007 Seattle Mariners, who sit atop the AL Wild Card race and just two games behind the Angels, to finally come down to earth. It’s August 27th and with just five plus weeks remaining in the season it’s time for all to concede that the Mariners are good. Very good!

For the Angels, nothing’s new. The next game the team lines up completely healthy will be the first in what seems like five years. They enter this series without leading hitter, Chone Figgins, first baseman, Casey Kotchman, who are both nursing minor injuries, and with Juan Rivera, Bartolo Colon and Mike Napoli still rehabbing their own injuries.

In contrast, the Mariners have been perhaps the healthiest team in baseball this season, losing not one regular for any significant time.

At 8-4 against the Mariners this season, the Angels will send John Lackey (15-8, 3.34 ERA) to the mound in game one. Lackey was hit hard by the Red Sox two starts ago, and faltered late against the Yankees in his last appearance. Lackey will be opposed by Seattle starter, Miguel Batista, who leads the Mariners’ staff with 13 victories, and who beat the Angels the last time the two teams met. In the key game of the series, Lackey must return to form. Another bad outing here could set the tone for the series, which could see a reversal in the standings if the Angels are swept.

Game two on Tuesday will see a battle of inconsistent right-handers as Ervin Santana (5-12, 6.03) will oppose ex-Angel, Jeff Weaver, who has won his last four decisions.

The series will conclude with a day game Wednesday and a potentially great match-up between young hurlers Jered Weaver and Felix Hernandez.

The Mariners enter the series having been somewhat cooled in the last couple days, as they dropped two to the Texas Rangers over the weekend.

The Angels are glad to be done with Toronto after a four game split of their own.

KEYS TO THE SERIES

For the Angels it has to be production from the top of the line-up. With Chone Figgins likely to miss all three games, Reggie Willits will have to get on base from the lead-off spot. Vladimir Guerrero has been a Mariner killer since arriving in the AL in 2004 and can be expected to continue his hot hitting. Garret Anderson is in the midst of his most productive stretch of the season. If Willits and Orlando Cabrera are able to create action ahead of them, the Angels will score plenty of runs.

After dominant outings in their last appearances, Scot Shields and Frankie Rodriguez appear to have worked out the mechanical issues, which caused their struggles. If given a lead, the Mariners will have their work cut out for them if they’re to come back.

This is a big series, especially for the Mariners, who face a much tougher road than the Angels the rest of the way.

PREDICTION

The loss of Figgins proves too much.

Mariners take series 2 games to 1