2014 Anaheim Angels

[Porter]

Lineup

SS Jose Reyes (8-10-6-3-9, 8-10-10 running)
2B Dustin Pedroia (9-10-9-5-8)
3B Evan Longoria (9-9-9-9-8, Reigning MVP)
CF Willy Mo Pena (8-7-10-5-6)
1B Javier Baez (7-9-7-4-5, 10-10-10-5-6 potential)
CA Yadier Molina (8-7-6-3-7, there for defensive reasons)
RF Rocco Baldelli (7-8-7-3-6)
LF Larry Marshall (8-8-5-4-6, 5-10-9 running)
DH Randal Girchuk (9-9-5-4-7 vs R, 8-10-9-3-7 potential)/Jeramy Villalobos (8-7-3-7-6 vs L, 8-8-8 Speed)

Bench
Other half of DH Platoon
CA/1B Donny Lucy (7-8-6-4-5)
CA Cosme Hernandez (He's only there for his 10 arm and defense)
2B/SS/3B Marukomu Takechi (7-8-6-5-6)
3B Chad Tracy (8-8-3-4-8)

This team is not built to take walks and will go through stretches where they will struggle to score. But when they do, it should be in bunches. The key will be Javier Baez and Randal Girchuk's development this season. Baez is a middle of the order bat if he gets to his 10-10-10 contact/gap/power. Molina/Hernandez will be the main catchers to keep the runners at bay (mainly Minnesota and their stable of runners).

Rotation
RH Yu Darvish (10-7-8, 10 endurance)
LH Drew Pomeranz (10-7-9, 9 endurance)
RH Jordan Zimmermann (9-7-10, 8 endurance)
LH Zachary Jackson (9-7-10, 8 enduance)
RH Jakku Michinori (10-6-7, 7 endurance)

Darvish is pending approval and is the only guy with postseason experience. If anything, all 5 pitchers can strike people out and in bunches. Michinori will be given a chance to see what he can do as the starter this season. He will walk a lot of batters but he has a 10 K/9 potential and could stick as the 5th.


Bullpen
RH Enrique Gonzalez (7-8-10)
RH Justin Masterson (8-5-10)
RH Danny Muegge (8-8-7, 9-9-7 vs LH)
RH Luis Coleman (8-10-9, walked only 4 batters in 48 IP)
RH Kenneth Heibert (10-9-8, 10-10-9 potential)
LH Reggie Reppert (9-8-10, 10-8-10 potential)

It's a fairly young pen. Reppert-Heibert-Coleman proved to be a formidable trio at the back end of the pen. Muegge, Masterson and Gonzalez all have potential to start if Jakku decides to be really bad this season. Reppert is a knuckleballing lefty with a 91-94 MPH fastball. Very rare mix for a pitcher in general.


Outlook
With KC deciding to rebuild (if OOTP lets him) It comes down to Arizona and I for the west. They are much better on offense but I think I can make it up with my pitching staff. At worst, this team just misses the wild card. I hope adding Reyes, Darvish, Girchuk, and Molina pays off.


88-93 wins, 1st or 2nd in the NL West, WC contender.