Once again it's time for our Preseason MLB Team Previews. Throughout the next month we'll be covering all 30 major league teams and offering our completely biased and lackluster insight mixed with lots of snarky comments. What? You wanted some real analysis? Go watch MLB Network then.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

2009: 97-65 (1st)

So Long: P Jose Arredondo, 3B Matt Brown, P Kelvim Escobar, 3B Chone Figgins, OF Vladimir Guerrero, P John Lackey, P Dustin Moseley, P Darren Oliver

Welcome: DH Hideki Matsui, P Joel Pineiro, P Fernando Rodney

Projected Starting Lineup (courtesy of rototimes.com)
1. Erick Aybar, SS
2. Bobby Abreu, RF
3. Torii Hunter, CF
4. Kendry Morales, 1B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Juan Rivera, LF
7. Howie Kendrick, 2B
8. Mike Napoli, C
9. Brandon Wood, 3B


Rotation - Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, Joel Pineiro, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana
Setup - Fernando Rodney, Scot Shields
Closer - Brian Fuentes

Despite losing Chone Figgins, Vlad Guerrero & John Lackey this offseason, the Angels are looking to win the AL West for a 4th consecutive year, and will probably do so again in this relatively weak division.

Even with Lackey's departure, the Angels' rotation continues to look good on paper with the acquisition of Joel Pineiro. Pineiro had 15 wins & a 3.49 ERA last year for the Cardinals. Unfortunately for him, the Angels aren't playing the Pirates & Astros 34 times this season, so expect his numbers to sink back to reality.

With the departure of Figgins, there is talk about competition for the leadoff spot between 3B Maicer Izturis and SS Erick Aybar. Don't listen to the hype: Aybar will get the job. Mike Scioscia seems determined to give the 3B starting job to Brandon Wood over Izturis. Wood, a top prospect and minor-league slugger, batted a dismal .195 in 18 games last season. But he's out of options and the Angels aren't going to cut him loose until he completely implodes.

DH Hideki Matsui's 28 home runs with the Yankees last year should be encouraging to Angels fans, as Angel Stadium allowed the second most HR's in all of baseball last year.


PRESEASON AWARDS

If this team were a disease/ailment it would be: Repetitive Stress Syndrome. Expect the Angels to string together another 90+ win season, only to collapse in the ALDS...again.

The "Placeholder Until We Get A Real Leadoff Hitter" Award: Erick Aybar. Sure, his OBP isn't too shabby and he's got speed, but Aybar's lack of patience at the plate means he rarely walks. Expect Angels fans to rue the day Chone Figgins left town.

The "Methuselah Award": The Angels' starting outfielders. Bobby Abreu will turn 36 before the start of the season. Juan Rivera, the youngest of the three, will turn 32 before the All-Star Break, and Torii Hunter will celebrate his 35th birthday before the inevitable October collapse.