News
Guillen high on the '09 Halos
Los Angeles (85-55) vs. Chicago (70-72), 1:10 p.m. PT
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
09/12/09 1:27 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- Ozzie Guillen, never one to over-edit his opinions, thinks highly of the Angels and their chances to take flight in October. "The Angels are always going to compete," Guillen, ebullient manager of the White Sox, said heading into the FOX telecast of Saturday's game handled by Josh Lewin with commentary from former Major League slugger Eric Karros. "They're always going to be in the pennant race. They have a pretty good organization and it doesn't surprise me. They have great balance and can beat you so many different ways." Angels manager Mike Scioscia thinks he has his best rotation in his 10 seasons in Anaheim and his deepest lineup since the 2002 World Series champions. The bullpen misses Scot Shields, but flame-throwing Kevin Jepsen has emerged as a force in the company of Brian Fuentes, Jason Bulger, Darren Oliver and Matt Palmer. "I think they have a chance, if they make the playoffs, to go all the way," Guillen said. "If you have a good pitching staff in a short period of time, you can move guys to the bullpen and be even stronger. And we all know, in baseball, how good of a club they have." The Angels are in the driver's seat as they bid for their third consecutive American League West title and fifth in six years. The addition of Scott Kazmir, who has excelled in his two starts with the Angels, has elevated spirits in the clubhouse. Teaming Kazmir with John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana gives Scioscia a dynamic rotation. Santana, who is 3-2 with a 5.24 ERA against the White Sox in eight career appearances, engages southpaw John Danks in the middle game of the series. This means second baseman Howard Kendrick and his sizzling bat will be back in Scioscia's lineup. Kendrick is on a seven-game hitting streak with 14 hits in his past 26 at-bats (.538), lifting his average to .292 from a low of .231 when he was shipped to Salt Lake on June 13. Since returning on July 4, Kendrick is batting .375 with 29 runs scored and 29 RBIs in 38 games. "If you focus on staying up the middle, it will allow you to hit to all fields," Kendrick said. "If you keep staying through the middle and swinging at strikes, you'll be all right." Pitching matchupLAA: RHP Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.71 ERA)
Santana was generally pleased with his stuff on Monday in Kansas City, but his throwing error and one bad pitch to Billy Butler soured the outing in a 6-3 loss. Santana's error in the first led to two runs and he later allowed a 442-foot homer to Butler on a hanging breaking ball. Santana was charged with four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Previously, he had allowed three earned runs or less over a stretch of five starts. CWS: LHP John Danks (12-9, 3.84 ERA)
Danks tossed his sixth consecutive quality start on Sunday afternoon, but the White Sox offense couldn't help him out in a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox. Danks' biggest mistake came when he surrendered a two-run home run to Mike Lowell in the top of the fourth inning, providing Boston starter Jon Lester with all the cushion he would need. Danks went six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four. It was the lefty's first loss in his past six starts. Against the Angels, Danks is 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five career starts. Tidbits
The Angels are 30-14 against left-handed starters, surpassed only by the Yankees' 33-15 record against southpaws. The Angels continue to lead the AL in batting average (.286) and are second in on-base percentage (.352), trailing only the Yankees (.361). The Angels are fourth in slugging (.445) behind the Yankees, Rangers and Red Sox. ... The Angels' defense continues to shine, ranking tied for second in the AL in fielding percentage (.987) and first among teams playing their home schedules on natural surfaces. Only Toronto, with its artificial surface providing true bounces, has a higher percentage (.988). ... With his career-high 186 2/3 innings, Weaver ranks 10th in the AL. His four complete games are surpassed only by Cy Young Award candidates Roy Halladay (seven for Toronto) and Zack Greinke (six for Kansas City). ... Kendry Morales came into the weekend tied for fifth with Justin Morneau in RBI ratio (one every five at-bats) and seventh in home run ratio (16.5). Tickets
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• Sunday: Angels (Scott Kazmir, 8-8, 5.43) vs. White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 12-7, 3.77), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 15-5, 3.76) at Yankees (Chad Gaudin, 5-10, 4.81), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Tuesday: Angels (John Lackey, 10-7, 3.53) at Red Sox (Paul Byrd, 1-1, 6.08), 4:10 p.m. PT
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
