First Half Highlights

Best starter:  Gotta go with Kelvim.  He had that ONE really bad outting, but apart from that, he's been nails and hasn't allowed the big innings.  I'd pick him for Cy Young, actually.  Though, I am definitely in the minority, but here's a prediction for everyone:  Santana 9-4 the rest of the way, with an ERA under 4.  I really believe he'll figure it out, even though he's been crap so far.

Best defender:  Kotchman.  He has made every single one of our infielders look like all-stars, saving countless picks from Cabby and Figgins, while making just insane plays on scorched balls himself.  Matthews and Cabreda tie for #2.

Best bat:  Vlad, however... I'm going to use this one to predict rest of the year and say Kotch.  He'll get his swing back, and he's going to be huge behind Vladdy.

Best reliever:  If only Speier didn't get the freak Kotch-mono...  but really, Shields has been outstanding since a few rocky starts.  Gotta go with Shields.

Biggest surprise:  My roommate alone knows that I said at the end of last year that Willits was a big-league player, so that's not a huge surprise to me.  Biggest surprise has been that we've had such great hitting most of the first half, with only "better than average" pitching.

Biggest disappointment:  Tie between GA and Colon.  GA looked HOT in Spring Training, everything from the way he ran the bases to his plate discipline, and has not been great thus far.  Colon I didn't have much hope for, and was really deceptive with the 5-0 start, which makes his starts then that much more painful.

First half on-field highlight:  Our comeback against Houston where Figgy had the 6-6 game.  Just an enormous confidence booster and made this team feel special, like we have the chance to make it all the way!

Best Starting Pitcher: Lackey has been great Best Defender: Kotchman, he is insane on defense, making the whole team look better Best Bat: Vlad, duh Best Reliever: Shields and his 0.881 WHIP Biggest Surprise: Figgins actually looking decent as of late Biggest Disappointment: Ervin Longball Santana First Half On-Field Highlight: Vlad walkoff

Not in your format, but IMO, we will be fine in the 2nd half if the following take place:

1.  Stop swinging at pitches out of the zone.  Swing at strikes!  This is a MUST!  
2.  No more fluke injuries to CK or HK.
3.  Speier comes back at full strength!  
4.  One (or more) of the following take place...Rivera comes back at potential, GA rides the DL the rest of the way (or stays injury free the balance of the season), one more BIG contribution from a minor leaguer, ie Adenhart, Gwynn, Evans, etc. Fat Bart either returns to form or spends the rest of the season on the DL with GA, (I am going to ignore Ervin...he will be fine)

The rest will work itself out...OC and Reggie will come back to earth, we got what we are going to get from HGH, Jr, Lackey's shoulder health (cortisone shots make me nervous), we are going to see what Mathis has or does not have, and the July schedule is mostly road series.

Good news is...we have home-field advantage at the Big A for the WS!  Woohoo!  See you all there in October!  

Best Starting Pitcher:
-Escobar. Lackey is nearly as good, but Escy is just so damn CALM out there. He doesn't kick dirt around (Weaver) or yell into his glove (Lackey), and I think his ability to maintain his cool will pay dividends as far as longevity goes.

Best Defender:
-Kotchman is unbelievable. I was shocked, since I started watching the Angels well after he disappeared with mono.
-Junior's a nice surprise.
-Cabrera is reliable, as always. Give him a C on his jersey already, dammit.

Best Bat:
-Cabrera, consistently hits. Not only that, but he tends to not suck in the field when he rarely doesn't hit.

Best Reliever:
-Speier was, and may be again, but Shields is just so damn good. Plus I like Bud Light also, since it tastes the least like beer of all the beers I've had.

Biggest Surprise:
-Willits, although Escobar is nearly as surprising. He's been very reliable, but it's just not something anyone's noticed. Reggie needs to learn how to hit in the next 10 games though, or I'd send him down again. We have enough holes in the lineup already.

Biggest Disappointments:
-The shit-eating psyche of Santana. The guy, honestly, has better stuff than anyone except maybe Lackey, but the second his head gets into it, balls start leaving the yard. I'd be happier with him at AAA, if only to light a fire under his ass.
-Colon sucks.
-I expected more of Hillenbrand.
-Mike Butcher is no Bud Black. Arte
-Moreno has not lived up to his preseason promises.
-Mickey Hatcher still has a job.

First Half On-Field Highlight:
-That first spectacular catch that Matthews made, after all the preseason bitching and moaning.
-I also really enjoyed Mike Napoli's plate-block. He might be one of my favorite players, just 'cause he always looks legitimately happy to be in the bigs, and doesn't see the starting catcher position as his god-given right.

Best Starting Pitcher: Lackey because of the leadership aspect...he's the pitching version of Erstad IMO. Escy is just filthy!

Best Defender: GMJ and OC, period.

Best Bat: OC when he's not hitting 3rd and Vlad when he IS hitting 3rd.

Best Reliever: Shields

Biggest Surprise: Reggie...when i saw what Scott Podsednik(sp?) did for the CWS in 2005 as a speedy leadoff huy that just bugs the crap out you i said "we need a little bugger like that."  i'd also throw Casey Kotchman in this category because i think all of us were somewhat weary of how he was going to come back.

Biggest Disappointment: shea...yeah i actually had hopes but he brought the freakin' fisher price bat from toronto!!

ALSO, the injuries!

First Half On-Field Highlight: owning brooklyn

Best starter: Lackey. He's been a rock game in and game out. He's had a couple of tough starts, but 98% of the time, you know what you're gonna get.

Best defender: Cabrera. We're spoiled - simple as that. He makes the toughest plays look routine and when he DOESN'T get to a ball, we're upset.

Best bat: Cabrera. He's clutch, comes through with a couple of dingers and rarely strikes out.

Best reliever:  K-Rod. It's tough to watch but he's still lights out.

Biggest surprise:  Willits. Who Knew?

Biggest disappointment:  Santana. After leading the team in wins last year, he's AWEFUL.

First half on-field highlight:  Comeback vs. Houston. Yes, the Astros suck, but that comeback brought back memories of the 02 season when the Angels were the comeback kings.

Best Starter: Big Bad John.. I believe Escy has been a tiny bit better on the mound, but the leadership Big john displays is unmatched. At the beginning of the season we were wandering and guessing who would step up and be a leader...Big Thunder mountain is that leader

Best Defender: Three way tie, all have been stellar...OC, GMJ, and Kootch

Best Bat: VLADDY, but would you use two hands in the outfield...lol

Best Reliever: Frankie...gets it done.....

Biggest Surprise: GMJ being as good as advertised on both sides of the ball
** Also that the team has been able to consistently score runs

Biggest Disapointment: My two biggest bummers of the first half are going to turn into strengths for the 2nd half...GA and Santana

Best Starting Pitcher: Big John

Best Defender: The Wizard

Best Bat: Vlad

Best Reliever: Frankie

Biggest Surprise: Kelvim getting run production

Biggest Disappointment: Ervin

First Half On-Field Highlight: Chone 6-6

Frankie saves the ASG after a Putz from Seattle nearly stinks it all up. And in an interview Lackey says that he wasn't nervous because he's seen Frankie do his thing, i.e. put runners on, before closing it out, lots of times.

Fun to see the rest of the WS contending contingent of the AL share our "pain" :)

In other news, the NL manager once again gets tooled because he's too worried about double switches and extra innings to play for the win.