I think you can make the argument for Jered Weaver being our 5th starter. If that doesn’t scream draft some freaking hitters then I don’t know what does. Even if they lose Lackey they’ll have a solid starting staff, assuming Santana can consistently throw above 92 again.

Although the Angels have gone for pitching in the last five drafts, the team is looking for power this year, making 17-year-old outfielder Mike Trout of New Jersey a possible first-round pick. Trout batted .521 with 15 homers in 71 at-bats as a senior.

The Angels are also believed to be interested in Texas prep Everett Williams, La Verne Bonita High shortstop Jiovanni Mier and Santa Monica High left-hander Tyler Skaggs.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels29-2009may29,0,3943501.story

And here’s an interview w/ Jim Callis of Baseball America concerning this year’s draft in general . . .

Rich: Hi, Jim. Thanks for taking the time to preview the 2009 First-Year Player Draft with us. How is this draft shaping up in terms of overall talent vs. those of the past?

Jim: It’s not a good draft for position players, and it comes right after a draft that was loaded with hitters, so there’s kind of a negative vibe about it. But there’s talent in any draft. This one has plenty of pitching, college and high school, lefty and righty, whatever flavor you like, starting with arguably the best draft prospect ever in Stephen Strasburg.

http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2009/05/qa_with_basebal.php

which loosely translated means….we’re gonna draft pitching, but if by some miracle, some hitter happens to fall in our laps, and he is 99.99% the prospect of the pitcher….maybe we’ll take him.