MLB Power Rankings:Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.
Let me put this simply: you want no part of being No. 1 in the FanHouse MLB Power Rankings. It just brings discord, losing and possibly suspensions to your baseball team. Such was the case with the white-hot Dodgers and Manny Ramirez, who now have to deal with a 50 game-ban of their star slugger. Who's doomed this week? Let's just say that no one would be too shocked if they weren't there again next Wednesday.
OAKLAND -- The Angels have been just a shell of the team that was supposed to run away with the AL West, having lost five top starting pitchers and their best hitter, but general manager Tony Reagins said things are about to turn.
"There is some light at the end of the tunnel," Reagins told FanHouse before the Angels opened a two-game series against the A's on Monday night.
Reagins said that injured starters John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Dustin Moseley all could be back within weeks, and Vladimir Guerrero might be back by early June. (Kelvim Escobar has had a few setbacks and now is likely to come back a reliever sometime in June, at the earliest.)
The Daily Jolt is a dose of baseball reality every weekday morning.
Jered Weaver gave the Angels a much-needed respite Tuesday night. Weaver, along with left-hander Joe Saunders, is one of the last men standing in a Los Angeles rotation ravaged by injuries and, of course, the tragic death of Nick Adenhart.
He pitched seven innings and allowed three runs as the Angels beat the Tigers, providing a quality start and taking some of the pressure off of a bullpen which entered the night with a major league-worst 8.31 ERA.
Unfortunately, it was only one night, and Los Angeles has many ahead.
The tragic death of 22-year-old starter Nick Adenhart is definitely going to be the low point of the Los Angeles Angels' season -- at least let's hope they don't have to deal with another death -- but much less significant problems are continuing to plague the defending AL West Champions. Specifically, they can't escape the injury bug.
ANAHEIM -- The Angels took the field on Friday night.
All 24 of them.
The 25th roster spot, the one that belonged to Nick Adenhart before he and two friends were killed in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning, remained vacant as the club returned to action. Adenhart's grieving teammates played a game against the Boston Red Sox.
As you set your fantasy lineups for week one remember that there are 43 starting pitchers this week who will start twice. I've broken these 43 pitchers into three categories. There are 19 "must start" pitchers, nine solid options, and 15 risky hurlers throwing twice.
For the record, since there is only one game tonight featuring the Braves and the Phillies, and it's a Sunday night game, you'll find that in most weekly leagues Derek Lowe and Brett Myers (tonight's starters) will only have one start in week one, even though they'll be starting twice in their teams first seven games.
Tim Lincecum looks to have a cake walk first week as he faces Milwaukee and San Diego. While Paul Maholm, Ian Snell, John Lannan and Scott Olsen have some of the toughest two-start schedules as they face tough teams in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Florida.
Given the impact CC Sabathia had for the Milwaukee Brewers after they acquired him last July, and given the haul of prospects Cleveland got in return, it might make sense for the Toronto Blue Jays to shop their ace this summer. Toronto figures to be in the bottom two in the rough AL East, and Halladay makes $14.25 million this year.
Considering that the Angels already have three of their starting pitchers currently on the disabled list in John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar, you can only figure the regular season can't get here fast enough. Due to the injuries to those pitchers, Joe Saunders has taken over the role of Opening Day starter, and I'll bet you can figure out where this is going.
Yes, with only five more days until the season starts, Saunders is apparently dealing with a dead arm, leaving his status for the first game of the season somewhat in doubt.
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.
Meet the... Team about to win about 15 less games this season. Teams in their division have closed the gap on the Angels, who are aging in some spots and not yet developed at others. The biggest factor to consider in fantasy is how many less games their starting pitchers will likely win.
FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
When the Angels acquired Mark Teixeira last July, it was thought by many to be a bold move by a team not content to simply be 10,000 games ahead of the Rangers in the West and cruising toward the playoffs. Teixeira was supposed to be the player that was going to push them past the Red Sox and on to the World Series.
OAKLAND -- The Angels have been just a shell of the team that was supposed to run away with the AL West, having lost five top starting pitchers and their best hitter, but general manager 
The tragic death of 22-year-old starter 
As you set your fantasy lineups for week one remember that there are 43 starting pitchers this week who will start twice. I've broken these 43 pitchers into three categories. There are 19 "must start" pitchers, nine solid options, and 15 risky hurlers throwing twice. 
Every Sunday MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in 
Considering that the Angels already have three of their starting pitchers currently on the disabled list in 
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through 
