A.L. Midseason report.(professional baseball)

Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels/

38-41 T 2nd in West

Pitching is strong, but production at first base is a problem

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Pitching, surprisingly. Because RHPs Pat Rapp and Ismael Valdes had weak efforts in 2000, few figured they would help the rotation. But through June 30, starters went six innings or more in 58 of 79 games. LHP Jarrod Washburn emerged as the ace, going 6-1 in 11 starts and lowering his ERA to 3.86 after starting 0-3. RHP Ramon Ortiz was inconsistent but kept the team in most of his starts, going 6-6 with a 4.14 ERA. Rapp got minimal run support, so his record was 2-8, but he had a 4.45 ERA. Valdes threw a few gems. The result of the starters' good work: Led by RHP Troy Percival, who converted 19 of his first 20 save chances and had an 0.90 ERA, the relievers had baseball's best bullpen ERA. The key to the rotation in the second half might be LHP Scott Schoeneweis. A model of consistency through early June, he then went 0-4 with a 10.18 ERA in four starts.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Offense. Most figured the club still would be potent without 1B Mo Vaughn (injured biceps tendon). It isn't. Some players, especially RF Tim Salmon, are pressing to compensate. Salmon had a .206 average, nine homers and 26 RBIs entering July and was hitting just above .100 with runners in scoring position. LF Darin Erstad battled injuries before improving his average to .287; his power numbers are off. 3B Troy Glaus hit for power, but his average is down. CF Garret Anderson didn't find his power stroke until June. SS David Eckstein was a pleasant leadoff surprise, and 2B Adam Kennedy is a nice fit at No. 2.

WHAT'S AHEAD: For the team to have any chance of making the playoffs, Salmon must get hot quickly; Glaus must make contact; and Anderson must hit for power. Eckstein, Kennedy and Erstad must get on base and go from first to third on singles often, and the first baseman must provide more offense than Scott Spiezio and Larry Barnes did. The Angels won't get any offensive help from within--the farm system is barren of power--so a trade for a power-hitting first baseman is possible. If the team still is 10 games out of the wild-card race in late July, it could trade Valdes, Rapp, Spiezio or IF Benji Gil to a club that needs pitching or bench help. --Mike DiGiovanna

DUGOUT SIGNALS Mike Scioscia might have been too predictable in calling for a suicide squeeze with the score tied, 1-1, and a 1-1 count on Orlando Palmeiro on June 26. The Rangers pitched out to Palmeiro, who had no chance to bunt, and tagged out Garret Anderson in a rundown.