Predictions!  It is about time I gets to making mine (otherwise they revoke my blogger license).  Since first pitch is just a few hours away, let's not waste anymore time and take a gander at all the prognostications of mine that will probably be used to make me look like an idiot later this year... unless I go back in and edit this post in October.  But I'd never do that... as far as you know.  Now if I can just find a way to delete files from Google cache and it will be the perfect crime.

Hmmm, this isn't exactly a crystal ball, but I guess it will have to do.

Daily Links for the LA Angels including Arte Moreno talks expectations and finances, Kazmir finishes "strong", a chance to meet the Angels' stars of tomorrow and much more...

Once again, Winning Wednesday leads me down strange roads as I honor a man that I have spent most of the week besmirching while also lavishing praise on a man who will soon be missing a vital internal organ.  Who could they be?

OK, I think this is going to be the last week I pay homage to Sheen, but this poster is pretty damn cool.

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We all know about the trade and that contract, but what about Vernon Wells the player?  Can he cut through all of the outside BS surrounding his acquisition and help make the Angels better, or will his career of inconsistency rear its ugly head and make the organization look even worse for having acquired him?

2010 Stats: 590 AB, .273 AVG, .331 OBP, .515 SLG, 79 R, 31 HR, 88 RBI, 6 SB

2011 ZiPS Projections: 565 AB, .260 AVG, .313 OBP, .432 SLG, 70 R, 19 HR, 74 RBI, 9 SB

2011 Bill James Projections: 587 AB, .283 AVG, .338 OBP, .480 SLG, 85 R, 25 HR, 89 RBI, 7 SB

2011 Marcel Projections: 542 AB, .266 AVG, .320 OBP, .445 SLG, 71 R, 20 HR, 71 RBI, 9 SB

2011 MWaH Projections*: 550 AB, .272 AVG, .327 OBP, .487 SLG, 81 R, 27 HR, 95 RBI, 13 SB

*The MWaH projections are simply my best guess based off my own personal opinion and research

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Daily Links for the LA Angels including Scioscia won't commit to Trumbo as his full-time first baseman, Morales cleared for baseball activities, Opening Day roster announced and much more...

This might be my favorite post of the off-season to write every year.  We can preview the team all we want, but nothing is more fun than boiling down the season so that it really depends on one player.  This year was definitely one of the toughest yet, but after much consternation, I think I finally figured out the answer.  The most important Angel of 2011 Is... Dan Haren.  Allow me to explain.

Bet you thought I was going to say Morales, right? 

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The Baseball Bloggers Alliance today named writer Joe Posnanski the winner of the inaugural Writer of the Year Award, honoring the top internet writer.  Posnanski, who writes for the print version of Sports Illustrated as well as maintaining his own blog and Twitter account, was the overwhelming selection from the BBA membership. no comments