Carrasco vs Bootcheck vs Moseley

The pitching battle is heating up. With Weaver and Colon not scheduled to start the season, there is an extra spot in the starting rotation up for grabs.

The "planned" rotation
1. Colon
2. Lackey
3. Escobar
4. Santana
5. Weaver

The "current" rotation
1. Lackey
2. Escobar
3. Santana
4. Saunders
5. ???

Fighting for that 5th spot are Hector Carrasco, Chris Bootcheck and Dustin Moseley. They have all pitched extremely well in Spring Training so far and here is a look at each.

Carrasco figures to start the season in Anaheim in the bullpen. He has made four starts this spring and his era is a minuscule 2.02. He started five games for the Angels last year, but his value as a reliever will most likely keep him in the pen to start the year. Especially since early in the year the bull pen is busy with the starters are on pitch counts.

Bootcheck was so highly regarded that the Angels put him on waivers over the off season. Like Carrasco, he is also having a great spring with a 2.53 era in 10.2 innings. He was a first round pick in 2000, but has never made it with the Angels despite playing in parts of three seasons. Last year, he appeared in seven games and gave up 12 earned runs in 10.1 innings. He seems destined for another year at Salt Lake.

Moseley is fighting hard for the last spot in the rotation. He has appeared in four games this spring and has a sparkling 1.98 era in 13.2 innings. He made two starts for the Angels last year going 1-0, but he gave up 11 earned runs in just 9 innings. He's my frontrunner right now for the 5th spot in the rotation. So if you have tickets for the April 6th game vs the A's, it's time to start cheering for Moseley.

No Green Unis.

I was hoping to see the Angels wear green for St. Patrick's Day, but no luck. Not even a green hat. Maybe next year.