ALCS Angels' offense is exposed as lineup full of holes

Los Angeles' key hitters failed to deliver hits against White Sox.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Manager Mike Scioscia wore a glum expression as he sat behind his desk after the Los Angeles Angels lost to the World Series-bound Chicago White Sox.
He felt disappointed with the outcome of the American League championship series, but not with his team.
"It's impossible to be disappointed by anything these guys did," he said. "They were awesome. They just left body parts on the field. We obviously had great expectations coming into this series and it didn't pan out for us."
It sure didn't. Chicago's starting rotation exposed the Angels' offense for what it has often been this season -- a lineup full of holes. Of course, it didn't help that leadoff man Chone Figgins and the heart of the lineup -- Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Bengie Molina -- didn't hit a lick.
Guerrero falters
The biggest failure was Guerrero, the reigning AL MVP, who had one hit in 20 at-bats with 14 groundouts.
"Vlady didn't have a very good series," general manager Bill Stoneman said in an understatement. "He's going to come back strong next year, and so are we."
If that's going to happen, the Angels will need to upgrade a few areas. Despite winning the 2002 World Series and the last two AL West titles, Stoneman has a lot to consider.
Starting pitchers Jarrod Washburn and Paul Byrd are eligible for free agency, along with Molina. It'll help that Tim Salmon's $10 million salary comes off the books, giving the Angels some money to spend.
The lineup figures to have a much different look next year than it had in the ALCS, where the White Sox limited the Angels to a .175 batting average and 11 runs in five games.
"It looks to me like we're going to try to help the offense out by adding a bat," Stoneman said.
They might need more than one, especially if Molina leaves.
Centerpiece of lineup
Guerrero will be the centerpiece of the lineup, regardless of what took place against the White Sox. But the Angels had very little pop at first base, third base, center field and designated hitter this year.
They hit .270 as a team, which isn't bad. But they had only 147 homers to rank 10th in the AL, and scored 761 runs to rank sixth.
It's possible they could go after a power-hitting first baseman and move Darin Erstad back to the outfield. Erstad has won Gold Gloves at both positions, and is a serviceable hitter, but he had only seven homers and 66 RBIs this season.
Highly touted Dallas McPherson was a bust at third, although he didn't have much of a chance because of injuries that limited him to 61 games. Slugger Troy Glaus, the World Series MVP in 2002 who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks last winter, wasn't adequately replaced.
Figgins spent most of his time at third, and hit .290 with 113 runs scored. But, like Erstad, he doesn't hit with power, and third base is generally a power position.
Finley fails to deliver
Steve Finley was a major disappointment, hitting .222 with 12 homers one year after batting .271 with 36 homers. The 40-year-old center fielder has one year remaining on his contract.
And the DH slot was unproductive, as has often happened in recent years.
The pitching staff was strong all season. The absence of 21-game winner Bartolo Colon in the ALCS because of an injured shoulder was a major blow. Colon and John Lackey were very good in the second half of the season.
Lackey had a rare off night in Game 3 of the ALCS, and wouldn't bite when asked about the obvious need for more punch next season.
"We're not going to point fingers -- we haven't done that all season," he said. "We were one of four teams standing at the end. I'm sure a lot of teams would love to be here."
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.