Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The baseball season isn't yet two weeks old, but there has been a flurry of activity already in bullpens across the country.

In the past three days, four closers have been either demoted or placed on the disabled list, prompting four new pitchers to become must-adds for fantasy baseball players everywhere.

The coveted saves category can make-or-break a fantasy baseball season and if you were paying attention this week, you just might have begun your rise to the top of the fantasy baseball mountain.

Here's the situation as it stands now for four teams:

Brandon Wood will always remember his first Opening Day in the big leagues.

He might wish he could forget the week that followed.

The highly touted third base prospect for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim went 2-for-22 with seven strikeouts and just one walk in six of the club's first eight games.

His performance was so poor, manager Mike Scioscia had to start backup infielder Maicer Izturis in his place—twice.

Fox News and The New York Daily News are reporting that yesterday afternoon Jered Weaver and Matt Palmer of the L.A. Angels witnessed a 39-year-old man leap to his death from the top of Le Parker Meridien Hotel on 56th Street in midtown.

Both players are said to be shaken by the event.  Weaver would not talk to the Daily News reporter after the incident.

Palmer, however, spoke briefly and told the reporter that Weaver actually saw the man hit the pavement.

Tuesday afternoon's game between the Yankees and Angels was certainly more meaningful than just a regular opening game at Yankee Stadium.

Last year in 2009, they opened the brand new ballpark.

This year in 2010, the Yankees celebrated it by receiving their 2009 World Series Championship rings in a pre-game ceremony.

On hand were former Yankees Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, who helped pass out the rings. Also on hand was former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to receive his ring from Joe Girardi and Derek Jeter.

The Los Angeles Angels have gotten off to an uncharacteristically bad start. "Regression to the mean" suggests that they will do better.

But it won't be enough better to allow them to contend, or even necessarily to take them to .500. The reason is structural and dates back to the ALCS last fall.

Only ONE of the Angels' starters, Jered Weaver, is pitching reliably. The others are not. Conspicuous by his absence from the rotation is former ace, John Lackey.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Nobody seems to view beauty in the person of Bobby Abreu.

Abreu is less than mildly appreciated throughout baseball, not for what he does, but rather what he doesn't do.

Will he smack 40 home runs a season?

No.

Will he steal 40 bases a season?

Ditto.

However, it is the little things Bobby Abreu does that make him deserving of respect.

Lets play a little game I like to call, :"betcha' didn't know that!"

Scott Kazmir, it seems, has been around forever.

Moneyball introduced the world to Kazmir, and he since has been at the head of the class.

Chosen 15th overall by the New York Mets and then signing for $2.15 million allowed Billy Beane to select Nick Swisher.

Kazmir went on to lead the resurgent Tampa Bay Rays into their lone playoff appearance as the “veteran” ace of the staff.

It appears that being the ace in your early 20s comes with its problems.

Update

The Angels placed Kazmir on the 15-day DL yesterday. Kazmir pitched five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, so this appears to be just a precaution.

Kazmir will use the time he will miss to build stamina in his shoulder. He will make two minor league starts and if all goes well he will rejoin the Angels for their April 13th series against the New York Yankees.

Matt Palmer will take Kazmir’s spot in the rotation.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had what may seem like a less-than-stellar Spring Training.

They finished two games under .500, good for middle of the pack in both the American League and the Cactus League action.

Batters swung at collectively mediocre .274 clip with 27 combined home runs, at or below the halfway mark in the AL.

The brief preseason series between the Dodgers and the Angels, known as the "Freeway Series" featured a little bit of everything.

Good pitching and strategic "small ball" dominated the first game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday night.

Saturday, however, both teams exhibited their offense to the fullest at Dodger Stadium.

Fans were treated to games that lived up to the expectations, although Dodgers fans may be disappointed with dropping both contests to the boys in red.