Julie Jacobson / AP file

The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero has struggled in the playoffs and that's played a part in the team's recent postseason disappointments, writes Bert Blyleven of NBCSports.com.

Too many Angels in the outfield?
The addition of Hunter, who signed a five-year deal worth $90 million (the richest contract in team history) in November after nine seasons in Minnesota, gives the Angels a seven-time Gold Glove winner in center field. The deal represents at least a bit of a gamble for L.A. since Hunter turns 33 in July. Short term Hunter should be fine, but on the back end of the deal there could be cause for concern.

The Angels have a bevy of talented outfielders including veterans Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson, and Gary Matthews Jr. Manager Mike Scioscia plans on rotating those players at DH and at the corner outfield spots to keep them well-rested for the end of the regular season and the postseason -- should the Angels get there.

A crowded outfield could be a plus or minus. Since none of the top four Angels’ fly chasers is younger than 32 a lighter playing schedule for each would seem a benefit. But will there be enough playing time between the outfield and DH to keep them all content and productive? Scioscia will be breaking new ground with this bunch with the way he goes about rotating their playing time. Guerrero reportedly is not thrilled with the idea of being asked to DH and Anderson reportedly appears intent on playing leftfield every day.

What might prove best for the Angels is if Scioscia were to just rotate Guerrero and Anderson. In recent seasons Guerrero has been slowed by different injuries in September and October. His .183 batting average in 16 playoff games with the Angels seems to suggest that more rest late in the season could hardly hurt. Anderson, at age 35, is entering the final year of his contract. Like Guerrero, he has been beset by injuries during the past few seasons. Anderson was reduced to a non-factor in the playoff loss to Boston last season due to an eye problem. And he recently wondered publicly about when his skills might decline.

Finding a match of middle infielders
There’s competition at shortstop to replace Cabrera, a task that will be far from easy. There’s the possibility that Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturus will share time at the position, but that would not be advantageous to the Angels. Middle infielders often must work together in a variety of different ways such as on double plays and covering second base. Given time, the second baseman and shortstop develop chemistry – but there’s no chemistry that comes about when there is no regular playing time between the same two players.

Howie Kendrick, the Angels second baseman (who struggled at times last season playing next to the accomplished Cabrera), seems to feel that both Aybar and Izturus could potentially do a solid job at shortstop. But Kendrick would be best served by playing regularly with one or the other. Aybar has a strong arm and the ability to make difficult plays. Izturus provides a little more pop offensively. It would help the Angels if by the end of spring training the result of their competition is cut and dried.

As the season rolls on, the Angels’ pitchers could be reminded on too frequent a basis of the steady work Cabrera did behind them. If that’s the case, then the deal for Garland could become open to second guessing. A possible middle-infield weakness aside, the Angels are the cream of the crop in the AL West, but they can’t have that cream once again turn sour too early in the postseason.

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