Tony DeMarco

During the Angels’ three-day stay in Seattle this week, All-Star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and crack setup man Scot Shields both left the club to return home for examinations by team orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum. That was on top of speedy leadoff man Chone Figgins, 2007 18-game winner Kelvim Escobar and talented young shortstop Erick Aybar being on the disabled list.

No problem. The Angels swept the series anyway, burying the Mariners — who some thought could challenge them — even deeper into American League West cellar. Ho-hum, just another series with manager Mike Scioscia’s team, which continues to succeed no matter what obstacles get in its way.

Entering Thursday's games, the Angels are 41-26 and have won nine of their past 11 games to take a five-game lead in the American League West.

And besides the already-mentioned, the Angels have gotten to where they are in the standings despite the extended absences of emerging hit machine Howie Kendrick (back after missing 42 games with a hamstring injury), ace John Lackey (who was out until May 14th due to a triceps injury), and a slow first two months from Guerrero.

It just doesn’t seem to matter who’s in the lineup; the Angels just play and win, abiding by manager Scioscia’s formula of dominant pitching, excellent defense and offensive production from everybody on the roster.

They win on the road — at 21-12, they have the game’s best away record, and nobody else in the AL is above .500. They win the close ones — in a recent streak of 13 consecutive games in which they scored four runs or less, they went 9-4. And they are winning enough to remove any doubt about their ability to go deep into October — doubt that lingered this spring with the injuries to their two top starting pitchers.

No problem — while Lackey and Escobar (who is throwing on flat ground) were out, underrated Joe Saunders and talented Ervin Santana stepped up to the top of the rotation. Saunders, a poised left-hander with a better-than-you-think fastball, is tied for second in the league with nine victories. Santana and his electric stuff is one win behind, the two a combined 17-5.

Lackey quickly has regained ace form, with a 1.83 ERA, and with Jered Weaver and Jon Garland making solid contributions, there is no need for Escobar to rush back.

Special feature Athletes and celebs hook up Slideshow: The stars linked to A-Rod and others in sports. NBCSports.com

Another spring issue was closer Frankie Rodriguez’s contract situation. The two sides couldn’t agree on a deal that would keep him out of free agency this winter, and he ‘lost’ an arbitration hearing that set his 2008 salary at $10 million. K-Rod’s reaction? How about 27 saves in 28 tries?

A modified delivery that has eased some of his herky-jerky mechanizations and leaves him in a better fielding position obviously has taken hold. And we’ll see what happens this winter, when K-Rod will be targeting something along the lines of the three-year, $45-million deal Mariano Rivera received.

But really, there never seems to be a major issue or problem on a Scioscia-led team. And when you look around at his peers, other than three future Hall of Famers named Cox, La Russa and Torre, and two-time champ Terry Francona, you can’t find a better track record. A second World Series title would elevate Scioscia up another notch, and his current team has a chance to give it to him.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Handicapping the Halladay chase Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay CTB: Should the Yankees get younger? DeMarco: Red Sox should take measured approach CTB: A prediction — Lackey will sign with Yankees CTB: Indians unlikely to deal Wood this offseason CTB: Mets could be interested in Royals’ Guilllen Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz SCORES, SCHEDULES, STANDINGS, STATS Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: