Angels Mess With Rotation Rest

The Angels have done their very best to make this writer look like a genius. Back when they were five games out and were losing a series to the Rangers, many said the season was over and the Angels were toast. In a post that became prophetic, this writer showed that a soft schedule compared to the Rangers could propel the Angels back into the race. And that's exactly what happened as the Rangers ran into a buzz-saw in Boston, the Angels climbed to within a game of the leader. After making this writer looks smart, they risk pulling the whole thing down with a (possibly) dumb decision.

In a decision that smacks a bit of desperation, the Angels have decided to pitch Ervin Santana and Jared Weaver on three days rest in their series in Texas this weekend. The move couldn't be more risky. First of all, as this writer has already pointed out, with the schedules of the two teams, this series isn't as important as they think. All they had to do was win one game in Texas to stay close and then beat all the weak teams they will be playing while the Rangers play teams like the Bay Rays, the Yankees and the White Sox. Santana would have still pitched in this series on Sunday instead of Saturday.

Instead, the Angels will risk less-than-normal performances from their two hottest pitchers with short rest and a wipe out of their 'tween game routine. It doesn't make sense. Again, the Angels are acting like this series means everything and it doesn't. Meanwhile, the Rangers are given the upper hand as they stay the course and keep their rotation intact as they play the Angels in their own ballpark.

Look, Jared Weaver and Ervin Santana are work horses who give you lots of pitches and lots of innings. But you would have to think there are only so many bullets in those guns. Why do this when this series isn't as critical as they think it is? Neither pitcher has ever pitched on three days rest. Weaver's amount of rest does not show much change whether he rests four days, five days or more, his stats stay pretty static. But Santana's career splits show him to be a better pitcher the more rest he gets. His ERA, batting average against and strikeout to walk ratios all get better from four days to five days to six days of rest. That's not encouraging to give him even less rest.

Perhaps the Angels will win these two games and come out smelling like roses. Perhaps this writer is all wet. The odds aren't with them though and this writer doesn't like the move at all. Again, it reeks of desperation and it's totally an unnecessary risk.

**UPDATE** The Angels won behind Santana, who wasn't sharp, but good enough to win. So there you go.