GETTING ARMED AND READY FOR BATTLE ANGELS BULK UP ON STARTING PITCHING IN HOPES OF REACHING ULTIMATE GOAL.

Byline: Doug Padilla  Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - After what happened to the Angels in last year's American League Championship Series, a plan was hatched to make sure roles would be reversed the next time around.

So while the Chicago White Sox pounded the Angels with relentless starting pitching, the popular idea around Anaheim was to add another hitter, making sure there would be enough in the lineup to avoid the potential fate of an opponent's four complete games in a playoff series.

An attempt was made to add the White Sox's own hitting star in free- agent Paul Konerko, but he ultimately decided it would be best to receive his World Series ring back on familiar territory rather than by mail.

Instead, what the Angels made sure to do was to fortify their own starting staff. So while the White Sox dominated the playoffs with four solid starters, the Angels went one further. They will have five top-flight starters, each of which could be considered a staff ace on many teams.

Bartolo Colon, John Lackey, Jeff Weaver, Kelvim Escobar and Ervin Santana are expected to give the Angels a legitimate shot to win - at the very least - the AL West title. It is a staff that ranks right up there with the best in baseball, even when compared to the White Sox, who added Javier Vazquez to the four starters (Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Jose Contreras and Freddy Garcia) that turned the Angels' postseason into their offseason.

``You talk about that five-cylinder engine, you need all five of those guys going to give you a chance to win any night, and we're no different,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We're a club that probably needs the starting pitching and the defensive side of it more than some clubs because the (lack of) depth on our offensive side.''

Scioscia knows, though, that even five proven starters are not enough. The Angels used nine different pitchers to start games last season, and Scioscia considered that number low. A total of 18 major-league teams used at least nine starters, with the New York Yankees using 14.

``I don't know the rotation,'' Bartolo Colon said. ``There are six or seven guys that can be a part of the rotation. I think I will make the rotation, but both (Hector) Carrasco and Jered Weaver can easily be pitching in our rotation.''

Carrasco did start four games this spring, but he will be the long man in the bullpen and emergency starter. Jered Weaver is headed for Triple-A Salt Lake with a chance to join his brother in the rotation at some point this season.

``It's great because that's what wins, there's no doubt about it, pitching and defense - and we have both of those,'' said Jeff Weaver, who was named the No. 3 starter. ``If everybody stays healthy and goes out there every start and does what they are capable of, it's going to be a fun year.''

Weaver was a key addition at the start of spring, as was the return to health of 2005 Cy Young Award-winner Colon. Escobar also regained his strength after surgery to shave down a bone spur and remove a bone chip in his elbow last season.

Yet even the best pitching will need at least a little bit of offense to support it. Chone Figgins was given the third-base job so that he can have an every-day spot in the order and lead off. Vladimir Guerrero is having a typically strong spring, while Casey Kotchman is rounding into the type of hitter the Angels projected.

The biggest worry centers around Garret Anderson (Kennedy High of Granada Hills), who was shut down most of the spring with inflamed tissue along the bottom of his left foot. His presence is key to a lineup that was seventh in runs scored in the AL last season and 10th in home runs.

There is also the comeback attempt of Tim Salmon, which has emerged from a sentimental story into a serious bid to earn playing time in the heart of the order.

As it stands, Darin Erstad is set to hold down a spot in the order typically reserved for power-hitting run producers. Erstad appears destined to bat fifth as protection for the cleanup hitter (either Guerrero or Anderson), until Kotchman can prove he is up for such a lofty assignment. Salmon also could occupy the fifth spot.

While explaining themselves hasn't been a sore spot for those expected to supply the offense, it certainly has become a tired subject.

``We'll be fine ... just fine,'' Erstad said. ``We're very confident. We've been given what we've been given and we'll make it work. We're very confident as a group and it will be just fine.''

The White Sox didn't have any offensive stars on their way to a title as valuable as Guerrero or Anderson except, perhaps, Konerko.

``We're not looking past the spring-training game today. We have a lot of talent on our big-league club and we're confident we're going to be contending. That's our first order of business, and to go out there day to day and look to attack that schedule.''

It likely will best be done by attacking the strike zone first.

Doug Padilla, [phone], Ext. 2758

doug.padilla(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 6 boxes

Photo:

BARTOLO COLON Pitcher

Getty Images

Box:

(1) PROJECTED LINEUP

(2) PROJECTED ROTATION

(3) PROJECTED BENCH

(4) PROJECTED BULLPEN

(5) CLOSER

(6) ANGELS SCHEDULE