Scott Kazmir

The rotation isn't nearly as good as they thought it would be, the bullpen has only two relievers they can rely on, and there are gaping holes in a lineup Mike Scioscia thought would be among the strongest and deepest he's had in his 11 years as manager. The Angels have won five of the last six American League West titles, but they do not look like contenders so far this season. The Tampa Bay Rays exposed just about every weakness the Angels have in a 7-2 victory in Angel Stadium on Tuesday night, dropping the Angels to 15-20.

Reporting from Kansas City, Mo. -- It was a half-hour before Wednesday night's game in Kauffman Stadium when Torii Hunter heard the news that Ken Griffey Jr. had retired, and the Angels center fielder immediately thought back to 1999, his first full season in the big leagues. "I struck out against Jamie Moyer in the Kingdome, and when I ran out to center field, he stayed there and waited for me," Hunter, who was playing for the Minnesota Twins at the time, said of Griffey, the Seattle center fielder.

With the Angels holding a two-run lead Saturday night, the Dodgers' Andre Ethier came to bat in the fifth inning with a chance to drive in a run to get the Dodgers closer. He lined the pitch directly at Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu, the ball hit so hard that a dejected Ethier stopped before reaching first base, having already been called out. The league's leading hitter then got another chance in the seventh inning when the Dodgers loaded the bases against reliever Kevin Jepsen.

Torii Hunter knew of Scott Kazmir's All-Star credentials and was aware of the left-hander's impressive track record against the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, both potential playoff opponents in the fall. But the center fielder used a different standard to assess the trade Friday that brought Kazmir, 25, from Tampa Bay to the Angels for three prospects. "I don't like facing him," said Hunter, who has a .267 average (four for 15) with no home runs and no runs batted in against Kazmir.

The Angels appear poised to mix right-handed and left-handed starting pitchers in the first two games of the American League Championship Series that opens Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Although Angels Manager Mike Scioscia went with right-handers John Lackey and Jered Weaver in the first two games of the division series against Boston, Scioscia said Tuesday that "in every scenario we've discussed, we'll have a left-hander in Yankee Stadium in Game 1 or 2." That means left-handers Scott Kazmir or Joe Saunders will pitch in New York.

Heads up Brandon McCarthy was eager to inspect the pitcher helmets making the rounds this spring. Then he tried one on. "It felt like a cat was sleeping on my head," he said. McCarthy had emergency brain surgery after he was hit on the head by a line drive last year. J.A. Happ of the Toronto Blue Jays was hospitalized overnight and diagnosed with a skull fracture after he was hit on the head Tuesday. McCarthy, with the Oakland Athletics last year and Arizona Diamondbacks this year, said the helmet prototypes this spring were neither comfortable nor sufficiently protective.

I'll never understand the comments of some of the bush league fans and sportswriters in this great city of ours. One day I pick up the sports page and there are Manny-bashing comments. Then the Angels get Scott Kazmir and there is Lackey-bashing. Our spoiled fans and sportswriters are sounding more like those in New York and Chicago. Do we want that? I don't think so. Irv Weisberg Encino

Cincinnati 6, Angels 0 AT THE PLATE: Five Reds pitchers, including starter Mike Lincoln and reliever Arthur Rhodes , limited the Angels to three hits, singles by Brandon Wood , Mike Napoli and Mark Trumbo . ON THE MOUND: Top prospect Trevor Reckling was shaky. The left-hander allowed one run and two hits, walked three, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches in two innings. Sean O'Sullivan , who was roughed up for five runs and four hits, including two homers, in his first spring start, fared much better Wednesday, throwing three scoreless, one-hit innings.

The American League appears to have caught up with rookie catcher Hank Conger and second-year center fielder Peter Bourjos . After hitting a collective .291 and scoring 16 runs in April, they're hitting a combined .184 in May. "You keep talking about adjustments and what pitchers are doing. And sometimes young players have a tendency to do one of two things," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "Sometimes they don't react to adjustments. And sometimes they overreact … because they've gone 0 for 4. " Scioscia knows that because he experienced the same thing as a young player.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have turned the standings upside down. Scott Kazmir won his fourth straight start, striking out 10 in seven innings to lead the AL East-leading Rays over the Texas Rangers, 7-3, Monday night. Eric Hinske hit a three-run homer for the Rays, who have won 16 of their last 17 home games and at 31-20 have the best record in the major leagues.