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At SHLA, while we certainly think we provide some insight from time to time, it never hurts to cast a wider net for opinion. So we forwarded a bunch of questions to Matt Hurst, who covers the Angels for the Riverside Press-Enterprise, and he was nice enough to answer them.

Q: The Angels start the season as big time favorites in the AL West. They’re certainly my pick to win the division (likely a kiss of death, by the way). Is there any reason to think they don’t deserve frontrunner status?

I think, just based on their recent success, the Angels would have to be the favorites since they’ve won three of the past four titles. Looking at Texas and Oakland, they don’t appear – at this point in spring – to be serious contenders for the division, but as they always say, of course that’s why they play the games. Seattle surprised a lot of people last year with how long they were in the race, pretty much up until the Angels swept three games in Seattle in late August.

This is my fourth year covering the Angels and I think this is the most complete and balanced Angels team in my time on the beat, and that includes 2005 and 2007 West champs and a 2005 team that played in the ALCS.

Right now, because of Kelvim Escobar’s injury and the uncertainty surrounding whether Ervin Santana can rebound from his horrendous 2007 season, I like Seattle’s starting five better. But, when the Mariners lost Jose Guillen, they lost a big part of their offense from last year. The M’s look to me a lot like the 2005 Angels – a team that can pitch with most anybody but will have trouble scoring runs.

I think that since the Angels should have a good pitching staff, should have a balanced offense and should be considered the team to beat and have a reasonably good shot at winning the West again.

Q: The positional battles at shortstop (Maicer Izturis/Erick Aybar, right) and catcher (Mike Napoli/Jeff Mathis) have been getting a lot of ink this spring. Who do you think will win the jobs? What do you see as the advantages/disadvantages to each candidate?

A: I think the shortstop battle is a little more intriguing because either Izturis or Aybar – or both – will be trying to break out of a very long shadow cast by Orlando Cabrera. One of the reasons the Angels traded the Gold Glove shortstop was to give Aybar an opportunity to win the everyday job. Thus far in spring, each has been playing very well and would be considered about on equal ground. Mike Scioscia said earlier this spring that he’d be fine if each player played 80 games apiece, a sign the team is OK with a platoon situation. I think, ultimately, Aybar will become the starter because the team would like to see him play on a regular basis, but to open the season there is a very good chance that each will play the same amount.

The catching situation is a bit different for the simple reason that both will play a lot and that will likely be determined by who is pitching that day. Scioscia likes both Napoli and Mathis and at this moment in camp Mathis might have the edge because the team values defense over offense, but Napoli has built a good rapport with some of the young pitchers in the rotation (Saunders, Weaver). Let’s also not forget that Mathis was the one supposed to take over when Bengie Molina left and was just not ready for the majors. Now that he is, the team still sees the vast potential that made him the first choice as Molina’s replacement.

It will not be a normal starter, backup catcher routine that so many other teams have where one plays 120 games or more and the other is relegated to 40 or so games. I foresee Mathis getting 60% of the starts and Napoli 40% but if the offense hits a snag, Napoli has better power and on-base percentage so he could get into more games.

Q: Brandon Wood is someone who worries me as a top prospect. While he’s got a ton of skill, no doubt, he seems to have a lot of holes in his swing. Often guys who swing and miss a lot in the Minors tend to do it more once they get to the Majors. What’s your evaluation of Wood? Does anyone in the organization have similar worries, or am I just being paranoid?

A: The organization is still very high on Wood despite so many strikeouts (nearly one every 3.7 at-bats) throughout his minor league career and despite his power numbers dropping each of the past two years. Scioscia has said that once Wood makes it to the majors – he’ll likely be fighting for an everyday job next spring – that the team can absorb his strikeout numbers so long as the power numbers and walks are there. Yes, Wood is a guy who will strike out over 120 times, maybe 140 times, a season but he has the potential to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs making his offensive potential intriguing.

I spoke with Class AAA hitting coach Jim Eppard the other day for a story on this same subject, and he said that the biggest thing they’re working on with Wood is trying to get his front foot down in tune with his hands coming through the strike zone. Basically what that means is the idea is he won’t be out in front of off-speed pitches and will keep his bat in the hitting zone longer. The team seems OK with his long swing and isn’t trying to change that. But, they feel with some time and experience Wood’s power numbers and walks will outweigh his high strikeout totals.

Q: How important is it for the team to convince Vlad Guerrero to spend a little more time DHing this season?

A: I think it’s extremely important. Guerrero is an old 32 and his legs have a lot of wear and tear on them from playing so many years on the shoddy turf of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. One of the ideas behind signing Torii Hunter was to get Guerrero off his feet as much as possible and keep him fresher toward the end of the season. His career postseason numbers – 11 hits in 60 at-bats with one homer and seven RBI – are not very good for the team’s best player and often he’s banged up and tired in October. The team thinks more DH games – perhaps as many as 60 or more – is important.

Q: Along those lines, how do you see the OF situation shaking out? The DH gives Mike Scoscia an opportunity to give his Big Four lots of ABs. Defensively, I would assume Torii Hunter stays in center most days, with Gary Matthews Jr. spotting him occasionally. Will most of the movement be in the corners?

A: To answer your question succinctly – yes. Matthews will mostly be used, assuming everyone is healthy, to spell Guerrero and Anderson in the corners. Hunter will get the occasional day off or the occasional day at DH and that’s when Matthews will be in center. But, when Hunter’s healthy (like he was last year) he plays a lot. He played 160 games with the Twins last season.

Q: Do you think they’ll end up moving Reggie Willits and/or Juan Rivera?

A: I don’t foresee it for the reason that the team has mentioned repeatedly – they like the depth. In three of the Angels’ most recent playoff runs, injuries have decimated them and the organization likes having several players ready to rest a regular and that’s what Rivera and Willits provide. In Willits’ case he’s under team control, so that means his contract is not going to be large for three more years, providing some salary relief, which is a positive for the team. Rivera is a free agent at season’s end, but could be re-signed and made the regular left fielder next season if Anderson is not brought back.

I know the Angels like both of these guys and it doesn’t appear likely they’ll be dealt. However, if a team bowls them over with a deal, then they may have no choice.

Q: What do you see as the biggest danger for the Angels? Weaknesses or potential bumps on the horizon?

A: The biggest one would be falling behind Seattle early. Without (John) Lackey and (Kelvim) Escobar the rotation will not be nearly as strong as originally hoped so the Angels probably just want to tread water until their two studs come back. If Seattle gets off to a great start and the Angels stumble out of the gate, it may be difficult to play catch-up throughout the entire season.

Q: Do you have a guy in mind who could be a breakout player for the team this year, similar to the way Willits surprised so many people last year?

A: Maybe not this season, but in the future, I think it could be Kendry Morales. The guy can flat-out hit. I would really like to see this guy get 500 at-bats or so in the course of a season and see what he could do with them. He has had sporadic time in the big leagues and performed well, so he could be one to watch for.

Q: Speaking of Lackey, how does his injury impact the Angels, especially given Escobar’s early health issues? Is there a fear that either/both injuries could linger throughout the year?

A: It can affect them in numerous ways, and that’s not even including the thought of Seattle jumping out to a sizeable lead in April or May. Say Dustin Moseley starts the year in the bullpen – that leaves the team without a reliable or proven long reliever since Chris Bootcheck will begin the year on the DL. And, if Moseley is in the bullpen and Nick Adenhart makes his way to the rotation, then there is a 21-year-old pitching in the majors and it could seriously hamper and disrupt his development.

Sure, there is a chance both Moseley or Adenhart could pitch superbly in the rotation and it won’t present a problem, but the chance for disaster almost seems too great either way and it’s a perilous situation.

Q: How much has to go wrong for the Mariners to creep up close? Has it already happened?

A: In a way, I would almost say the M’s have become the semi-favorite just based on the pitching staffs. Seattle’s rotation and bullpen are both superior to the Angels’ right now and until Lackey AND Escobar return, it will remain that way. I think Seattle’s bullpen is better than the Angels, already although that is a close battle. The one difference, oddly enough, is that the Angels have the potential for a dynamic offense and their one through seven hitters are all capable of driving in more than 80 runs and hitting .300. Not many teams can boast that.

The Mariners kind of remind me of the 2005 Angels – a lot of good pitching but not a lot of offense. Until Lackey and Escobar return, Seattle has to be the slight favorite, so if their injuries linger, it could certainly pose a problem for the Angels.

Q: I just drafted Howie Kendrick yesterday in my fantasy league. Am I a genius?

A: Is it a keeper league? I think Kendrick is a solid second baseman and one who could one day win a batting title, but in my limited fantasy knowledge (I do love fantasy football, though) I would have to think there are better options than Kendrick at second base. But, hey, best of luck!

Brian Kamenetzky hosts the Lakers Blog and Blue Notes: A Dodgers Blog for the LA Times.com. He’s a contributing writer to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, and can be heard regularly on the Steve Mason Show, on 710 ESPN radio in LA. Write him at bk@sportshubla.com.

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