When the Angels finally decided to drop out of the bidding for Mark Teixeira they were semi-confident that Morales would step up and earn the everyday job at 1B for the 2009 season. He has done that and has been a force in the middle to lower half of the batting order. Morales has played in 39 games for the Angels so far this season and he is 40 for 146 (.274 avg, .852 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 8 homers and 26 RBIs. The Angels will need Morales to maintain his current pace to give the offense the needed jolt with Vladimir Guerrero still out of action.