Earlier this week, Dustin Moseley, hit the DL with a strained forearm. Long reliever Darren Oliver, the sixth man to start, went from the bullpen to the rotation to the 15-day disabled list. The lefty has a strained triceps.

All of this is straining credulity, not to mention the Angels' arsenal of available arms.

quot;I'm just looking forward to getting (John) Lackey back, and (Ervin) Santana back, and (Kelvim) Escobar, and Darren Oliver,quot; said pitching coach Mike Butcher, who then laughed to keep from crying. quot;I mean, I could keep going on. It's just unbelievable.

quot;But I will say this - we'll find out what we're all about. I think this is going to make us stronger in the long run.quot;

In the short run, the Angels have compensated well.

quot;Great effort by Matt,quot; said Scioscia of his newest starter, after the 10-5 win. quot;He gave us a big lift.quot;

Before spring training began, starting pitching was considered an Angels strength. Then the storm came. Funny thing, starting pitching still is a strength.

Including Palmer's innings Thursday, the patched-together starters have an earned run average of 3.50 that puts them third in the American League.

The Angels' 30-year-old right-hander fit right in, leaving the game with a 6-2 lead. His mistake was leaving the bases loaded for the Angels volatile relief staff, which allowed all three runners to score - but settled down and shut the door.

So far, the Angels' losing record is more about bullpen blowups and sub-par offense. Still, the idea of relying on the back end of their rotation, a steady stream of flights from Salt Lake, and spot starters out of the bullpen, doesn't seem like a sound way to maintain those stellar starting numbers - or to count on winning the AL West, which isn't as soft as the 2008 version.

The best thing that can happen to the Angels right now is that starter No. 9 and starter No. 10 turn out to be Lackey and Santana, sometime in the next month or so, which would mean their respective rehabilitations are on track. The Angels are about due for a favorable bit of luck.

In the meantime, they'll keep hanging on, and hoping the manager's list of probable starters won't have too many more guys named quot;Somebody-In-Mind.quot;