September 2008 Archives

Manager Mike Scioscia just revealed his lineup for the ALDS opener Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Chone Figggins 3B
Garret Anderson LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Torii Hunter CF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Mike Napoli C
Gary Matthews Jr. RF
Erick Aybar SS

John Lackey P

With the Red Sox taking over the field for their workout, Jered Weaver is making good use of the concourse area above the field level seats by using it as a jogging track. It's the ideal place to jog, really, if you can avoid the temptations of stopping for a cold frosty one, fixing a hot dog with the works and chowing down a plate of orange chicken at Panda Express.

The concourse is shaded except for in center field near the rock formation and behind the left-field seats so it's an ideal running route. Can't think of too many places where an outdoor jog is 80 percent in the shade.

If they can use the Metrodome concourse in Minneapolis for roller blading in the winter, then this makes perfect sense.

The Red Sox are getting in their work at Tuesday's workout (mostly batting practice), while Angel Stadium gets its final touches for Game 1 of the ALDS on Wednesday. The top of the dugout suites, right behind home plate, was freshly painted and now reads "Welcome to the 2008 Division Series," with a pair of ALDS logos included.

There are also oversized ALDS logos that were painted onto the field in foul territory on the first- and third-base sides. There also is an Angels logo painted behind home plate. Red, white and blue bunting is hanging from the upper deck. Otherwise, the ballpark looks ready to go for Wednesday.

Manager Mike Scioscia and Game 1 starter John Lackey are due into the interview room in an hour or so.

The 2008 Angels are the first team since the 1931 Cardinals to win 100 games in a season without a 100-RBI player, a 30-HR hitter, or a 20-game winner. The Halos are the first AL team to do it since the 1915 Red Sox. Both the 1931 Cardinals and 1915 Red Sox went on to win the World Series.

With the best record in the AL now in the bag, manager Mike Scioscia confirmed after Friday's game that the Angels have selected the best-of-five ALDS series that begins Wednesday. The owner of the AL's best record had the option of chosing the series on Wednesday that comes with two off days, or the Thursday series that has just one off day.

The Angels could have made a nod to their deep pitching staff and chosen the Thursday series, which would require four starters, but they liked the option that the extra day off provided.

"It was related more in house with what we're looking to do," Scioscia said. "I think we'll be able to trim up our pitching staff to condense it a little bit by having it on Wednesday, especially in the starting rotation.

"We'll have an announcement to what our roster will look like but there are a lot of things to consider and Wednesday/Friday gives us a good look moving forward."

After Game 1 on Wednesday, the Angels and Red Sox will resume the series Friday at Angel Stadium. After a travel day next Saturday, Game 3 will be played next Sunday (Oct. 5) at Boston. If necessary, Game 4 will take place Monday, Oct. 6 at Boston. Game 5, if necessary, will take place Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Angel Stadium.

In another annuncement, Scioscia said that Jered Weaver will throw about three innings (45 pitches) in an Arizona Instructional League game Saturday morning. He should be back with the team before Saturday night's Angels game begins.

If October is approaching it must be time for another Angels Rally Monday. The latest will take place this Monday at Angel Stadium. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the event is set to go down at 6:30 p.m. Both admission and parking is free.

When the idea of a rally began it seemed like an original and fresh idea. Gather the fans to set the tone for the upcomng playoffs. The fact is that these rallies are a MLB production and will take place for each of the teams headed to the playoffs. So maybe it's not a grass roots thing, but it still does the trick for building excitement.

Here is the info on the event, straight from the Angels' press release, that was updated just moments ago:

Scheduled for the Event are:

Hosts Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc

Performances by the hit band "SmashMouth"

Appearances by current Angels Torii Hunter, Howie Kendrick, Mike Napoli,

Jeff Mathis and Reggie Willits

Former Angels including Tim Salmon and Bobby Grich

Unveiling of 2008 A.L. West Champion Banner

Highlights of the Angels 2008 Season

U.S. Navy Leapfrogs

Fireworks Show

WHAT: Rally Monday will take place at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday

September 29th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All fans will receive rally towels and bandanas as they enter the event.

The team store will also have Angels' playoff merchandise on sale.

WHEN: Monday, September 29, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Parking and admission free to all fans.

This little gem just came from the Elias Sports Bureau:

Mark Teixeira went 4-for-5 in the Angels' win at Seattle on
Wednesday night, giving him 66 hits in his 50 games with the team. Only
three players had more hits in their first 50 games played for the
Angels: Johnny Ray (79), Alex Johnson (71) and Vladimir Guerrero (70).

There is nothing like a defeat to damper spirits, but the Angels don't seem to get bothered by losses. In fact, they are the best in baseball at coming back the day after a defeat and STATS LLC has the info to prove it:

"It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Los Angeles Angels have the majors' highest winning percentage in games after a loss. The Angels are 38-20 after losing, good for a .661 win percentage. The surprise team in rebounding after a defeat is the Florida Marlins, who rank second in win percentage with a 44-28 record (.611). No team has won more games following a loss."

Vladimir Guerrero had to leave Friday's game with right knee irritation. The Angels' slugging right fielder was listed as day-to-day.

Those swim goggles that Torii Hunter wore during the division-clinching champagne celebration Wednesday were back before Friday's game. Hunter wore them as he came out to catch the ceremonial first pitch from US Olympic swimmer Jason Lezak.

It was Lezak, remember, who had an improbable last leg during the 400 meter freestyle relay, making up nearly a body length to give the US team victory and extend Michael Phelps' gold-medal run. Phelps swam the opening leg. Lezak's comeback was shown on the video board before he took the field to a standing ovation.

As for Hunter, how much mileage can one guy get off a pair of goggles?

Torii Hunter will not return from his suspension tonight, as expected, because his tight left quadriceps still has not completely healed. Hunter first started feeling the tightness in Tuesday's game, one day after an on-field shoving incident with Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez (the injury and the shove are not related). He ended up missing games Wednesday and Thursday to serve a suspension, but it appears he would have missed those games anyway to take care of the quad.

To quote Hunter, he said he "definitely might" be back Saturday. Not sure what that means exactly, but when it was repeated back to him all Hunter said was "you're crazy." We'll take it as a compliment.

We'll take the time to interpret the comment here and say that Hunter definitely expects to be back Saturday but he reserves the right to miss the game if he needs to. But that's our words, and not his.

Just another note from the always informed Elias:

* Garret Anderson went 2-for-4 on Thursday, in his 2000th
regular-season game for the Angels. Anderson is the eighth player to
appear in at least 2000 games for one of MLB's 14 expansion franchises.
The others (all retired) were Robin Yount (2856 games, Brewers), Craig
Biggio (2850, Astros), George Brett (2707, Royals), Tony Gwynn (2440,
Padres), Frank White (2324, Royals), Jeff Bagwell (2150, Astros) and
Edgar Martinez (2055, Mariners).

By Doug Padilla
Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Francisco Rodriguez did more than match the number on his back Friday, he equaled the single-season save record when he recorded No. 57.

In a game that didn't look like it would require his services, a late Seattle Mariners rally necessitated another call to the bullpen and Rodriguez delivered once again.

When Kendry Morales fielded Raul Ibanez' broken-bat grounder and stepped on first base for the final out of the Angels' 7-4 victory, Rodriguez broke off his sprint toward the bag, stopped between first and second base and did his patented point to the heavens.

"I have to give the credit to my teammates, all the guys who play behind me and the bullpen," Rodriguez said. "It would be real, real selfish if I said that I did this all by myself. I have to give the credit to them because without them I wouldn't do the big thing that I did today."

Both Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick tested their bum left hamstrings Thursday and both showed signs of improvement. Aybar is further along, though, and is likely to return by next week's road trip to Oakland and Texas. The trip then heads to Seattle. Kendrick might be back by the Seattle portion of the trip. Scioscia said the players might prep for their returns by playing in simulated games.

In other injury news, Torii Hunter's sore left quad should be healed enough to allow him to return Friday when his two-game suspension ends. He was suspended for pushing Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

Chone Figgins, who has a sore elbow when he was hit by a pitch this week, should be ready in a couple of days.

No, Torii Hunter was not suspended for his shove of the Yankees' Ivan Rodriguez on Monday. Well, he wasn't suspended just yet.

Instead, Hunter left Tuesday's game after five innings with tightness in his left quad. His status was listed as day-to-day, but he joins a a worrisome list of Angels players who are nursing injuries. Chone Figgins is dealing with a sore elbow, while Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar are out with bad left hamstrings. Kendrick is on the disabled list.

"It tightened up on (Hunter) and we don't want to turn what could be a day or two thing into a week or two thing so we're going to just let him rest for a day or two and he should be OK to get back out there," manager Mike Scioscia said after Tuesday's game.

Dustin Moseley will get the start Wednesday against the Yankees in the finale of the three-game series. The opening for Moseley came when Jered Weaver was scratched for the second time in a week. Weaver suffered cuts on two fingers after reaching under the dugout bench last weekend at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. He was scratched from a start over the weekend and then scratched again from a start Tuesday.

Ervin Santana was moved up a day to start Tuesday and Moseley will now fill the Wednesday spot. Moseley got the call the last time Weaver couldn't start and he didn't fare well. He gave up four runs on six hits in just 1 1/3 innings against the White Sox on Friday. Moseley is 1-4 this season.

Torii Hunter was replaced by Gary Matthews Jr. to start the sixth inning, one day after he was ejected for his shove in the back of Ivan Rodriguez. Officially Hunter was listed with tightness in his left quadriceps and is listed as day to day.

It can't be easy playing in New York, especially when your season is deemed a disappointment. The New York Daily News had no sympathy for the Yankees after Monday's game. Sure they were roasted by the Angels 12-1, hardly something to defend. But you figured they might stick up for Ivan Rodriguez, who was pushed in the back by Torii Hunter. Forget it. This back page of the Daily News says it all.

Not saying the Angels no longer need Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, but rookie replacements Sean Rodriguez and Brandon Wood had three home runs combined Monday to accomplish a unique feat.

The Angels had two rookies as their starting double-play
combination on Monday and each went deep: Brandon Wood hit two home runs
and Sean Rodriguez hit one. It's the first time in Angels history that
rookies started at second base and shortstop and each hit home runs.
The last major league rookie middle infielders to do that were Dan Uggla
and Hanley Ramirez for the 2006 Marlins.

The Angels' Torii Hunter and the Yankees' Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez met before Monday's game was even finished and apologized to each other for letting their tempers get the best of them.

Said Hunter: "Pudge, we've known each other for a long time and he's my buddy. We meet each other for dinner or whatever. We just got frustrated. It's just like a pickup game in basketball. Your friend fouls you and you guys get into an argument but you're still friends."

Said Rodriguez: "We apologized to each other and that's being professional from myself and he's a very professional player. I've been in baseball 18 years and I have never fought. I am not a fighter. I compete and compete hard, and sometimes when you compete hard those things happen. I'm sure Torii Hunter is the same kind of player."

All that sounds great, but as early as today it's likely that both players will end up suspended for at least a couple of games. Hunter could appeal his suspension to delay it and when the Angels clinch the division (possibly as early as today) he could rescind the appeal and serve the suspension.

The Angels' Torii Hunter and the Yankees' Ivan Rodriguez just exchanged unpleasantries at home plate in the sixth inning, causing both benches to empty. Hunter, who had just stolen two bases, was thrown out at home plate after a ground ball by Mike Napoli. Hunter didn't crash into Rodriguez, the Yankees catcher, but instead he gave him a firm nudge with his shoulder. After Rodriguez made the tag and the play was dead, he reached back and pushed Hunter with his glove hand.

An irate Hunter then walked up behind Rodriguez and shoved him hard enough to nearly make his catcher's mask pop off his head. Both benches emptied quickly and it did not appear that anybody was able to throw a punch. Hunter and Rodriguez were both ejected.

On on-field scrap might be just what the Angels need. They entered Monday's game with a lackluster 18-16 record since the end of July. They ended up scoring six runs in the inning to take an 8-1 lead.

The Angels just announced (probably a minute ago) that Jered Weaver will not make his already delayed start on Tuesday. Weaver was supposed to pitch over the weekend at Chicago but he suffered cuts on his finger when he reached under the dugout bench at U.S. Cellular Field. Apparently some staples holding down the bench cushion cut his fingers. The cuts don't seem to be healing as fast as expected.

Ervin Santana will start today in place of Weaver. Santana will be pitching on his normal four days of rest. The Angels have not named a starter for Wednesday. It's possible it could be Weaver, but at this point the safe bet would be a guy like Shane Loux starting.

Just imagine if a victory Wednesday means the Angels clinch the division. It might be a good test for Loux to start a clincher and against the Yankees. The Angels might learn a lot about their right-hander on a day like that.

Manager Mike Scioscia addressed a light workout done by both Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, who are on the shelf with hamstring injuries. The workout was done early Monday well in advance of the night game against the Yankees.

"Howie and Erick are making progress," Scioscia said. "They went through agilities and were fine. They stepped it up to some good striders and gave a little bit of effort to try to test it and see where they were, and they came out of it great. It's just the baby steps right now they're taking but it's the first indication they are moving in the right direction."

By "striders" it's assumed that Scioscia was talking about a light run (you know, taking bigger strides), but nobody bothered to call Scioscia on it. Here's more on the subject:

"There's a progression you have to go through and it will take a while," Scioscia said. "They will gradually build up their intensity and reps until (head trainer) Ned (Bergert) and the medical staff feel they aren't at risk to get out there and run the bases. We'll get a better read on them then but they're not to that stage right now."

As for when they might return, all Scioscia said was they they won't be coming back by the end of this homestand, which ends Sunday.

The Angels announced this morning they have purchased the contract of pitcher Kevin Jepsen, who had a standout performance for Team USA at the Olympics. It will be Jepsen's first time on a major-league roster. Jepsen was 1-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 15 relief appearances with Triple-A Salt Lake.

Dustin Moseley's short start Friday, combined with Saturday's 15-inning game, has put a strain on the bullpen requiring the call for help.

This little tidbit came out of Thursday's Angels game against the Detroit Tigers and managed to link Nolan Ryan with Ervin Santana:

Ervin Santana struck out eight batters in the Angels' victory
over the Tigers on Thursday afternoon. It was Santana's seventh
consecutive start with at least seven strikeouts, the longest
single-season streak of its kind by an Angels pitcher since 1978, when
Nolan Ryan did that in seven straight starts.

The info was courtesy Elias Sports Bureau, Inc.

Mark Teixeira is just one home run from 200 in his career and has managed to reach the cusp of that milestone in just six seasons. The power production so early in his career is better than anybody currently playing except the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. Here is the list of the top active home run hitters in their first six seasons.

Albert Pujols 250 (2001-06)
Mark Teixeira 199 (2003-08)
Adam Dunn 198 (2001-06)
Todd Helton 186 (1997-2002)
Frank Thomas 182 (1990-05)

With his 54th save Tuesday, Francisco Rodriguez is three away from tying Bobby Thigpen's single-season record. While we wait for history, here are some Rodriguez tidbits:

Frankie now has the most saves in a single season by a Latino pitcher, surpassing the 53 saves recorded by Panamanian-born Mariano Rivera in 2004.

When Frankie next enters the game in a save situation, he will become just the second pitcher to get at least 60 save opportunities in a single season. Thigpen had 65 save opportunities in his record-setting 1990 campaign.