Notes: Hillenbrand a possibility

07/21/2006
KANSAS CITY -- The Angels have interest in Shea Hillenbrand, who was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Hillenbrand was let go after a dispute with manager John Gibbons in a clubhouse meeting. The Blue Jays said Hillenbrand was designated for assignment "because of irreconcilable differences."
"I have no idea what went on there and I don't want to comment on it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before the game on Thursday with the Royals.
Scioscia did acknowledge the Angels have interest in Hillenbrand, who was hitting .301 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs in 81 games with Toronto.
"I'm not going to say that his name has not been considered or is being considered," Scioscia said. "He's a guy who has always hit well, certainly the first half of the season. The second half maybe he hasn't been quite as strong. He's a veteran hitter that would bring out that presence."
The Angels are in search for offensive help. They entered Thursday 10th in the American League in hitting, .266 average, and slugging, .417, and 11th in on-base percentage, .326, and runs, 448.
Scioscia said adding Hillenbrand, who would likely play mostly at first base and some at DH, or some other bat is just part of the equation.
"You have to balance anytime you're going to make a change," Scioscia said. "Who are you taking [at-bats] away from? Are you going to be better? Are you moving ahead?"
He said "the whole picture," including defense, has to be considered.
"Right now we're focusing on defensive continuity, too. These are all things we've got to consider."
He noted adding Hillenbrand would take at-bats away from Kendry Morales, Robb Quinlan, Tim Salmon and possibly Dallas McPherson, who is on the disabled list with a bad back but is on a Minor League rehab assignment.
"One thing you don't want to do is erase the pieces that have provided an important role right now," Scioscia said.
General manager Bill Stoneman will be working the phones seeking help for the Angels before the July 31 trading deadline.
"If Bill sees a way to improve our club, he's going to pursue it," Scioscia said.
All systems go: Kelvim Escobar, who threw a bullpen session on Thursday, and rookie Jered Weaver are scheduled to start Saturday and Sunday for the final two games of the series at Kansas City.
Escobar went on the disabled list July 14 with right elbow irritation. Weaver was not placed on the disabled list, but skipped a start with tightness in his biceps.
The Angels took the cautionary route with Weaver.
"It is very likely something he could have pitched with, but I don't think we wanted to take that risk right now," Scioscia said. "He's going to throw more innings [this year] than he ever has in his life."
He said with the All-Star break and Weaver missing a start that they want him to "stay strong for what we hope is a pennant race."
Scioscia said putting Weaver on the disabled list would "be overkill," since that would have pushed his start back into the middle of next week.
Remembering Gubicza: Mark Gubicza, who finished his career with the Angels with two starts in 1997, will be inducted into the Royals' Hall of Fame on Friday.
Gubicza won 20 games for the Royals in 1988 and was a two-time All-Star selection. He ranks second on the Royals' all-time strikeout list with 1,366.
Angels pitching coach Buddy Black and Gubicza were teammates for several years, including the Royals' 1985 world championship season.
"He and Sabes [Bret Saberhagen] came up at the same time," Black said. "They both had that playfulness to them as young players, which was refreshing. Both of them really listened. Gubie had a great work ethic with good stuff. He had a good sinker, hard and low in the zone. He was very competitive. He wore his emotions on his sleeves when he pitched."
Roster move: After Thursday's game, the Angels called up right-hander Chris Bootcheck, who is 4-2 with a 6.61 ERA in 28 games, including five starts, with Triple-A Salt Lake. Bootcheck worked three scoreless innings in relief on Wednesday to pick up a win over Fresno. Bootcheck was up with the Angels earlier this season, appearing in one game and allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning.
To make room for Bootcheck on the roster, the Angels optioned outfielder Tommy Murphy to Salt Lake. Murphy hit .241 in 28 games with the Angels.
Minor points: Right-hander Nick Green (5-1, 4.53 ERA) pitched eight solid innings for Double-A Arkansas in a 6-3 victory over Tulsa. Green, a 2004 35th-round pick out of Darton College in Albany, Ga., allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked none. ... C Jeff Mathis was 4-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs as Triple-A Salt Lake defeated Fresno 7-6. Mathis drove in the winning run with a 10th inning double.

Source: http://angels.mlb.com/