Molina, Quinlan lead the offense

03/13/2006
Angels at the plate: Jose Molina drove in three runs with a pair of doubles, and Robb Quinlan singled in two runs in the Angels' deciding four-run fourth inning. Vladimir Guerrero doubled and singled and Orlando Cabrera singled twice. Howie Kendrick singled in a run in the seventh.
Mariners at the plate: On a quiet day for the Mariners' offense, Jose Lopez singled in the team's first run in the second inning. Oswaldo Navarro had an RBI fielder's choice in the eighth. Kenji Johjima continued to swing a hot bat, notching singles in his first two at-bats. Richie Sexson came back from a day off because of a tight right quadriceps and singled in his first at-bat.
Angels on the mound: Ervin Santana was sharp, pitching four innings and giving up one run on four hits while striking out five and not walking a batter. Dustin Moseley was equally impressive, tossing three shutout frames of relief, surrendering one hit while striking out two.
Mariners on the mound: Gil Meche looked good in his return to the mound after missing the last two weeks because of an oblique strain on his left side. Meche pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters while only allowing one hit, a Guerrero double. Lefty Travis Blackley struggled, giving up four runs in the fourth inning.
Cactus League records: Angels 7-5; Mariners 4-7.
Up next: The Angels travel to Surprise, Ariz., on Tuesday to take on the Kansas City Royals, with right-hander Hector Carrasco getting the start against Royals righty Runelvys Hernandez. The Mariners will head out to HoHoKam Park in Mesa to take on the Cubs. Jesse Foppert will start and is scheduled to be followed by Bobby Livingston, George Sherrill, Luis Gonzalez and Francisco Cruceta.

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

Notes: Santana sliding through spring

03/13/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- A productive offseason for Ervin Santana was apparent Monday afternoon.
With his slider and breaking ball working against the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex, Santana held the M's to one run on four hits through four innings in his third start of the spring, getting the win in the 6-3 game and improving to 2-0.
His slider is an improvement from last season, where he said it worked only "sometimes."
"But now every time when I go to pitch, I feel the difference," Santana said.
That difference didn't come from the help of Angels pitching coach Bud Black, either.
It came from hours of work this winter that provided a new-found control with his pitches.
On Monday, with everything working, he wanted to go more than four innings, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia wouldn't let him. However, the skipper was impressed with the location of Santana's fastball and breaking ball.
"Ervin had great stuff and had it in the zone," Scioscia said.
Goal oriented: Like many ballplayers, Santana set goals for the 2006 season, but he's staying mum on what they are.
Cy Young Award? "No."
Two-hundred strikeouts? "No."
Three-hundred? "No."
Thirty-five starts?
"I'm not going to tell you," he said.
Standing his ground, Santana said he'll share some insight on his progress during the All-Star break, but nothing until then.
Day to day: Garret Anderson's sore left heel has been progressing slowly, Scioscia said after Monday's game.
What was originally thought would keep Anderson out of the line up for a couple of days has lasted a week and could be longer. But Scioscia isn't concerned. If the injury takes a couple more days to heal, then so be it, he said.
Anderson has been taking batting practice and throwing, but there's no timetable for his return to the lineup.
"Even if he does miss a little time here, there's plenty of games left for him," Scioscia said. "He doesn't need that many at-bats."
Scoiscia couldn't pinpoint the exact time of Anderson's injury, but it began to flare up around last Tuesday. After improving for most of last week, it got stagnant late in the week, but improved again this past weekend.
The missed time won't impact Anderson's status for Opening Day on April 3 against Seattle. If this was the regular season, Scioscia said Anderson would be playing.
"Its moving in the right direction," he said. "However long it takes, it takes."
Trying his hardest: With his Angels' future not yet set in stone, Kendry Morales has been making strides to show Scioscia he's ready to be a big-league first baseman.
Offensively, Morales looks like he's already there.
On Monday, he upped his batting average to .423 with a 1-for-2 day with a walk.
Scioscia has been impressed with Morales' work ethic during camp. The 22-year-old has been putting in extra time with first-base coach Alfredo Griffin learning the nuances of the position. Already, Scioscia has seen the difference. Scioscia noticed that Morales is "getting more and more comfortable there, every time he's out there."
"I think that there's probably a role in our club that he might work his way into before his defense is where you are looking for it to be," Scioscia said. "Right now, we're excited about his upside and developing him to the max of his upside. If we have to adjust down from that, we will. He's making a lot of strides at first base."
Ouch: In the third inning Monday, Santana caught a line drive off the bat of the Mariners' Jeremy Reed, resulting in a bruised palm and wrist.
After he game Santana had ice on it, but didn't seem concerned. Scioscia said Santana was fine coming out of the game.
Reassigned: The Angels reassigned six pitchers to Minor League camp on Sunday. Tim Bittner, Dan Davidson, Matt Hensley, Tommy Mendoza, Alex Serrano were non-roster invitees and Steven Shell was on the 40-man roster.
Ripping it: Jose Molina hit two doubles and finished with three RBIs in a 2-for-3 day. ... After running for Orlando Cabrera in the fifth inning, Erick Aybar went 2-for-2 with a double and scored a run. ... Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-3 with a double and a single, raising his average to .417 on the spring. ... Howie Kendrick continued to make a name for himself, coming off the bench in the seventh inning to go 1-for-2 with one RBI ... Robb Quinlan knocked in two runs with a double, going 2-for-4. ... Tim Salmon went 0-for-3 Monday. That's 0-for-7 for the last two games.
Up next: As the Angels go for their third win in a row, Hector Carrasco (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will take the mound against Kansas City's Runelvys Hernandez on Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. PT in Surprise, Ariz.

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

Mailbag: Colon's health carries weight

03/13/2006
Coming into Spring Training I remember reading about how Bartolo Colon was supposed to be in such great shape. It appears to me, however, that he hasn't really lost any weight at all. What's up? -- Riley A., Calgary
Colon is in better shape physically following a more regimented offseason training program, but he admitted he has not lost any weight. A bigger issue for both Colon and the Angels is the condition of his right shoulder and lower back. Neither has caused the right-hander any pain this spring or slowed him down.
Colon is further ahead than he has been in past springs and is showing it by pitching well in the World Baseball Classic. He must continue back exercises throughout the season to avoid the back spasms that plagued him at different points of last season. While his weight will always be a concern, the bigger issue is his overall conditioning, which is better this spring than it has been since he joined the Angels.
If Howie Kendrick is as "can't-miss" as has been advertised and he continues to hit in the spring, why don't the Angels play him at DH to start the year? I know that is a traditional power spot, but Kendrick would seem to fit right in with the Angels style of bunching hits and speed on the base paths as they manufacture runs. -- Michael H., East Brunswick, N.J.
The idea has been floated that Kendrick could help the Angels lineup as the designated hitter, but it is seen as more of a stopgap measure if the offense needs a jolt. If he is head and shoulders above the competition at Triple-A, then the Angels will certainly open up a spot for him, but there is a reluctance to bring him up solely to be the DH.
Kendrick has made great strides at second base and projects onto the Angels depth chart probably sooner than later given that Adam Kennedy will be in his walk year in 2006. But the Angels do not want to arrest Kendrick's development as a player by reducing him to purely an offensive role. His quickest route to the Majors at the moment will be as a second baseman and the organization will keep him there until other needs dictate a switch.
If Jeff Weaver signs with another club next year, will the Angels receive a high draft pick for compensation? Bonus Question: I hear over and over again that a player has a lifetime batting average of X, even when he has years left in him at the Major League level. So, how does one achieve a "lifetime" batting average with many more ABs remaining in his career?-- Ben N., La Palma, Calif.
The Angels will receive a compensation pick for Weaver if he does not re-sign with them and they offer him salary arbitration. His statistics will determine whether he is a Class A, B or C free agent. If Weaver is an A, for example, the Angels will get a first-round pick if he signs with a team that finishes with one of the 15 best records in 2006. If the signing team is in the bottom 15, the Angels would get a second-round pick. Teams that lose an A player also get a sandwich pick between Rounds One and Two.
The "lifetime" batting average is a bit of misnomer as if the numbers would be averaged over the person's whole life. It is more accurate to refer to it as a "career" batting average.
I know that Chone Figgins is penciled in as the starting third baseman, but he has been making lots of errors. Do you think Dallas McPherson has a chance to start at third?-- Israel O., La Habra, Calif.
McPherson definitely has a shot at the third baseman's job this season and has played well in the field so far this spring. The key for McPherson will be offense and health. He's showing signs of getting his timing back at the plate and his hip has not been slowing him down. If he improves his walk totals and regains his stroke to the point that he will add something to the lineup he will at least break with the club if not return to third.
I know Edgardo Alfonzo is playing for Venezuela in the WBC. If he plays well and shows that he has the ability to play every day what are the chances of him playing third base with the Angels? -- Roberto S., Zulia, Venezuela
Alfonzo will see time at both third base and second this season, but not as a starter. The Angels will use the veteran as a key reserve in the infield and also as a right-handed bat off the bench. Injuries, of course, would dictate changes and that could push Alfonzo into the lineup on a more regular basis. At this point, though, Alfonzo would slot behind both Figgins and McPherson at third base.

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

Angels quick hits

03/12/2006
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels have one goal in mind for the 2006 season, and that is a deep run into the postseason.
No American League West team has won three straight division crowns since the Oakland A's achieved the feat in 1990. The Angels have their sights set on taking the division for the third straight year and earning another World Series appearance.
Team strength: The Angels' drive for the postseason will be predicated on pitching once again. A solid rotation will be backed by a deep bullpen that will feature Francisco Rodriguez as closer with four available setup men.
Achilles heel: Power could be in short supply in a lineup that had only one hitter with more than 20 homers last season. A premium will be placed on aggressive baserunning and manufacturing runs.
Top newcomer: Jeff Weaver may not have been the most glamorous free-agent signing of the offseason, but the right-hander brings a veteran arm to the No. 5 slot. He also allows the Angels' younger pitchers to continue developing in the Minors.
Ready to make the leap: Casey Kotchman is moving into the starter's job at first, with Darin Erstad heading to the outfield. A natural hitter, Kotchman is in position to have an impact on the offense.
On the hot seat: Jose Molina and Jeff Mathis will combine to take over behind the plate for Bengie Molina, who departed to Toronto through free agency. Bengie Molina hit .295 with 15 homers last season.
You can bank on: Vladimir Guerrero has driven in at least 100 runs and slugged at least 30 homers in seven of the last eight seasons while hitting .300 or better in each of those years. There are no signs that he won't continue the pattern.
Litmus test: Barring significant injuries, the pitching staff will keep the Angels in the hunt all season. The question mark remains the offense, but if they improve their run production from a year ago, they will have an inside track to the postseason.
Games you don't want to miss: The A's will visit Anaheim for the first time on May 1-2 for a quick two-game set. If recent seasons are an indicator, the Angels may [x, then] be able to pick up games on the notoriously slow-starting Athletics.
To conclude Interleague Play, the Dodgers will visit Angel Stadium, June 30-July 2, to settle the battle of LA. In what should be a competitive AL West this season, the end of the regular season could decide the crown with Texas in town for three games, Sept. 25-27, and the A's closing the year with a four-game series, Sept. 28-Oct 1.

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

Kotchman not feeling pressured

03/13/2006
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Casey Kotchman doesn't have to play Lou Gehrig to Darin Erstad's Wally Pipp this season, but underlying expectations are there nonetheless.
It would also prove difficult to equal the historical significance of Gehrig's ascent all those years ago; after all, Erstad has been the Angels' regular first baseman for a grand total of three seasons, the last two years and also in 1997, his second as a pro. And yet, Kotchman is replacing a player who won a Gold Glove at first base and established an excellence, if not an attitude, at the position.
The hopeful eyes of an organization are on Kotchman this spring, an organization that needs him to flash the offensive skills that will earn him a spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster and push the veteran Erstad into center field.
"I don't feel any extra pressure," Kotchman said.
That claim reflects Kotchman's laconic demeanor, but it also illutrates the buffer that will exist between Kotchman and the expectations that are often placed on a fresh bat in the lineup.
In short, the Angels wil allow Kotchman to feel his way through his first full big-league season.
"We don't need Casey to do anything beyond what he is capable of doing," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We have plenty of guys that will be expected to carry the load."
Shouldering the offensive burden for the Angels in 2006 will be the usual suspects, with a slight tweak here and there.
Vladimir Guerrero returns to anchor the lineup with Garret Anderson also in the middle of the order. Chone Figgins will lead off with Orlando Cabrera batting second, Erstad sixth or seventh and Adam Kennedy in the nine hole.
Kotchman joins a familiar group that includes Dallas McPherson and Juan Rivera as candidates to inject some life into an offense that grew stale during stretches last season. But, while the Angels would like to see some power numbers out of McPherson and Rivera, they want Kotchman to just swing the bat.
That has never been a problem for Kotchman, the Angels' 13th overall pick in 2001 -- a year he hit .456 at Seminole High School in Florida and earned top high school player honors from Baseball America. He proceeded to go 5-for-5 in his first pro game and finished that season 20-for-37 in 11 games in rookie ball.
Kotchman suffered a wrist injury that year, a back injury in 2002 and then a hamstring tear in 2003 before finally appearing with the Angels for the first time in the 2004 season. He went on to set a new franchise mark for opening a big-league career with a streak of 48 consecutive plate appearances without striking out.
Despite having the hottest bat in camp last spring, Kotchman opened the season at Triple-A Salt Lake instead of with the Angels. His first stint with the big club then went poorly when he went hitless in 10 at-bats, which followed an uncharacteristically poor yet understandable slump in the Minors.
There were no struggles, though, when he returned to the Angels in August of last season. In 40 games, Kotchman hit .302 with seven homers and 22 RBIs. He started 22 games, some at DH, and did not commit an error in 20 appearances at first base.
The batting average was not a surprise, but the sudden power surge opened some eyes and quickened the pulse of those running the bench as well as the front office.
"He came on very strong for us in the second half of last season," general manager Bill Stoneman said. "We weren't expecting the power numbers, but we'll take it."
Kotchman hit as many as eight homers in 57 games at Rancho Cucamonga in 2003, but this spring he eased past the question about his burgeoning home run stroke as deftly as slicing a base hit to the opposite field.
"I didn't change anything," Kotchman said. "I guess I got a little more lift in my swing."
Guerrero and Anderson will be expected to provide the heavy lifting in the Angels' lineup, while the players who make up the rest of the order will simply be asked to play to their respective strengths.
For Kotchman, that translates into hitting the ball where it is pitched and not trying to overpower it. Anything more would be asking too much.
"It would be unfair to say Casey has to hit 25 [homers] and drive in 85 runs," Anderson said. "That's unfair because he hasn't done it up here. So you just have to take what you can get from certain guys at certain positions because he doesn't have a history. And I'm not just picking on him; he's just the first person that came to mind. He doesn't have a lot of at-bats and hasn't played every day up here all year, so you can't put too much on him at all."
The A's are the trendy pick by some to win the AL West, a forecast that says as much about the Angels not adding a significant bat as it does about any appreciable improvements within the division.
But in failing to find the right deal in the offseason, the Angels have handed the at-bats to players like Kotchman, who now has the opportunity to put his mark on the ballclub and create separation from those who came before him.
"I can't change anything, and I can't control anything," Kotchman said. "All I can do is take the field every day and play."
And that is all anyone needs to hear.

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

Angels now reload rather than rebuild

03/13/2006
When the Arte Moreno era began for the Angels, the club was coming off its first World Series, yet still seemed to be always struggling to keep up with the Joneses, even within the American League West.
When Moreno assumed ownership, he made it clear from the beginning that, to him, keeping up with the Joneses didn't just mean competing in the division or even comparing favorably with that team in blue up the road.
It meant keeping up with the very best baseball has to offer. Moreno often brought up the Yankees, an organization with decades more tradition and 25 more World Series titles than the Angels, as the standard by which he would judge his franchise.
By any measure, being the very best was the goal.
In the two full seasons under Moreno's ownership, the Angels have been just that within the AL West, but they have fallen short each time of taking it to the ultimate level, as the upstart club of 2002 did. Then again, even the franchises seen by many as the best of the best -- the Yankees, for instance -- haven't always been the best in October.
Nowadays, keeping up with the Angels is a tough enough task. They have become the Joneses, and they now have to live up to their own success.
With back-to-back division titles in their back pocket for the first time in franchise history, the Angels head into the 2006 season with high expectations inspired by an intact core of the star players who led them to those consecutive titles.
Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad and Adam Kennedy have been on hand since the glory days of '02 and through the two title runs. Starter John Lackey is coming off a career year, and Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Shields will still be on hand to protect leads late in the game.
So, the Angels have had reasonable continuity over the last several years. Sure, they've also had some big departures -- namely, shortstop David Eckstein and third baseman Troy Glaus prior to '05. They've instilled some youth into the mix in the last year, bringing first baseman Casey Kotchman into the fold and giving Dallas McPherson a shot at third, albeit one that got off to a stumbling start. And Chone Figgins has gone from a nice utility guy to one of the most dangerous leadoff men in the game, good enough that he's blocking McPherson's path at third.
Meanwhile, the acquisitions the Angels made in recent winters were huge -- as in MVP and Cy Young huge -- with Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon setting down roots at the Big A and shortstop Orlando Cabrera joining them last year.
This year, the changes were fewer and less dramatic. In the end, the main acquisitions were Edgardo Alfonzo in a change-of-scenery swap for Steve Finley and, very late in the game, the signing of Jeff Weaver to join the rotation.
How will it all add up? There are many factors involved there, not the least of which is the fact that the AL West, always a competitive division, is likely to be tougher this year than last. The A's added some big pieces to a surprisingly strong puzzle in an '05 season that was supposed to be a transition year, and the Rangers have added starting pitching that might support their usual offensive juggernaut more successfully than in years past.
The Angels, in a tone set by manager Mike Scioscia and preached by Anderson, Erstad and Co., don't compare one year to the next -- or compare themselves to other teams. They just go out to play and see how it turns out.
But for those on the outside looking in, the Angels are now the Joneses -- and it's about the Angels keeping up with themselves these days.
Now that they've set such a high standard, each year presents another, bigger challenge: to meet and exceed that level of success. Nobody expected the 2002 team to reach, much less win, the World Series. Yet, in each of the last two years, nobody would have been surprised if they'd gone all the way in October -- and few will be surprised if they do so this season. It's a different landscape.
The expectations are high under the halo, higher with each passing season. That's what happens when you do more, when you put yourself in the class of the ultra-elite, when you bring in the best of the best players.
You do that, and you should be expected to compete at the highest level and for the highest prize.
Certainly, 2006 is no exception to that rule.

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

Angels outscore Royals in slugfest

03/14/2006
Angels at the plate: Jeff Mathis hit a solo shot in the top of the second, his first home run of the spring. Kendry Morales drilled a bases-clearing triple in the fifth and later doubled. Curtis Pride added a two-run homer in the top of the sixth.
Royals at the plate: Kerry Robinson singled and scored while Chip Ambres singled and scored on Aaron Guiel's double in the bottom of the first. Chad Allen drove in Paul Bako with a double and scored on Joe McEwing's RBI single in the second.
Angels on the mound: Hector Carrasco started and allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over three innings. The right-hander also struck out one.
Royals on the mound: Runelvys Hernandez allowed two runs, one earned, on a hit and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two.
Cactus League records: Angels 8-5; Royals 6-5.
Up next: The Angels will host the Rangers at 1:05 p.m. MT on Wednesday with right-hander John Lackey starting against Texas right-hander R.A. Dickey. The Royals will visit Peoria to take on the Mariners at 1:05 p.m. MT. Right-hander Joe Mays will face Seattle left-hander Jarrod Washburn.

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

Notes: Anderson sidelined

03/14/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Angels' starting outfield was placed in limbo Tuesday following the diagnosis of Garret Anderson's sore left foot.
The left fielder was examined in Los Angeles by foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Phil Kwong, who determined Anderson has a strained plantar fascia: a tendon-like band of tissue that encapsulates the muscles and connects from the heel to the ball of the foot. Anderson returned to camp Tuesday afternoon and has been listed as day-to-day.
Less than three weeks remain before the start of the regular season but the club remains cautiously optimistic Anderson will be ready when it opens in Seattle on April 3.
"He doesn't need many at-bats but he is going to have to get out there and play," manager Mike Scioscia said. "It is going to take a little bit of time. There is a little bit of buffer."
Anderson is 2-for-6 with a home run in three games this spring but he has not played in more than a week. Last season, knee and back ailments limited Anderson to 142 games when he hit .283 and was second on the club behind Vladimir Guerrero with 17 homers and 96 RBIs.
The Angels prefer that Anderson play in the outfield, a position where he has traditionally put up better offensive numbers. More than a quarter of Anderson's at-bats last season came as the designated hitter but he managed just a .199 average with one homer and 15 RBIs. Over his career, Anderson has hit .278 with 11 homers and 67 RBIs as a DH.
Juan Rivera would be the leading candidate in left with Chone Figgins being another strong possibility if Anderson is unable to play. Rivera is currently playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Ready to work: The injury to Anderson could have a trickle effect for Kendry Morales, who will not go quietly this spring. With a pair of hits in Tuesday's 10-7 win over the Royals, Morales is hitting .433 and leading the Angels with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs.
The first baseman is still adjusting to breaking pitches, but he appears readily comfortable in hitting the fastball. Morales cleared the bases in the top of the fifth Tuesday with a triple into the right-center gap and then legged out a double down the right-field line when he slid around the tag at second.
"Part of it is showing I'm ready, but the other part is this is a good experience," Morales said through an interpreter. He also said the velocity is similar at the Major League level but the pitchers are much smarter and has been making the adjustments.
Last spring, the Angels left behind their hottest hitter when Casey Kotchman opened the year at Triple-A. That fate could also await Morales, but the Angels are leaving the door open that he might play, though it wouldn't simply be as a pinch-hitter.
"If there is a role on our club, then we will strongly consider it," Scioscia said. "If he is going to stay with us, it will not be swinging the bat just once a week."
Bring it down: Hector Carrasco made his third start of the spring Tuesday and continued to struggle with the elevation of his pitches.
The right-hander allowed four runs on five hits over three innings. He also walked two and said he's been overthrowing all spring.
"I feel way too strong and that is why I am overthrowing," Carrasco said. "That is what happened last time. I have to cool down a little bit."
Carrasco figures into the Angels' rotation depth this spring as a possible No. 6 starter in the event one of their five regulars is unable to go. He finished last season in Washington's rotation but will be happy with any assignment he draws with the Angels this season.
"I'm so excited that I'm with a new team," Carrasco said. "I'm trying to show everyone that I throw hard. But, I have to work on my location."
Back in action: Dallas McPherson returned to the field Tuesday for the first time since March 6. The third baseman has been out of action with a right oblique strain and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. McPherson has one hit this spring in eight at-bats.
Sent down: Right-handers Nick Adenhart, Jose Arredondo and Bob Zimmermann, and catchers Brenton Del Chiaro and Brett Martinez were reassigned to Minor League camp.
Asides: Brandon Wood hit his first home run of the spring, a solo, opposite-field shot to right-center. It was also Wood's first hit. ... With Darin Erstad getting a day off, Figgins started in center field and went 0-for-2 but scored twice. ... Jeff Mathis drilled his first home run of the spring and also doubled. ... Chris Bootcheck increased his scoreless innings streak this spring to seven.
On deck: The Angels will host the Rangers at 12:05 p.m. PT on Wednesday with right-hander John Lackey scheduled to face Texas right-hander R.A. Dickey. Right-hander Jeff Weaver is set to start Thursday at home against the Cubs.

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

Angels go downtown for Lackey

03/15/2006
Rangers at the plate: Kevin Mench knocked in Joaquin Arias with a double to left and Brad Wilkerson plated two runs with a single to center. Ian Kinsler homered to center in the sixth.
Angels at the plate: Vladimir Guerrero knocked in a run in the third with a base hit and hit a solo home run in the fifth. In the fourth, Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad led off the inning with walks and Casey Kotchman followed with a three-run shot, his second home run of the spring. Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer.
Rangers on the mound: R. A. Dickey tossed two perfect innings before allowing five runs on five hits and three walks. The right-hander went a total of four innings and struck out one. Antonio Alfonseca allowed three runs on four hits, two of which were homers, in one inning.
Angels on the mound: John Lackey tossed three scoreless innings and allowed two baserunners, one on an error by Maicer Izturis and another on Kinsler's single. Lackey also struck out one. Brendan Donnelly did not allow a run but walked three in one inning of relief.
Cactus League records: Rangers 5-7; Angels 9-5.
Up next: The Rangers will host the Giants at 2:05 p.m. CT on Thursday, with right-hander Kameron Loe scheduled to face San Francisco right-hander Kevin Correia. The Angels will host the Cubs at 12:05 p.m. PT on Thursday. Right-hander Jeff Weaver is slated to go against Chicago left-hander Rich Hill.

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

Notes: No date for Anderson's return

03/15/2006
TEMPE, Ariz. -- It's hurry-up-and-wait time for Garret Anderson.
With Tuesday's diagnosis by Dr. Phil Kwong in Los Angeles, Anderson is aware that he has a strained plantar fascia (arch) in his left foot. When he will be able to return, however, is uncertain.
"I'm not thinking about it," Anderson said of playing. "I'm not at the point where I'm doing anything about thinking what I have to do [to get ready]. I just want to get into good physical health."
Anderson said he has not had a similar injury before, but it has bothered him for the past week. He has been given no timetable for how long it might take and is currently receiving a general course of treatment that includes ice, stretching and anti-inflammatory drugs. Normal recovery time is about two weeks.
The 33-year-old went on the disabled list for the first time in 2004 when he missed 43 games for undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis in his upper back. Anderson also missed 20 games last season for a lower back strain and tendinitis in his left knee. Anderson said the injuries are not related, but both he and the club will proceed slowly.
The window is getting tighter, though, for Anderson to get ready for Opening Day in Seattle on April 3. There are 18 games remaining this spring, including the Freeway Series with the Dodgers and one split-squad date March 30.
Anderson would not put a figure on how many at-bats he will need to get comfortable at the plate, but 40 is generally recognized as a minimum. He did have an opinion, though, on where he wants to play.
"I don't think about DHing," Anderson said. "I think about playing my position, and that is left field."
Back on track: John Lackey was much sharper in his second spring start.
The right-hander walked four in one inning of work last Friday against the Cubs, but Wednesday he tossed three scoreless innings while allowing a hit and a walk in the Angels' 8-5 win over the Rangers.
"I could tell warming up that I felt stronger," said Lackey, who was slowed by right shoulder stiffness earlier in camp. "I felt like [the ball] was coming out of my hand good today. That was a good sign."
Lackey was close to normal velocity, but said his curveball is not as sharp as he would like. After throwing 39 pitches in the game, Lackey went to the bullpen to bring his pitch count to an even 50. He also said he is confident he will open the season on schedule.
Welcome back: With Venezuela's elimination from the World Baseball Classic, right-handers Kelvim Escobar and Francisco Rodriguez, infielder Edgardo Alfonzo and outfielder/DH Juan Rivera will be returning to camp.
Escobar took the loss in the 2-1 defeat to the Dominican Republic when he allowed an unearned run on Ramon Hernandez's passed ball in the seventh inning Tuesday. Alfonzo and Rivera should return to action immediately, while the club will evaluate the pitchers when they arrive Thursday, specifically Escobar.
"We'll see how he feels when he comes back. There are a couple of things penciled in. He can throw in 4-5 days or we can get him re-acclimated," manager Mike Scioscia said of Escobar. "He got stretched out [in the Classic]. He showed that he can do that."
Sent down: Shortstop Brandon Wood, right-hander David Austen and catchers Bobby Wilson and Michael Collins were reassigned to Minor League camp.
Wood came into camp with a bit of fanfare. Not only was he the Angels' co-Minor League Player of the Year last year along with Howie Kendrick, but his power and size have drawn comparisons to Cal Ripken Jr.
He went just 1-for-10 in nine spring games but left an impression as he homered in his last at-bat, an opposite-field shot at Surprise Stadium, the same ballpark where he played this fall in the Arizona Fall League. Wood also won over the staff with his attitude.
"Out of all the youngsters we had in camp, he was the most impressive in a lot of ways," Scioscia said. "The way he carried himself and the way he was in camp. He and Erick Aybar showed they can be Major League shortstops. [Wood] has the chance to be a terrific defensive shortstop."
Asides: Vladimir Guerrero launched his first home run of the spring, a solo shot to left. Casey Kotchman and Orlando Cabrera also homered Wednesday. ... Brendan Donnelly walked three batters, his first walks in five innings this spring. ... Joe Saunders allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in three innings.
On deck: The Angels will host the Cubs at 12:05 p.m. PT on Thursday, with right-hander Jeff Weaver scheduled to face Chicago left-hander Rich Hill. Jered Weaver is slated to start against the A's on Friday in Phoenix.

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

Morales making powerful impression

03/15/2006
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Once considered a "can't-miss" Major League prospect, Kendry Morales is quickly moving into the "can't-ignore" class.
The 22-year-old is showing the offensive skills this spring for the Angels that vaulted him into legendary status as a mere teenager in his native Cuba. Morales is also demonstrating that his future may not solely rest on his ability to swing a bat as he works to improve his defensive fundamentals around the bag at first base.
Morales, though, is just pleased with the opportunity.
"I feel that I am ready," Morales said through an interpreter. "But [Spring Training] is a good experience."
Morales is hitting .406 this spring and leads the Angels in doubles, extra-base hits and total bases. None of which comes as a surprise, exactly, but the pace at which he grows comfortable with the next level of pitching has been impressive.
"Good hitters make adjustments and he has been making adjustments," hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. "You don't do that, you're not going to survive at this level, but he's been doing that."
Morales has been making impressions ever since he landed on American soil.
After joining Class A Rancho Cucamonga last May 21, Morales drilled the second pitch he saw for a home run. In 22 games for the Quakes, he hit .344 with five homers and 17 RBIs to earn a promotion to Double-A.
That step slowed his progress, initially. Through 12 games, Morales was hitting just .156 without a home run, but a big night against San Antonio changed all that when he exploded for a three-home run and five RBIs.
Morales homered in four straight games from July 30-Aug. 3 and later in August, he embarked on a 15-game hitting streak that helped him earn organizational Player of the Month honors. He ended his year at Arkansas hitting .306 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs.
But his year wasn't done. Morales hit .380 in 14 Arizona Fall League games and led the developmental circuit with 14 doubles.
All of which served as a ringing endorsement for the Angels' six-year deal they signed him to on Dec. 1, 2004. Again, no surprise, as it came on a resume built during his playing days in Cuba.
Morales hit .330 during his career there and became the first teen since Omar Linares in the 1980s to play for the Cuban national team when he suited up in 2002. During the 2002-03 season, Morales hit .391 with nine homers and 42 RBIs for Industriales and then starred in the Baseball World Cup by hitting a grand slam as Cuba claimed the gold medal with a victory in the final over Taiwan.
Still, the number that might be the most impressive is nine, which is the number of times it took Morales to successfully defect to the U.S. He did not play at all in 2004 after being banned by the Cuban government following his attempts to leave the country.
When Morales finally did get out of Cuba by boat, his ordeal was not quite over as he waited to establish residency in the Dominican Republic and become a citizen there before gaining legal entrance to the U.S. By the time he arrived last year, Spring Training was over and he was sent to Rancho Cucamonga.
Now the burgeoning offensive phenom, whom the Angels have followed since he was 16, is living up to the hype and presenting the club with a decision, if not some interesting options.
"He's definitely put himself on our depth chart," manager Mike Scioscia said. "If he is a part of our best lineup and our best offense, he will be a part of our ballclub."
Morales is being considered for a possible DH role and back up at first base. Currently Juan Rivera is the leading candidate for DH, with Dallas McPherson as a left-handed option if he doesn't win the third baseman's job. But McPherson is 1-for-9 this spring and is trying to return from hip surgery that has been complicated recently by a right oblique strain.
Also in the DH mix are Tim Salmon and Robb Quinlan. Salmon is hitting .360 in nine spring games but is no longer an option in the outfield. Quinlan is hitting just .231 in 10 games, but he can play as many as four positions.
Morales played third and the outfield and even pitched once for Cuba, but the Angels are working him exclusively at first where they believe his skills are most suited and will allow him the quickest advancement to the Majors.
"I have been very impressed with his work ethic and dedication to become better at his position," said Minor League roving infield instructor Rob Picciolo. "The one thing he must improve on is consistency, make the plays on a daily basis. But I see improvement in almost every area."
Morales will not cause anyone to forget about Casey Kotchman or Darin Erstad at first, but he is gaining the trust of the club that he can play the position adequately.
The recent setback to Garret Anderson, who has a strained left arch, has also put Morales in a better position for a team that is still in need of some offensive punch. The Angels are not about to be blinded by his sparking spring numbers but find them encouraging nonetheless.
"I've seen guys hit .900 in Spring Training and when the lights go on, they struggle," Hatcher said. "The challenge is when opposing pitchers start turning it up a notch. But there is not a guy in this room that doesn't believe he can't handle the challenge."
The likely destination for Morales has been Triple-A, but the young hitter is showing that he aspires to a higher level and that might be sooner than expected.
"What kind of role he is able to forge, we will have to see," Scioscia said. "There is still time."
Time and place are two luxuries which Morales can now afford to enjoy.

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