Notes: Lesson pays off for Kendrick

07/19/2006
ANAHEIM -- Howie Kendrick proved he could hit in four productive Minor League seasons.
But during his first turn in the Majors earlier this year, Kendrick found out quickly he had something new to master: the big-league breaking ball.
So after going 3-for-23 in his first callup, Kendrick returned to Triple-A and concentrated on hitting offspeed pitches.
"They started doing the same thing to me up here as they were doing down there," Kendrick said. "I just focused on slowing the game down and making adjustments to not swing at balls off the plate."
Kendrick credits his work with Salt Lake hitting coach Jim Eppard and games with Colorado Springs, which fed him a steady diet of breaking pitches.
"Some teams just decided to pitch me one way," Kendrick said. "Facing [Colorado Springs] worked to my advantage because I was able work on hitting off-speed."
It showed in the fourth inning Tuesday night when Indians left-hander Cliff Lee started him out with a breaking ball and Kendrick swung through it. He then lined a changeup to left to score two runs that Kendrick admitted was also a bit of guesswork.
Kendrick is beginning to push his way into the Angels' lineup against left-handers, along with Robb Quinlan, to help boost the team's production. Entering Wednesday, the Angels were hitting .254 against lefties. As his progress continues, though, a platoon system will not be in Kendrick's future for long.
"When he gets in the batter's box, he doesn't remind you of anyone because he is special," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think he is going to separate himself [from the pack] as his career moves on because of the offensive talent that he has."
Getting close: Jered Weaver threw a "touch" bullpen session Wednesday and will throw a full bullpen Friday, when the club will reevaluate the right-hander. If he does not suffer any setbacks, Weaver will start Sunday in Kansas City.
"We're very confident that he will be ready, but he has to show us," Scioscia said.
Weaver has been sidelined with biceps tendinitis, a condition that also bothered him in college and one he felt in his last two starts. If Weaver cannot go, he will be placed on the disabled list, retroactive to July 9. Left-hander Joe Saunders would start in his place.
Right-hander Kelvim Escobar has done a more convincing job in his recovery from a sore right elbow and is on target to pitch Saturday against the Royals, Scioscia said.
Tick, tock: Casey Kotchman has missed a total of 61 games this season as he recovers from mononucleosis. The first baseman played well in Spring Training, but struggled in the early going this season and was placed on the disabled list May 9.
The club has yet to close the window on the season for Kotchman, but time continues to shorten.
"Right now, we want to get Casey feeling good," Scioscia said. "This year is slipping through some cracks, but we're not giving up yet."
Carving a niche: Kotchman was supposed to take over for Darin Erstad this season at first base. Most scouts believe Kotchman has similar defensive skills to the three-time Gold Glove-winning Erstad, who won two in center field and another at first, but his illness has kept him off the field.
That has created a platoon at first base this season that has included recent starter Kendry Morales, Quinlan, Kendrick and also Dallas McPherson. During his most recent rehab assignment, McPherson has been playing some first base.
With Kotchman becoming a more doubtful proposition to return this season, McPherson could be a future option there. The Angels prefer players that can move around to multiple positions, especially from their bench.
"If a guy is more versatile, there is more opportunity. Look at [Quinlan] and [Maicer Izturis]," Scioscia said. "That versatility will help Dallas and our lineup because we can use his power bat."
No news: Erstad returned from New York with no change in the diagnosis that he has a sore right ankle caused by bone spurs and years of wear and tear that has produced some arthritis, Scioscia said.
Erstad was seen in New York by foot specialist Dr. William Hamilton, who is the orthopedist for the New York City Ballet. The outfielder will not accompany the team on its upcoming road trip.

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

Lackey's streak ends, as does Halos'

07/19/2006
ANAHEIM -- All things being equal, John Lackey will take the win.
And since there truly is no equal to "the W" in sports, Lackey was left at a loss -- literally.
The right-hander brought a scoreless innings streak with him into Wednesday's start and ran the string to 30 2/3 until Ben Broussard brought it to an abrupt close with a two-run, game-tying homer.
That blast helped fuel a five-run fifth by the Indians as the Angels went down to a 6-4 defeat on a warm afternoon that saw their winning streak end at eight games.
Lackey had a few words for himself as he walked around the mound after the 0-1 pitch to Broussard left the yard, but it wasn't about the streak which had become more annoyance than achievement for the starter.
"I couldn't care less about the scoreless innings streak," Lackey said. "I want to win; that tied the game, man."
It was the first loss in five starts for Lackey, who was clearly not as sharp as he's been. But the offense, which has been red-hot to match the heat wave sweeping most of the nation, can only look at missed opportunities as the Halos fell 1 1/2 games back of the A's in the American League West.
The Angels had nine hits, including another home run by Juan Rivera, who hit his eighth home run of July and 14th this season. But they stranded nine runners and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position in a game that presented multiple opportunities against a familiar face.
Paul Byrd was pure to form Wednesday, allowing hits and putting runners on. But as he proved in an Angels uniform last season, he had command of the strike zone. He didn't walk a batter and allowed just three runs despite giving up 10 hits.
"Paul pitched like he did for us last year. He changed speeds and he used his defense," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He made some pitches to get off the hook, but that play [Casey] Blake made was huge."
That would be a diving grab of a sinking liner off the bat of Chone Figgins in the sixth. With two out and two on, Figgins pulled a shot down the right-field line that was certain to score two with a probable triple as the outcome, but Blake laid out to catch the ball and end the inning.
But as Byrd joked a day earlier, one run should have been enough for the Angels.
Lackey had tossed two complete-game shutouts in his two previous starts while recording at least 10 strikeouts in his last three outings. The last Angels starter to accomplish either of those feats was Mark Langston in the early '90s.
With a solid fastball location and a sharp breaking ball, Lackey had not allowed a run since the sixth inning of a June 26 home game against the Rockies. But his command was not the same Wednesday, and the Indians have a potent lineup.
Lackey put runners on the corners in the first inning but managed to strike out the side. He then loaded the bases in the second on a single, a double and a walk before fanning Blake to end the inning. He allowed two hits and a walk over the next two innings, but the inevitable was looming as he went increasingly to his slider.
The Angels staked Lackey to a 2-0 lead on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI single in the first and Rivera's solo homer in the fourth, but the scoreless ride for Lackey ended in the fifth.
After striking out Travis Hafner to open the inning, Lackey walked Victor Martinez on four pitches and left a two-seam fastball out over the plate for Broussard to hit for his 12th home run this season.
Ronnie Belliard then hit an infield single, but strained his left hamstring and left the game. Todd Hollandsworth doubled to left and Jhonny Peralta followed with a two-run single to right off Lackey. Joe Inglett then capped the inning with an RBI double to left to score Peralta and give the Indians a 5-2 advantage.
"I haven't caught him in a while, but his command seemed a little off," said Jose Molina, who started behind the plate. "But that is the game of baseball. Sometimes you have it, some times you don't."
The Angels have gone 13-2 in July to get back in the hunt in the American League West. They now head out on a 10-game road trip to face the Royals, Rays and Red Sox before returning home for six games with divisional rivals Oakland and Texas.
"We're definitely in the race; we're right there," Lackey said. "But I definitely think that other teams look at what we do because we've won it the last two years."

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

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/

Angels' defense costly in loss to Royals

07/21/2006
KANSAS CITY -- This one came out of the blue, totally unexpected.
The Angels, who had won eight of the previous nine games, committed four errors and starter Ervin Santana walked a career-high eight batters and also had two wild pitches in 4 1/3 innings in a 9-4 loss to the Royals on Thursday night to open a 10-game road trip. The loss snapped the Angels' nine-game winning streak at Kansas City.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia knew exactly what to do with a game like this one.
"That might be one of the ones you definitely want to turn the page on, not only turn the page, but rip it out of the folder, crumple it up and throw it away," Scioscia said.
This one was definitely one to forget.
"We haven't had a game like that in a while," Scioscia said. "We've been playing great baseball. Tonight isn't really something that you would expect, but it happens. We'll move forward. We've been playing very sound, fundamental baseball for a long time now. This game we've just got to turn the page on."
Scioscia said Santana was "physically fine."
"He just had a problem getting the ball into good zones and after a while getting the ball over the plate," he said. "That was probably the most erratic any of us have seen him. He's got to turn the page, too. It's a tough start for him."
Santana, an 11-game winner who is 7-0 in his past nine starts, received a no-decision.
"Every day is not a happy day," Santana said. "Today was not my day. I was struggling with my performance. I don't have command of my fastball, my slider, nothing. I don't have nothing today. I try to keep battling and battling and do my best.
"No excuses. It is over now. You can't go back and let me do it again. You cannot."
Despite Santana's early problems, the Angels tied the score at 4 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Vladimir Guerrero had a two-run double, scoring Maicer Izturis, who had singled, and Orlando Cabrera, who was hit by a Jimmy Gobble pitch. Guerrero also had a run-producing single in the third. Howie Kendrick's double in the fourth scored Mike Napoli with the other Angels run.
The Angels had Guerrero at third and Juan Rivera, who had singled, at first with nobody out in the fifth, but didn't score another run to seize the lead. Napoli flied out to left, too shallow to score Guerrero. Garret Anderson then lined into an inning-ending double play.
"We had a great opportunity after we tied the game with runners on first and third," Scioscia said. "That could have put a different light on the game as we moved forward, but Elmer Dessens came in and did a great job to come in and get out of that inning and hold it as a tie game. If we grab the lead, obviously we are in a little better position to do something on the mound, but that wasn't the case. We've got to regroup and go after them tomorrow."
Kevin Gregg, the second of four Angels pitchers, was charged with the loss. Gregg gave up an unearned run in the sixth when the Angels committed three errors. They lead the American League with 77 errors.
Napoli was charged with catcher's interference in the sixth on a pitch out when Doug Mientkiewicz was swinging to protect the runner and made contact.
"I've got catcher's interference before, but never on a pitchout," Napoli said. "We just need to forget about this game. It's not fun playing games like this. You've just got to let it go, which I'm sure everybody in this clubhouse will."

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