Los Angeles Angels News

Angels' Shields battles nerves, hitters in debut
Comment
March 13
Orange County Register
 
"Scot Shields paced around the mound like a rookie making his first start. He popped the ball in and out of his glove and took his hat off and wiped the sweat from his brow. It was just like normal, and for Shields, normal is good. "I get nervous ever time I pitch," Shields said. "I don't care where it is, what it is, I get nervous. But, there was a little something extra in there today." That little extra came from Shields facing live batting in a game for the first time since May 26, 2009. Shields underwent season-ending knee surgery on his left patella tendon. Friday, Shields worked a scoreless fifth inning in the Angels' loss to the Chicago White Sox at Tempe Diablo Stadium. After the ..."
Angels pitcher Pineiro happy to land in Los Angeles
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March 13
USA Today
 
"Joel Pineiro revived his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, but he wasn't afraid to fly the coop.Signed by the Los Angeles Angels to a two-year, $16 million contract, the right-hander says he had no misgivings about leaving St. Louis even though he regained his effectiveness under the tutelage of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. "I've had so many pitching coaches that going to a new one doesn't matter," Pineiro says. "He's very good, of course, but I think I've learned what I needed to learn. I'm not going to change what made me successful last year." Pineiro, 31, is not being ungrateful but rather realistic about the game's economics. He says the Cardinals had no interest in ..."
Jacque Jones defends former Minnesota Twins teammate Torii Hunter
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March 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Jacque Jones isn't worried about his good friend and old teammate Torii Hunter, even if Minnesota's former center fielder is taking heat for comments he made recently during a USA Today roundtable on diversity in baseball. Hunter was quoted in the USA Today article as saying: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors." And: "It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' " Jones said he spoke with Hunter on Thursday evening and said the Angels center fielder is handling the ..."
Cleveland Indians allow three in the ninth in 7-7 tie against Angels
Comment
March 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Joe Smith gave up three runs in the ninth inning Friday as the Angels rallied to tie the Indians, 7-7, in a Cactus League game. The Angels brought a split-squad to Goodyear Ballpark and ran out of pitchers. Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall reached second base with one out in the ninth, but the they couldn't get the winning run home as Luis Rodriguez lined out to center and Damaso Espino grounded out. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera tripled in the fifth, but had to leave with pain in his left leg. He suffered the injury diving back into third on a pick off attempt. The Indians willCabrera's injury Saturday. The Indians, playing to their second tie in as many days, remain unbeaten at ..."
Michael Ryan makes bid for Angels roster spot
Comment
March 13
Los Angeles Times
 
"You see the No. 83 on his jersey and the way he hurls his body around the outfield to make plays, and your first impression is that Michael Ryan is some kid trying to impress the coaching staff in his first big league camp. So it's something of a surprise when you look at his biography in the Angels media guide and see that Ryan is 32 and has played 14 years of professional baseball - 1,388 games in the minor leagues and 127 in the big leagues. "I'm definitely not a kid," Ryan said. "I used to be." Ryan, signed to a minor league contract in late December, has been one of the most impressive players in camp this spring. He's batting .545 (six for 11) and has driven in six runs in five ..."
White Sox get past Angels, 10-7
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March 13
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Angels scored five runs in the fourth inning against White Sox closer Bobby Jenks . Among the highlights were Kendry Morales' run-scoring triple, Howie Kendrick's run-scoring single and Maicer Izturis' two-run single. Cory Aldridge hit a solo home run, his second of the spring, in the seventh inning. Hideki Matsui , slowed by his arthritic knees, scored from first on Morales' triple."
Former New York Yankee Reggie Jackson defends Torii Hunter's "imposter" comment
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March 13
New York Daily News
 
"Torii Hunter created a firestorm when he recently called dark-skinned Latin players "imposters," but Reggie Jackson believes that the popular Angels outfielder was simply misunderstood. "I understand what Torii was saying. I think he was misinterpreted," said Jackson, an African-American who is also of Latino heritage. "Torii Hunter has no malice in his heart. He's a wonderful person of great character and he's done a great deal in communities to prove that and back that up. I think when you make a comment to the media - and I'm at fault at times - you need to be able to read what you're saying at the same time." Hunter's comments, which appeared this week in USA Today, suggested that ..."
Guillen defends Latin players
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March 12
ESPN.com
 
"White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen responded on Thursday to comments Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter made to USA Today about Latin players. In the article, Hunter said: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' "As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why ..."
Angels' Weaver not worrying about health
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March 12
Orange County Register
 
"Early in his big-league career, Jered Weaver wasn't always ready to pitch early in the season. Some wondered outloud whether his work ethic was where it needed to be when Weaver came into camp in 2007 with biceps tendinitis and a tired shoulder and eventually began the year on the disabled list. Then in 2009, Weaver fell behind in the throwing program because of a sore shoulder. But this year, no one's really talking about Weaver's health. And that's a good thing. "I tried to do something different," Weaver said. "I'd come into camp (before) with some tendinitis in my shoulder. I tried to activate my arm sooner this offseason and ended up feeling good coming into camp." Weaver began ..."
Angels center fielder Torii Hunter vows to watch what he says to reporters
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March 12
Los Angeles Times
 
"Torii Hunter is one of baseball's most accessible and quotable players, but the center fielder emerged from a lengthy closed-door meeting with Manager Mike Scioscia, General Manager Tony Reagins and team executive Tim Mead Thursday vowing to be more guarded with reporters and his choice of words. "If it's not about baseball, I'm not going to talk about it," said Hunter, heavily criticized Wednesday for remarks in a USA Today article examining the declining percentage of African American players in the game. "I know what I am. Don't always believe what you read." Hunter said his comments about dark-skinned players from the Dominican Republic being "imposters" because they are perceived by ..."
Reaction to comments hits Hunter hard
Comment
March 11
Orange County Register
 
"One of the most media friendly athletes in pro sports, Torii Hunter reacted with hurt and anger after learning that his comments in a USA Today story were being interpreted by some as racist and divisive. In the article, a roundtable of eight people with ties to Major League Baseball were assembled to discuss issues related to the game."
Angels' Torii Hunter says his comments on Latin American players were 'distorted'
Comment
March 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"The wide grin that seems perpetually attached to the face of Torii Hunter was gone Wednesday morning. The Angels' media-friendly center fielder fumed about how he was portrayed in a USA Today article examining the declining percentage of African American players in baseball in which he was quoted as saying that dark-skinned players from the Dominican Republic are not black but "imposters." "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African American," Hunter said, according to the article, published Wednesday. "They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say, 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's ..."
Torii Hunter says his comments on Latin American players were 'distorted'
Comment
March 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"The wide grin that seems perpetually attached to the face of Torii Hunter was gone Wednesday morning. The Angels' media-friendly center fielder fumed about how he was portrayed in a USA Today article examining the declining percentage of African American players in baseball in which he was quoted as saying that dark-skinned players from the Dominican Republic are not black but "imposters." "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African American," Hunter said, according to the article, published Wednesday. "They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say, 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's ..."
Hideki Matsui has quite a following
Comment
March 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"Some 30-40 Japanese media members were outside the Angels' spring-training complex Tuesday afternoon, waiting to speak to Hideki Matsui while he addressed a handful of American reporters. At the end of the 10-minute interview, in which the Angels' new designated hitter showed a keen sense of humor that belies his usually stoic face, Matsui was asked what the Japanese media might ask him that American reporters didn't. "Maybe what kind of underwear I'm wearing," Matsui deadpanned through an interpreter. He seemed to be kidding…or was he? Everything Matsui does — even wears — is newsworthy to the Japanese media, whose blanket coverage of the 35-year-old slugger borders on obsessive. When ..."
Angels' prospect will undergo surgery
Comment
March 9
Orange County Register
 
"Angels outfield prospect Chris Pettit had hoped to avoid surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. But after three months of rehab and physical therapy, Pettit has not seen sufficient progress and will undergo surgery on Tuesday. The surgery will sideline him for six to nine months, wiping out his 2010 season. "It was a tough decision obviously but it's just not responding especially when I throw," Pettit said. "Throwing has been a real struggle." Pettit said he also received a cortisone shot in the shoulder about two weeks ago in an attempt to aid the recovery process. "I got a cortisone shot. I've been taking anti-inflammatories — trying to do everything we can to calm it ..."
Back in blue: Ranger Vlad faces his former team
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March 9
Orange County Register
 
"If there are any deep resentments or thoughts of revenge festering in Vladimir Guerrero's mind this spring, he is keeping them as well hidden as everything else behind his wide smile. "No, nada," Guerrero said when asked before facing the Angels for the first time Monday if there was any resentment about their decision not to re-sign him following the 2009 season. "There are no hard feelings at all," he said through an interpreter. "I had good years there. I just hope God keeps me healthy and lets me have a good year with the Rangers." Guerrero clearly did more than hope and pray this winter while waiting for a contract offer from the Angels that never came. The 35-year-old Guerrero ..."
Angels defeat Rangers, 13-9
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March 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"An offense that hit .215 in the first three exhibition games broke out for 19 hits, including Mike Napoli's solo home run to center field in the third inning and Brandon Wood's two-run shot to right-center in the fifth. Juan Rivera had an RBI single and an RBI double, and Kendry Morales, in his first spring start, hit a pair of RBI singles. Maicer Izturis had two singles, both of which sent leadoff man Erick Aybar from first to third. ON THE MOUND: Ervin Santana looked sharp in his first spring start, throwing two hitless innings in which his fastball topped out at 94 mph, a good sign for a right-hander who lost considerable velocity while battling an elbow sprain in 2009. Matt Palmer ..."
Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir tries to turn negative into positive
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March 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"Scott Kazmir spoke in a voice soft and low, but the feelings his words revealed were unmistakable. "It was very frustrating, very frustrating," the Angels starting pitcher said of his subpar performance in last year's American League playoffs. And after the Angels lost to the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series, "I came into the off-season bitter, frustrated," the 26-year-old left-hander said as the Angels prepared to open this year's spring-training season Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. "I felt like I let the team down." But that frustration lasted only a couple of days, Kazmir said, after which he decided to devote the rest of his off-season to a redoubled work ..."
Guerrero says he has no hard feelings toward Angels
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March 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"If new Texas designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero is bitter about the way his distinguished six-year career with the Angels came to an end, he hid those feelings well on Monday, when he faced his former team for the first time. Though there were conversations between the Angels and Guerrero's agent this winter, the Angels did not make a formal contract offer to the 35-year-old slugger, opting instead to sign Hideki Matsui to a one-year, $6-million deal to be their DH. Guerrero's one-year, $6.5-million deal with the Rangers includes a $9-million mutual option for 2011. "There are no hard feelings at all," Guerrero, speaking through an interpreter, said before the Angels' 13-9 Cactus League ..."
'Nothing to fear' after exam, Hunter says
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March 8
Orange County Register
 
"Torii Hunter admits he was concerned when he felt "a little pop" in the area where he had surgery to repair a sports hernia in November. But after being examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum on Saturday, Hunter's mind was at ease. "A little scar tissue is all, he said," Hunter said. "The layers in there are healing and the scar tissue has to pull apart. Not a strain or injury or anything. "Nothing to fear." Hunter said he had "no pain, no setbacks whatsoever" since the surgery - until Friday's game against the Rockies. After hitting a drive off the left-field wall, Hunter had to hustle into second base for a double and mistimed his slide. That's when he felt a pulling sensation in the area of the ..."
Angels center fielder Torii Hunter gets good news
Comment
March 8
Los Angeles Times
 
"When he slid too early into second, got his knee stuck in the dirt a bit and heard a "pop" in his right groin on Friday, Torii Hunter thought he had damaged something in the area that was repaired by a sports hernia operation last November. "I was like, 'What the heck just happened?' " said Hunter, who had doubled off the left-field wall in an exhibition game against Colorado. Hunter got the answer — and a huge dose of relief — when he was examined Saturday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who told the Angels center fielder the "pop" was some scar tissue breaking up in the incision from his surgery. "They were all relaxed, and I was like, 'Are you guys not worried?' " Hunter said of the team's medical ..."
Ex-Angel Chone Figgins has changed sides, but not his game
Comment
March 8
Los Angeles Times
 
"Along the dark, narrow hallway separating the clubhouse from the parking lot at the Seattle Mariners' spring training facility here, the team has hung larger-than-life pictures of its best-known players. There's one of Ken Griffey Jr., of course, another of Ichiro Suzuki and one of 19-game winner Felix Hernandez. Closer to the door is one of the newest Mariners, Chone Figgins. And that seems appropriate since it is Figgins, as much as anyone, who is expected to guide the Mariners out of the dark depths of the American League West and into the light of the playoffs. "Figgy cares about one thing. He cares about winning," says Seattle Manager Don Wakamatsu, who, like many on the Mariners' ..."
Angels center fielder Torii Hunter gets good news
Comment
March 8
Los Angeles Times
 
"When he slid too early into second, got his knee stuck in the dirt a bit and heard a "pop" in his right groin on Friday, Torii Hunter thought he had damaged something in the area that was repaired by a sports hernia operation last November. "I was like, 'What the heck just happened?' " said Hunter, who had doubled off the left-field wall in an exhibition game against Colorado. Hunter got the answer — and a huge dose of relief — when he was examined Saturday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who told the Angels center fielder the "pop" was some scar tissue breaking up in the incision from his surgery. "They were all relaxed, and I was like, 'Are you guys not worried?' " Hunter said of the team's medical ..."
Relaxed Kendrick putting '09 'reality check' behind him
Comment
March 7
Orange County Register
 
"Last year, Howie Kendrick got lost somewhere between trying to be all he could be and trying to be something he's not. "I think Howie tried to be everything to everyone last year at the beginning of the season," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "As he struggled a little bit, he was absolutely pressing and tying himself up in knots both mentally and even physically." During his first three partial seasons in the majors, batting titles were predicted for Kendrick by some. What wasn't predicted was the kind of step back he took in 2009. In mid-June, Kendrick was batting just .231 and had become so tied up in knots mentally that he lost track of the outs in a close game against the Blue Jays ..."
Is Garret Anderson starting over, or is this the end?
Comment
March 7
Los Angeles Times
 columnist T.J. Simers
"He sat in front of his locker dressed from cap to shoes in blue for the first time, as difficult to accept for some as he did wearing anything other than black spikes for the last 17 years. "Really, really bright, aren't they?'' says Garret Anderson, as if the team is giving him no choice but think blue as he laces up his shoes. At 37, his hair now is a little gray across the top, but just what you might expect from someone who played 2,013 games for the Angels, more than anyone else in franchise history. He's a career .295 hitter -- most everyone else in the Dodgers' clubhouse only dreaming of such long-term success, and yet Anderson is wearing double zeroes across his back, a minor ..."
Angels' Howie Kendrick ready to be an everyday player again
Comment
March 7
Los Angeles Times
 
"As good a second half as Howie Kendrick had in 2009 - the Angels second baseman ranked second in the American League with a .351 average from July 4 on - he never regained the starting job he lost when he was demoted to triple-A Salt Lake on June 12. Kendrick, who bats right-handed, started only 41 of 82 games from July 4 on, sharing second base with the switch-hitting Maicer Izturis. Only once in that span did Kendrick start four games in a row, and in September, 10 of his 12 starts came against left-handed pitchers. Before he was sent down because of his .231 average, Kendrick started 49 of the first 59 games at second. But when asked Saturday if Kendrick had re-established himself as an ..."
Last go-round for last link to Angels' 2002 champs?
Comment
March 6
Orange County Register
 
"Scot Shields sits at a corner locker in the Angels' spring clubhouse now. John Lackey used to be over to his left, Francisco Rodriguez a little farther down the way. To his right, Garret Anderson, Chone Figgins, Darin Erstad and Vladimir Guerrero used to dress on spring mornings in Arizona. Shields has seen them - and many others - leave. And now, he realizes it could be his turn soon. The last link to the Angels' 2002 World Series team, the 34-year-old Shields is entering the last season of the four-year, $18 million contract extension he signed three years ago. Angels players in their 30s entering the final year of their contract recently have tended to become ex-Angels when those ..."
Statues of Nick Adenhart, Preston Gomez stir players' emotions
Comment
March 6
Los Angeles Times
 
"It was a morning of extreme emotional swings for the Angels, who reflected somberly on a pair of bronze statues honoring the late Nick Adenhart and Preston Gomez and, half an hour later, broke out in raucous laughter at a surprise visit from the Harlem Globetrotters. The latter was the brainchild of Manager Mike Scioscia , whose prank-filled spring-training meetings have become legendary, and center fielder Torii Hunter , who has performed in several skits with the world-famous basketball team. The former was the work of Scioscia and Angels President John Carpino , who commissioned Missouri-based sculptor Harry Weber to produce the statues of Adenhart, the 22-year-old pitcher ..."
Angels fall to Rockies, 7-5, in spring training game
Comment
March 6
Los Angeles Times
 
"AT THE PLATE: Maicer Izturis' first spring game in the leadoff spot was productive - the shortstop singled and walked twice in three plate appearances. The only hit of note by an Angels regular was Torii Hunter's laser of a double off the left-field wall in the third inning. Michael Ryan's two-run single and Terry Evans' RBI single highlighted a four-run fifth for the Angels. ON THE MOUND: Starter Sean O'Sullivan was roughed up for five runs and four hits, including solo home runs by Clint Barmes and Cole Garner and a two-run triple by Ian Stewart , in 1 1/3 innings. Closer Brian Fuentes couldn't complete his inning, allowing two hits, including Miguel Olivo's ..."
Angels' Pineiro ready to bowl over doubters
Comment
March 5
Orange County Register
 
"The reasons for Joel Pineiro not to succeed this year were lined up before he ever threw a pitch for the Angels. His mid-career renaissance in St. Louis last season was a fluke, the combined product of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan's wizardry and the weaker lineups of the National League. He won't be able to repeat it in the more offense-oriented American League. "Maybe I can take that as motivation - in a good way," Pineiro said after making his spring Angels debut Thursday in a 4-4 tie with the Chicago White Sox. "Use it as motivation to prove I can still go out there and pitch with my sinker and get guys out. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a challenge." Pineiro ..."
Joel Pineiro plans to prove himself all over again
Comment
March 5
Los Angeles Times
 
"Not that Joel Pineiro needs extra motivation after signing a two-year, $16-million deal this winter, but the Angels pitcher would like to erase the perception that last season had more to do with the league he was in and the coach who mentored him than his ability. The 31-year-old right-hander went 15-12 with a 3.49 earned-run average for St. Louis last season after Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan suggested Pineiro become a sinker-ball specialist. Now Pineiro, who spent his first six big league seasons in Seattle, is transitioning from the National League, with its weak No. 8 hitters and bat-wielding pitchers, back to the AL, with its designated hitters and tougher lineups. "Maybe I ..."
Angels tie White Sox, 4-4, in spring training opener
Comment
March 5
Los Angeles Times
 
"At the plate: Mike Napoli hit a solo home run to the opposite field in the fourth inning, Juan Rivera had an RBI single in the third, and Howie Kendrick doubled to deep center in the second. The Angels tied the score in the eighth on Hank Conger's sacrifice fly and Freddy Sandoval's RBI single. On the mound: Sinker-ball specialist Joel Pineiro gave up a run and three hits in two innings, but two of the hits in Chicago's run-scoring second were hard ground balls that were knocked down by infielders. Newly acquired Angels reliever Brian Stokes pitched two hitless innings."
Angels come to 2010 contract terms with several key young players
Comment
March 5
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Angels have agreed to terms on 2010 contracts with four of their prominent young players, avoiding the sometimes contentious "renewal" process with relievers Kevin Jepsen and Jason Bulger, pitcher Matt Palmer and infielder Brandon Wood. Reliever Brian Stokes, the 30-year-old right-hander acquired from the New York Mets for Gary Matthews Jr. this winter, and minor league reliever Rafael Rodriguez also came to terms. However, reliever Rich Thompson, who has spent most of the last three seasons at triple-A Salt Lake, had his contract renewed Thursday, the day the Angels set as a deadline to sign players on their 40-man roster. Jepsen and Bulger emerged as key relievers last season, Jepsen ..."
Morales ready to go after rough winter
Comment
March 4
Orange County Register
 
"This should have been the best winter of Kendry Morales' life. He was coming off a breakout year in his first full big-league season. At 26, he had established himself in a big way by hitting .306 with 34 home runs and 108 RBI, good for a fifth-place finish in the American League MVP voting. Then things got messy. Money had gone missing from Morales' bank account (reportedly $300,000 in all) and an investigation was started by the players' union and police in Coral Springs, Fla., centering on a former employee of Hendricks Sports Management. Morales dropped Hendricks in favor of Scott Boras but had to wait to leave the winter behind. It wasn't until Tuesday (a week into the Angels' ..."
Victor Rojas will take over play-by-play duties on Angels' TV broadcasts
Comment
March 4
Los Angeles Times
 
"Victor Rojas, once a pitcher in the Angels' minor league system and son of Cookie Rojas, once manager of the Angels, was named Wednesday as the new television play-by-play voice of the team. Rojas, 42, is leaving MLB Network to fill the spot left by Rory Markas, who died unexpectedly in January. Rojas will work with analyst Mark Gubicza on FS West and Channel 13 broadcasts. Before joining MLB Network when it launched in December 2008, Rojas worked for the Texas Rangers for five years, handling play-by-play and analyst roles. "The Angels have always held a special place in my heart," Rojas said. "While I'm thrilled to be joining such an incredible organization, it's difficult to focus on my ..."
Palmer comfortable in role, whatever it is
Comment
March 3
Orange County Register
 
"A combination of injuries and tragedy opened the door for Matt Palmer last season to appear in 40 games. He started 13 times. He finished the year with an 11-2 record, and he put himself in a good spot. When John Lackey left the Angels to sign with Boston as a free agent, Palmer seemed like the most logical candidate to slide into the starting rotation. Then with around a month before the start of spring training, the Angels made a move. After the addition of Joel Pineiro, any chance of opening the year in the rotation faded. "There's disappointment," Palmer said. "Finally I get to the point where I got to the big leagues and pitched well. I feel that I deserve a spot, but this is ..."
Shields takes another positive step in his recovery
Comment
March 3
Orange County Register
 
"For the first time since he succumbed to pain in his left knee last May, Scot Shields has been back on a pitcher's mound. Shields took to the mound for modified throwing sessions the past two days. Each session lasted just 20 pitches and started with the catcher standing up in front of the plate, gradually dropping into a crouch. "I kept trying to tell him, 'Back up a little, back up a little' (when pitching coach Mike Butcher wasn't looking)," Shields said. "It felt good. I mean, I wasn't cutting it loose at all. But it felt good." Shields had surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee last June and has been handled carefully this spring. During the first two weeks of camp, he ..."
Scioscia: Matsui ahead of expectations in OF
Comment
March 3
Orange County Register
 
"Hideki Matsui has been able to do more defensive work than expected in the first week of camp, according to Angels manager Mike Scioscia, and the Angels remain "hopeful" he will be a viable option to play the outfield on an occasional basis this season. "He's not in all the outfield drills. He's been kind of weaned in," Scioscia said Tuesday. "He's doing much more than we anticipated. We didn't know where he was going to be. We knew he might be taking it slow. But from Day One, he was able to get into drills and start to step them up. "He's probably a little ahead of where we anticipated when we opened spring training. But he still has a ways to go." Matsui has not played the outfield on a ..."
Angels DH Hideki Matsui's glove work is going well
Comment
March 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"Hideki Matsui is making better-than-expected progress in early spring-training fielding drills but it's still unclear how much the Angels' new designated hitter might play in the outfield this season, Manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday. "He's not in all of the outfield drills, he's been kind of weaned in, but he's doing much more than we had anticipated," Scioscia said of Matsui, the former New York Yankees slugger and last year's World Series most valuable player who signed a one-year, $6-million deal with the Angels. "We knew that he might be taking it slow in the spring, but from day one he was able to get into drills, start to step them up," Scioscia added. "But he still has a ways to ..."
Angels' Jeff Mathis is ahead of curve behind the plate
Comment
March 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"As a teenager in Marianna, Fla., Jeff Mathis was playing shortstop and pitching on his high school team when the club asked him to solve a problem one day. "I had a guy on my team who threw hard —- good pitcher, had good stuff and we didn't have anybody that could handle him," Mathis recalled. "So they put me back there." And he liked it. Mathis also played football, soccer and a little basketball at the time, but it was being a baseball catcher that would propel him to a life in professional sports with the Angels — and is still paying off for him today. As half of the duo that splits the Angels' catching duties — Mike Napoli is the other half — Mathis is known for his stellar defensive ..."
Angels pitcher Sean O'Sullivan has new approach
Comment
March 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"Sean O'Sullivan, in some ways, had a memorable rookie season with the Angels in 2009. The burly right-handed pitcher started 10 games and posted a 4-2 record. But the 22-year-old from San Diego had his share of problems — including a 6.29 earned-run average as a starter — which is why he kept bouncing between the Angels' triple-A Salt Lake team and the major league club. He's not likely to supplant anyone on the Angels' five-man rotation early this season either. But regardless of whether he's playing in Salt Lake or Anaheim, O'Sullivan said he's learning to avoid his mistakes of 2009. "I can't control whether I go up, whether I go down, I can only control how hard I work and how much ..."
Angels' Howie Kendrick looks to play strong the full season
Comment
March 1
Los Angeles Times
 
"With his self-described "reality check" behind him, Howie Kendrick is looking forward to the Angels' new season, and by that he means the full season. Kendrick began 2009 with a career .306 batting average but slumped badly three months into the season. Hitting only .231 in early June, he was sent to triple-A Salt Lake. It was a loud wake-up call for Kendrick, who everyone agreed was pressing too hard. And after he was called back to the big leagues in early July, Kendrick made the most of it. The Florida native batted .351 from July 4 through the end of the season, lifting his average to .291 for the year, and hit safely in 22 of his last 27 games. Kendrick, a 26-year-old right-handed ..."
Angels' Kazmir got bitter, then got to work
Comment
February 28
Orange County Register
 
"None of the Angels left New York in a good mood last October. But Scott Kazmir was a very bitter man. After being traded to the Angels in August, the left-hander was 2-2 in six starts while allowing only seven runs in 36 1/3 innings (a 1.73 ERA) over the final month of the regular season. But in the playoffs, he stumbled. He did not pitch well against Boston in the ALDS, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in six innings of Game 3 at Fenway Park. But the Angels rallied to win against Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. In the ALCS against the Yankees, things got worse. Kazmir was the losing pitcher in Game 4, a 10-1 Yankee walkover during which Kazmir gave up the first four runs on ..."
Angels prospect paying for taking a big leap
Comment
February 27
Orange County Register
 
"Chris Pettit sees the irony in the situation. He got injured - trying not to get injured. "Yeah, it kind of (stinks) that it happened that way," the Angels' prospect said. Pettit, 25, was playing for Toros del Este against the Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League last Nov. 9 when he found himself on second base in the eighth inning of a game his team was losing handily. With two outs, there was a single to left and Pettit took off for home. "I came around third and the ball got there (to the catcher) pretty quick," he said. "He was waiting for me. "What was I supposed to do? I didn't want to bowl him over. He was a lot thicker than me plus he had the gear on and he was already ..."
League fines Lakers center Bynum $25K for comments about officiating
Comment
February 27
L.A. Daily News
 
"Andrew Bynum made some critical comments about the officiating after the Lakers' loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The NBA made its statement Friday, fining Bynum a hefty $25,000 for sounding off about the referees. "It's hard to win when it's five against eight," Bynum said Wednesday. He meant it was difficult to play against five Mavs plus the three referees. Bynum said he had expected to be fined for the first time in his career. "I knew it was going to happen," he said. "Whether it's fair is debatable." Bynum, a 22-year-old, 7-foot center, often reacts with a smile and upraised arms when calls don't go his way."
For Angels starter Joel Pineiro, sinking is an up
Comment
February 27
Los Angeles Times
 
"Newly acquired Angels starting pitcher Joel Pineiro said Friday that while he's eager for the season to start, he needs spring training to get his trademark sinker behaving the way he wishes. "Sometimes when I'm throwing it, it's moving too much out of the plate so you've got to find that good release point where you can be around the plate," the right-hander said. "I'm still working on the location, making sure all the pitches are where they need to be. Everything's good, I'm working hard and can't wait until the games get started." Pineiro, 31, joined the Angels' starting rotation after being signed as a free agent in January to a two-year, $16-million contract. He is coming off a strong ..."
Spending spring training day with the Angels
Comment
February 26
Orange County Register
 
"Over 20 different photographers snapped pictures after nearly every step, and during his batting practice session Thursday, Hideki Matsui didn't disappoint. Matsui launched a line-drive home run over the right field wall. Earlier in the day, Matsui and his teammates posed for pictures as part of the Angels' photo day. In this set of pictures, you'll get a chance to see how the Japanese media embraced a couple of other Angels including Jered Weaver and Torii Hunter."
Santana looking to go 'electric'
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February 26
Orange County Register
 
"When healthy, Ervin Santana has a fastball-slider combination often described as electric. But last season, he was operating on less than full power. A partially-torn elbow ligament diagnosed in spring training hampered Santana throughout the season and he never looked like the All-Star he was in 2008. "There were a couple games where his stuff picked up toward the end a bit that were much closer to what you expect from Ervin," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "But I don't think he ever showed the electric stuff that he showed in '08 last year. "What he had was treatable but it was significant. Any time you impact a ligament in your elbow it's obviously a significant issue. ... He had ..."
Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis look to replace Chone Figgins as Angels' leadoff man
Comment
February 26
Los Angeles Times
 
"If you combine Erick Aybar's speed and durability with Maicer Izturis' plate discipline and consistent contact, you might produce a hybrid player who is a reasonable facsimile of Chone Figgins, one of baseball's best leadoff hitters. That is why it might take two top-of-the-order hitters to replace Figgins, the highly productive third baseman who left to sign a four-year, $36-million deal this winter with the Seattle Mariners. "Ideally, you'd like to have one guy anchored in the leadoff spot -- it makes it better when you have guys who are into their roles, and the lineup becomes clean," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "But when you talk about setting the table, it comes down to production. If ..."
Angels' Ervin Santana hopes to return to 2008 form
Comment
February 26
Los Angeles Times
 
"It was only an eight-minute session of live batting practice with no speed gun, but Ervin Santana's fastball looked lively and he broke two bats Thursday, fueling optimism that the Angels right-hander can regain his 2008 All-Star form. "I feel good -- I don't have to lie about my arm," said Santana, who was slowed by an elbow sprain much of last season, when he was 8-8 with a 5.10 earned-run average. "I'm letting the ball go." When Santana was 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 2008, his fastball hit 96 mph regularly, and his off-speed pitches were sharp. In 2009, his fastball hovered around 91 mph, and his command wavered. "There were a couple of games toward the end [of the season] when his stuff ..."