Angels News

"Orioles left-hander Brian Burres stood at his locker, fielded several questions and offered one consistent answer. He can't pitch as he did in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels last night at Camden Yards and expect his team to win. "You can't just throw up a five-run deficit or something like that up there. You just can't do that to your team," Burres said. "I need to do a better job." In fact, he can't pitch as he did last night and expect to keep his spot in the starting rotation. Burres (7-7) lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, including two homers, and five runs before the Orioles took their second turn at-bat. It was the second shortest start of his career, ..."

"As hope continues to fade for the Baltimore Orioles, Manager Dave Trembley is tiring of questions about his team's resolve. He does not want to answer whether attention will wane or confidence will erode. Trembley used Friday's game as example of how the Orioles would respond, despite falling to the Los Angeles Angels, 6-5, for their fifth loss in sixth games. "These guys will battle their [rear ends] off," Trembley said. "All the time, no matter what." To Trembley's point, the Orioles rebounded from a 5-0 second-inning deficit to make a nail-biter out of what initially appeared to be a laugher. But they needed a comeback because of one of the trouble spots this season -- starting ..."

"The Angels have seen enough leads, large and small, slip away in the bandbox that is Camden Yards to know that an early five-run cushion and a late one-run edge would not guarantee victory over the Baltimore Orioles. So when Garret Anderson poked a run-scoring single to left in the top of the eighth off reliever Chad Bradford -- career hit No. 2,300 for the outfielder -- to put the Angels up by two, it was as if a blast of fresh oxygen had been pumped into the visitors' dugout. "You don't want a one-run lead in the ninth inning in this park -- you can never get enough runs here," center fielder Torii Hunter said. "They get a guy on, [Kevin] Millar pops one out, all of a sudden it's game ..."

"Growing up in the rough part of Pine Bluff, Ark., Torii Hunter always knew he had his grandmother looking out for him. "She helped raise me. She always took care of us," Hunter said. "I remember I ran away from home one time, mad at my mom. (My grandmother) took me in. She told my mom to pretend like she was mad at me so I couldn't come home. I was 9 or 10 years old. After like a week, I started missing my mom, so I went home." Hunter left the Angels on Tuesday in order to go back home and say his final goodbye to his grandmother. Edna Cobbs, 80, died Friday morning as Hunter was traveling to rejoin the Angels for the weekend series in Baltimore. "I'm sad. But she's been suffering for ..."

"The Angels keep finding ways to win close games - even if they have to work to make them close. After scoring five runs in the first two innings, the Angels hung on for their 20 th one-run victory of the season, 6-5, over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night with Francisco Rodriguez recording his 43 rd save of the season to end it. The victory is the Angels' eighth in their past nine games and came courtesy of an offense that has averaged 5.9 runs per game in July after scoring a league-low 201 runs in May and June (3.7 per game). "There was a time when, if the other team scored five runs, it was going to be a tough night for us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We were stuck in the ..."

"They added bulk to the lineup and this season, they were going to bomb the baseball all over the yard. The Angels' plan was to score runs in bunches, taking advantage of the offense generated by Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Garret Anderson. They were going to slug it, and score. But 101 games into the season, the Angels have a 10-game lead in the American League West because of their starting pitching and the back end of their bullpen. The Angels are ranked ninth in the AL and 22nd in the major leagues in home runs and are 10th in the AL and 22nd in the majors in slugging percentage. And the mild successes over the past two weeks have come only after a significant adjustment. They ..."

"First stop, Camden Yards, where the Angels begin a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles tonight. "That park in the summer was like pitching in a studio apartment," said Chuck Finley, an Angel from 1986 to 1999. "The ball flies out of there like there's no tomorrow. Of all the parks I ever pitched in, that's the one I hated most." Next stop, Fenway Park, where the Angels begin a three-game series against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox on Monday night. "Sometimes," Finley recalled of historic and -- for the Angels -- horrific Fenway, "you go into a yard and you're so used to a team beating you, you're almost down 2-0 before the game starts." Last stop, Yankee ..."

"Jeff Mathis hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, Casey Kotchman collected five hits and Mathis and Howie Kendrick had four apiece. For the first time in club history, three players had at least four hits in a nine-inning game. And, after the Angels pounded the Cleveland Indians, 14-11, the voices in the clubhouse suggested this offense might be for real. The Angels aren't going to set a season high for runs every day, but the trading deadline is one week away and no one is demanding reinforcements."

"Struggling reliever Justin Speier didn't have to go to ‘Netflix' to order up some inspirational videos. They were waiting for him at the ballpark Tuesday. “That was a ‘Dig Me' video, that's what that was,” Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said with a smile after spending some time before Tuesday's game in the team's video room with Speier. “Some highlights that Diego (Lopez, the Angels' video coordinator) cut up for him – all his strikeouts, his great plays covering first. A ‘feel-good' video.” The highlight package must have done the trick. Afterwards, Speier said the viewing had only convinced him of what he already suspected – his stuff is as good as last year, if not better, in terms ..."

"For the Angels, this has been the year of living dangerously. Starter Jered Weaver left the game after three innings because of a stiff back, but the Angels strung together six shutout innings from four relievers, ending (of course) with Francisco Rodriguez securing their latest “thin win,” 3-2 over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. The Angels have now played (58) and won (39) more games decided by two runs or fewer runs than anyone in the majors. They have a major league-high 17 victories in games when they scored three runs or less. It's a frequency that should give the Angels a comfort level with close games."

"A prominent athlete who is a friend of Barry Bonds recently told me baseball’s all-time home run king, now living in Los Angeles, has made it known he would love to sign with the first-place Angels. Don’t worry, Angels fans. There’s no chance the Angels will sign the indicted free-agent slugger this season, even if there was a sudden glut of injuries and he offered to DH for free. Angels owner Arte Moreno made that clear during an appearance last week on HBO Sports’ latest episode of “Costas Now,” a town hall meeting in New York in which Bob Costas presided over a panel discussion as past and present major leaguers, coaches and club officials debated hot-button issues. During a segment on ..."

"Dick Williams said he wouldn't last a week in a major league dugout today. He always did exaggerate. "I'd give him two days," said Rick, his son, as all the Williamses prepared for a trip to Cooperstown that validates the merits of tart and art. Oakland and San Diego never saw a World Series before Williams brought his own hard drive to the manager's office. Boston hadn't been there for 19 years and hadn't had a winning season for 10. Montreal and San Diego never had finished over .500, and Williams' first year in Seattle brought a club record for victories."

"Matt Ginter made his second good start as a patch on the Indians' rotation Tuesday night at Angels Stadium, but his teammates wasted too many early opportunities against struggling Jered Weaver. The missed chances hurt later as Jeff Mathis hit a leadoff homer in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and the Angels' bullpen guarded it with bared teeth to beat the Indians, 3-2. Darren Oliver (4-1) won it and Francisco Rodriguez earned the save in the ninth despite walking Grady Sizemore with two out. Rodriguez, with 41 saves, struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Garko on a 3-2 pitch to end it. He's on pace to save 68 games this year. Bobby Thigpen holds the MLB record with 57 in ..."

"Struggling reliever Justin Speier didn't have to go to Netflix to order up some inspirational videos. They were waiting for him at the ballpark Tuesday. "That was a 'Dig Me' video, that's what that was," Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said with a smile after spending some time before Tuesday's game in the team's video room with Speier. "Some highlights that Diego (Lopez, the Angels' video coordinator) cut up for him - all his strikeouts, his great plays covering first. A 'feel-good' video." The highlight package must have done the trick. Afterwards, Speier said the viewing had only convinced him of what he already suspected - his stuff is as good as last year, if not better, in ..."

"For the Angels, this has been the year of living dangerously. Starter Jered Weaver left the game after three innings with a stiff back, but the Angels strung together six shutout innings from four relievers, ending (of course) with Francisco Rodriguez securing their latest "thin win," 3-2 over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night."

"It wasn't so much a relief effort as it was a rescue mission.Angels starter Jered Weaver was pulled after three innings because of a knot in his right shoulder blade, but the bullpen tag team of Darren Oliver, Jose Arredondo, Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez blanked the Cleveland Indians over the final six innings of a 3-2 victory in Angel Stadium on Tuesday night."

"The Angels played their 99th game Monday night, and Rodriguez appeared in 47 of the first 98. In those 47 games, Rodriguez pitched 44 innings. Through 98 games last season, Rodriguez had appeared in 40 games, worked 42 2/3 innings and had 25 saves. In 2006, he worked 40 2/3 innings and had 25 saves through the Angels' first 98 games. Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher have taken precautions to ensure that Rodriguez doesn't burn himself out — or worse, suffer an injury from overuse."

"Is this a turning point in Paul Byrd's season? And if so, will the Indians find a buyer for him on the trade market? All of that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Byrd (4-10, 5.28 ERA) held the Angels to one run in 51/3 innings, as the Tribe earned a 5-2 decision, winning for the third time in four games on this trip to Seattle and Anaheim. Indians hitters didn't embarrass Los Angeles Angels starter Ervin Santana, but they put just enough of a hurt on him to get the job done."

"The last time Paul Byrd faced the Angels, he allowed three homers and six runs in three innings. It was April and the season was still young and full of promise for the Indians. The promise long ago turned to dust, but the thing about baseball is that the games must be played no matter how many dreams have been crushed or realized along the way. Monday night it was the Indians who hit the homers and Byrd who kept the ball inside Angel Stadium in a 5-2 victory over the team with the best record in the big leagues. Byrd went 5 1/3 innings for only his fourth victory of the season and Andy Marte, Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta homered."

"If Francisco Rodriguez is going to break Bobby Thigpen's major league record of 57 saves in one season, the Angels want to make sure he does it right. Rodriguez is not only on pace to shatter Thigpen's record, as he has 40 saves, but he's on track to set career marks in appearances and innings pitched, too."

"Reality returned to Angel Stadium Monday night with a resounding thud. The Red Sox were gone, after being swept in a weekend series, but so were the weapons that led to that sweep. The late-inning rallies had disappeared. The clutch hits were nonexistent and the victory never came. Andy Marte, Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta hit home runs and pitcher Paul Byrd did his best to make them stand up as the Cleveland Indians beat the Angels, 5-2, in front of 43,037."

"Chone Figgins got in trouble with his father last weekend. The younger Figgins left the Angels to fly to Florida and be with his father who was hospitalized after having two seizures, brought on by his hypertension. Figgins missed the Angels' final two games before the All-Star break. "He hated that I missed baseball," Figgins said with a smile. "I guess that's where I get that from, wanting to play every game. "He was glad to see me. But in a way, he was mad at me." Figgins said his father, Charles, is only 50 but first began having health problems in 2006 when he suffered a stroke. He recovered from that but continues to battle high blood pressure and had seizures that landed him ..."

"First things first. A season of firsts continued for the first-place Angels over the weekend at sold-out Angel Stadium, where Arte Moreno's Anaheim-based mercenaries recorded their first home sweep of the Boston Red Sox since 1998. The sweep also clinched the Angels' first season-series victory against the Red Sox since 2001. (The Angels are 5-1, with three games remaining in Boston the last week of July, thanks to their first five-game winning streak against the Red Sox since 1994.) On the strength of their 11-3, 4-2 and 5-3 victories, the Angels became the first team in the majors to reach 60 victories, increasing their division lead to nine games for the first time."

"Before this weekend's series began Torii Hunter said he was asked by a reporter what the Angels' approach would be against the first-place Boston Red Sox. His response — "I told her to go over there (the visitors' clubhouse) and ask them what their approach was going to be against the first-place Angels." The role reversal was complete Sunday as the Angels rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the now-second place Red Sox, 5-3. The victory capped a three-game sweep that saw the Angels outscore the Red Sox 20-8 and secure their hold on the best record in baseball as the first team in the majors to reach 60 victories this season."

"If the Red Sox promise to keep David Ortiz in Pawtucket and Jonathan Papelbon locked in the bullpen, the Angels will gladly do this again. Instead, the Angels draw no sweeping conclusions about this weekend. Face value is valuable enough. When Casey Kotchman nailed down this 5-3 victory with his 2-run double in the eighth, it put the Angels 21/2 games clear of everybody else in the American League. Francisco Rodriguez got his 40th save, which won't slow down his personal cash register, and the offense bailed out Vladimir Guerrero, who muffed a line drive to give Boston a go-ahead run. Beyond that, the Angels can take momentary comfort from the fact that their three starting pitchers ..."

"This is why you go to the ballgame.This is why you get out of the lawn chair in the backyard, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, pack the kids in the car, stop at the ATM, drive the freeway and pause on the way to your seats for hot dogs.It is the eighth inning at Angel Stadium, a strange 3 p.m. game time dictated by television, which now teams with the Internet to dictate just about everything in our lives.Lots is going on. Much is at stake.The Angels have the best record in baseball. They are quietly special this season. No huge winning streaks to get everybody's attention. No players having career seasons, except for a relief pitcher named Francisco Rodriguez. None of their players ..."

"It flutters, it darts, it sails and it drops.Nothing can frustrate a major league hitter quite like a well-thrown knuckleball. Just ask the Angels, who on Sunday at Angel Stadium faced Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox, one of the few remaining masters of the bizarre pitch that leaves not only hitters, but often catchers and the pitcher himself, wondering just where it will go. Specifically ask catcher Jeff Mathis, who took a called third strike on a Wakefield pitch that limped over the plate at 57 mph, a tantalizing balloon that dared Mathis to pop it.The Angels' Torii Hunter, who managed to homer against Wakefield in Sunday's game, has a theory he lives by when it comes to ..."

"Knuckleballs or fastballs.Small ball or big blasts. Soar ahead or come from behind.Good teams or bad.None of it seems to matter to an Angels team that has proved time and again in its march to the best record in baseball that no challenge is too daunting, no opponent too intimidating, no rally too unlikely.They were at it again Sunday at Angel Stadium. They had blown a two-run lead to the Boston Red Sox, were being stifled by knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield and had given up the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on an error by right fielder Vladimir Guerrero."

"The Red Sox couldn't get out of Orange County fast enough. After last night's third straight loss to the muscle-flexing Angels (the clash of American League titans served as a warm-up act for the vaunted ESPYs) the Sox trudged toward John Wayne Airport where they were scheduled to fly to Seattle. Safeco should be a safe house for the reeling Franconamen. While waiting four more days for the much-needed return of David Ortiz, the Sox have a chance to get back on message against the worst team (38-60) in the AL. Certainly there's not much positive to be drawn from the Lost Weekend at the Big A. Where to start?"

""Stadium rats sent packing" was the front-page headline in a local paper yesterday, a resounding declaration that the Angels had eradicated a vermin problem that had surfaced publicly last summer. That's not all that passes as good news around the Big A these days. The logical follow this morning is "Red Sox sent packing," a three-game sweep of the Sox this weekend sending a strong message that the Angels have made great inroads in eradicating a Sox problem that tends to surface in October. With a 5-3, come-from-behind win against the Sox yesterday, Manny Delcarmen giving up a tie-breaking, two-run double to Casey Kotchman in the eighth after Tim Wakefield gave up back-to-back doubles ..."

"About the only thing that went right for the Red Sox over the weekend was that nobody got hurt. Their feelings - and spot in the standings - are another story after the Los Angeles Angels sent the Red Sox to their third painful loss in a row with a 5-3 victory last night. The sweep by the Angels, their first over the Red Sox in seven years, left the Sox 1 games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, who also lost. But there was little forward progress made by the Sox in the series, as the Angels consistently outplayed them. Outscored, 20-8, and out-hit, 30-19, in the three games by the AL West leaders, the Sox watched the loss in the finale unfold before their eyes late."

"Chone Figgins got in trouble with his father last weekend. The younger Figgins left the Angels in order to fly to Florida and be with his father who was hospitalized after having two seizures, brought on by his hypertension. In the process, Figgins missed the Angels' final two games before the All-Star break."

"Before this weekend's series began, Torii Hunter said he was asked by a reporter what the Angels' approach would be against the first-place Boston Red Sox. His response - "I told her to go over there (the visitors' clubhouse) and ask them what their approach was going to be against the first-place Angels." The role reversal was complete Sunday afternoon as the Angels rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the now-second place Red Sox 5-3."

"The Angels don't have a position player on pace to drive in 100 runs, which would be the first time since 1998. They are ranked 11th in the American League with a .258 team batting average, which would be their lowest since 1999. They are ranked ninth in homers, 10th in runs, 10th in RBIs, 10th in slugging percentage, 11th in hits, 12th in on-base percentage and 13th in walks. The only .300 hitter in the starting lineup (second baseman Howie Kendrick) has played in only 52 of 97 games. Six regular position players are batting at least 20 points under their career averages – three of them more than 30 points lower -- and only one every-day starter (first baseman Casey Kotchman) is ..."

"When Gary Matthews Jr. was playing every day, he was willing to play through the pain in his left knee. When it became obvious he was going to spend a lot of time in the second half of the season watching Juan Rivera play, Matthews decided he needed to get some answers. Matthews underwent an MRI on his troublesome left knee Thursday and met with Angels' medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum on Saturday to discuss the results and treatment options. According to Matthews, the MRI showed the expected inflammation in the patella tendon as well as a small tear."

"When Gary Matthews Jr. was playing every day, he was willing to play through the pain in his left knee. When it became obvious he was going to spend a lot of time in the second half of the season watching Juan Rivera play, Matthews decided he needed to get some answers. Matthews underwent an MRI on his troublesome left knee Thursday and met with Angels' medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum Saturday to discuss the results and treatment options. According to Matthews, the MRI showed the expected inflammation in the patella tendon as well as a small tear."

"I want to take the Angels seriously. I want to believe they can challenge the Red Sox should they meet again in October. But it's hard to get into a lather about a threat from California. Memories of past Octobers keep flashing through my mind. When I close my eyes I see Angels who never got into hardball heaven while playing the Red Sox in the postseason. The Angels beat the Sox again yesterday, rallying for four runs off Josh Beckett in the seventh inning. Los Angeles leads the American League West by eight games, and owns the best record in baseball (59-38). The Angels have beaten the Red Sox four times in five meetings in 2008. So why is this not a matter of concern in Red Sox ..."

"No truth to the rumor that Red Sox vice chairman Phil Morse, who in the past has given rides to Johnny Damon and the CIA, dispatched his private jet to Pawtucket for David Ortiz, who now has homered in three straight games for the PawSox. Or that the New England Revolution, with their newly discovered talent for apprehending naked miscreants, have offered to serve as escorts should Papi choose to fly commercial. Ortiz homers for third straight game on rehab assignment with Pawtucket. D7 At least, that was the case yesterday afternoon, when manager Terry Francona was adamant that the Sox would take no shortcuts with Ortiz's rehab assignment. But with Sox owners John W. Henry and Tom ..."

"In his four 2007 postseason wins, Josh Beckett’s best-pitched game was his first, a four-hit shutout in the Division Series against the Angels. In his first rematch since, Beckett could not summon greatness as the Red Sox fell yesterday, 4-2, to start this second-half opening road trip 0-2. Beckett entered the seventh with a 2-0 lead, but a three-run triple by pinch-hitter Erick Aybar put the Angels ahead for good."

"The Angels won Saturday, 4-2, with a home run from Vladimir Guerrero and a pinch-hit, three-run triple from Erick Aybar. If the Angels win today, they'll sweep the Red Sox for the first time in 10 years."

"Jon Garland will not start Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox, as scheduled. The right-hander was pushed back one day because of a stiff neck. Joe Saunders, who was scheduled to start Sunday, will instead pitch Saturday. "I woke up (Thursday) and I was stuck," Garland said of his neck. "I couldn't tell you the last time it happened.""

"The AL West-leading Angels returned to work Friday night at Angel Stadium, opening a weekend series against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox in a potential playoff preview. Another one. The last time the Red Sox were here, they celebrated with a traditional dogpile in the middle of the infield after completing a three-game sweep in the AL Division Series. That was followed by the usual wet-and-wild nonsense in the visitors clubhouse, during which Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon dumped a can of beer on my head as I waited in front of David "Big Papi" Ortiz's locker. Though Angels manager Mike Scioscia stopped short of calling this a "statement series," he conceded the Red Sox are ..."

"Not only has the big, bad wolf lost its teeth, ultimately the Angels were laughing at the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Playing an opponent that has had their number in recent seasons, the Angels jumped all over the Red Sox, rolling to an 11-3 victory in the opener of a three-game series to start the second half. Watching Manny Ramirez fumble around in left field added a touch of humor."

"Clay Buchholz said he was nervous upon his recall to the Red Sox last week, when he walked five and gave up five hits in five innings. After an even worse time of it last night, when he gave up eight runs - four earned - in just 4 2/3 innings of Boston's 11-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the Sox may also be having some jitters about reintroducing the rookie righthander to the perils of a big-league summer."

"Admittedly, Clay Buchholz didn’t get much help last night. But then, the baseball gods help those who help themselves. And Buchholz didn’t do that, either. While Alex Cora committed a critical fielding error that led to four unearned runs and helped turn a 4-3 game into an eventual 11-3 loss, the Red Sox suffered a series of fundamental breakdowns last night against the Los Angeles Angels in their second-half opener. Buchholz followed Cora’s misplay by allowing an RBI single, a walk and two-run single to the next three batters he faced, turning a 5-3 game into an 8-3 runaway."

"As second-half starts go, the glass came up not just half-empty but dry as a bone for the back-in-second-place Red Sox [team stats] last night. With poor pitching and defense ruling the Sox’ night, the Angels were able to build a lead and then furiously expand on it en route to an 11-3 pounding of the visitors. With the Rays beating the Blue Jays, the loss pushed the Sox a half-game behind Tampa Bay."

"The Angels are concerned enough about the left knee of Gary Matthews Jr. that the outfielder underwent an MRI test on Thursday and will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum today, Manager Mike Scioscia said.Matthews irritated his patellar tendon last September, an injury that knocked him out of the American League division series against the Boston Red Sox."

"One game does not a new world order make. Nor does one regular-season series.For the Angels to break Boston's spell over them, they must end their nine-game playoff losing streak against the Red Sox, who swept the Angels out of the American League division series in 2004 and 2007 en route to winning the World Series both years."

"The Boston Red Sox did not win a World Series between 1918 and 2004. But they have won twice in the last four years, and their young closer apparently considers a parade his team's rite of October. The Angels have the best record in the American League. The Red Sox have the second-best record. The teams open the second half facing each other, in a three-game series that starts tonight at Angel Stadium."

"Juan Rivera has given the offense a much-needed boost, hitting .367 (11 for 30) with three homers and eight runs batted in since June 29, but his lack of outfield playing time in the first half may have contributed to some spotty defense."