Angels Report 6/19
June 19, 2002
LATEST TEAM INFO
The Angels are still a very hot baseball team and the boys of summer do not seem to be cooling off any time soon. The Angeles are getting everything going all at one time. The bats are hitting and the pitchers aren’t getting hit. The line up the Angeles put out every night is full of power and they have been showing it. Angels hitters have struck out 316 times this season, the fewest in the majors. The pitching staff got the tune up it needed and now they are getting to job done and are running full speed ahead, with Kevin Appier being an exception. The Angels do not have a legitimate ace, but they have five very solid pitchers.
Though the Angels have lost three strait they still find them selves only 2 games behind the Seattle Mariners. At this time last year the Mariners were running away with the division and the Angels were in third place not even looking to make a move into first or even into the playoffs. This year they can make a big run for first place and a birth into the playoffs. It’s safe to say the wild card is going to come out of American League East. With the A’s heating up and the Mariners getting healthy, this is going to come down to the team who makes the least mistakes and plays the smartest baseball.
The one weakness the Angles need to improve on in order to compete with the Mariners is in the bullpen. They have the starters and the closer to get the job done, but there are no reliable arms to get from one point to the other. Appier and Sele have been doing their jobs eating up lots of innings. With Appier and Sele going late into games it takes pressure off of the bullpen.
The Angles match great at every position with the Mariners.
ANGELS---MARINERS
C-Molina C-Wilson
1stSpiezio 1st-Olerud
2edKennedy 2nd -Boone
SS-Eckstein SS-Guillen
3rd-Glaus 3rd-Cirillo
LF-Anderson LF-Sierra
CF-Erstad CF-Cameron
RF-Salmon RF-Suzuki
DH-Fullmer DH-Marinez
SP-Sele SP-Garcia
SP-Appier SP-Moyer
SP-Washburn SP-Baldwin
SP-Ortiz SP-Pineiro
SP-Schoeneweis SP-Soriano
MRLevine MR-Rhodes
CL-Percival CL-Sasaki
PLAYER NEWS
Kevin Appier said he felt a sensation in his arm while throwing a breaking ball, but said he could simply throw it another way and still have the same effectiveness without the tightness. However, Appier has lost his last four starts, including the past two when he failed to last at least five innings. So something must not be working correctly.
Ramon Ortiz is pitching great lately. He has a 1.06 WHIP and a 3.40 ERA, and hasn't lost since May 24.
Troy Percival is up to his normal self. He is pitching strong and with a lot of command. He as 15 saves and an ERA of 2.61.
Scott Schoeneweis pitched his shortest outing of the year Saturday. In two innings, he gave up six runs and six hits, including three home runs. He had given up just one run in his last 15 innings. Every pitcher has a bad day; in general he is doing a good job for the club.
Jarrod Washburn is pitching great lately. Washburn is 5-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his past eight starts.
Troy Glaus is not hitting for a great average, only .252 and only has 13 home runs. Tell me this: Who Cares? He is have a great season and is on pace to break two club records. Glaus has 52 RBIs, which puts him on pace for 130. He has 51 runs scored, which puts him on pace for 127. Both numbers would be career and club bests and to Glaus are the only two numbers that matter.
Adam Kennedy has been loosing at-bats lately. Scioscia has been using Benji Gil or Jose Nieves at second base against left-handers. Kennedy is hitting .286 with 2 homeruns and 18 RBI’s.
Garrett Anderson is hitting the ball as well as anyone. He leads the AL with 38 extra-base hits (24 doubles, 14 home runs)
RUMOR MILL
There has been a rumor that Kennedy might be out of Anaheim. Management has not bee happy with the production and growth he has been making thought his career up to this point. The Talk is that Jose Nieves is the short stop of the future and that Eckstein will switch positions and play second base. This is not official (hence it’s under rumor mill) but it is a fact that management is not happy with Kennedy’s production.
ON THE FARM
The Angels drafted Virginia Tech left-hander Joe Saunders with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2002 draft. Saunders, a junior who turns 21 on June 16, was 9-2 with a 2.86 ERA this past season for the Hokies as their ace. He is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, and armed with what scouts call a "complete" repertoire of pitches.
The Angels made a move to bolster their bullpen, promoting right-hander Scot Shields from Class AAA Salt Lake. Shields, 26, was 2-2 with a 3.06 ERA at Salt Lake, which included a spot start. Shields made his major-league debut with the Angels last season, giving up one unearned run and eight hits in 11 innings in eight appearances.
INJURIES
CF Julio Ramirez- he is on the 15 day DL with a strained left calf.
DH Shawn Wooten on 60-day DL with a torn ligament in right thumb---- 1B/DH Shawn Wooten took live batting practice on June 18 for the first time since straining a muscle in his right side. Wooten isn't expected to begin a rehab assignment for at least another week.
P Steve Green is on the 60-day DL, recovery from shoulder surgery.
QUICK VIEW
ADD- Ramon Ortiz- if he as available get him. He is the best pitcher on this staff and he his pitching well.
Scott Schoenewies- He had a bad outing in his last start, but he might be a good guy of you need an extra starter.
DROP- Kevin Appier- We are not too sure what is up with him. He has a sore arm and who knows where this can go. Right now it is not a safe to start him for your team.
Adam Kennedy- He is loosing at-bats and this makes him a player you don’t want on your team.
