Results tagged ‘ Luke Carlin ’
Opening Day: Angels-Reds …
Welcome to Great American Ball Park, home of the first ever interleague matchup on Opening Day and the scene where the Angels will kick off another highly anticipated season …
Angels (0-0)
Mike Trout, CF
Erick Aybar, SS
Albert Pujols, 1B
Josh Hamilton, RF
Mark Trumbo, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Chris Iannetta, C
Jered Weaver, SP
Reds (0-0)
Shin-Soo Choo, CF
Brandon Phillips, 2B
Joey Votto, 1B
Ryan Ludwick, LF
Jay Bruce, RF
Todd Frazier, 3B
Zack Cozart, SS
Ryan Hanigan, C
Johnny Cueto, SP
Some pregame notes …
- Chris Snyder could’ve opted out of his Minor League deal with the Angels, but the veteran catcher instead accepted his assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake, increasing the Angels’ depth behind the plate. Snyder will be on a Salt Lake Bees roster that also includes John Hester and Luke Carlin, with the three of them rotation between catcher, DH and bench duty. Snyder will also play some first base.
- Mike Scioscia, on where Garrett Richards‘ role in the bullpen is: He’s much more than just an innings-eater in the ‘pen. His power arm is something we can take a look at at any point in the game.” Ernesto Frieri, Scott Downs and Sean Burnett are ahead of him in the depth chart, but it could change if he pitches well.
- Scioscia said he “would anticipate” that Pujols would play all three games at first base in this series. The day off certainly helps.
- Ryan Madson is away from throwing, still experiencing some tightness in his elbow, but Scioscia expects him to get back on the mound in a couple days.
- Trout has about 10 family and friends at Great American Ball Park for his first Major League Opening Day. “It a feeling you really can’t explain,” he said.
Some Opening Day numbers …
- The Angels have won eight of their last nine Opening Day games, including four straight, which ties a franchise record.
- This is Weaver’s fourth straight Opening Day start and fifth overall, joining Mike Witt as the only pitcher to start five Opening Days for the Angels. Weaver is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA on Day 1.
- Hamilton made his debut in this stadium almost exactly six years ago (April 2, 2007, in Cincy).
- The Angels are the only team in the Majors to open the 2013 season with three straight series against playoff teams (Reds, Rangers, A’s). That actually hasn’t been done since ’07 (Giants and Orioles).
- This is the third series all-time played between the Angels and Reds, and first since 2007. The Angels have won four of six.
- Angels’ 74-34 record in Interleague Play since 2007 leads the Majors.
- Aybar and Kendrick are making their fifth straight Opening Day start together up the middle, the longest active active Opening Day start streak by a middle-infield tandem in the Majors. Today, Kendrick passed Bobby Knoop for most consecutive Opening Day starts by an Angels second baseman.
- The Angels’ first road trip has six different times (all local): 4:10, 7:10, 12:35, 1:05, 3:05, 7:05.
- Pujols’ career 143 RBIs and 46 homers against the Reds rank second among active players.
– Alden
Rangers claim Mills, Angels make cuts …
The Rangers claimed left-handed starting pitcher Brad Mills off waivers from the Angels on Sunday.
Mills, 28, was out of options and had to clear waivers in order for the Angels to option him to the Minor Leagues. Mills has spent his six-year pro career pitching almost entirely in the Minors, going 41-38 with a 3.97 ERA in 112 games (106 starts). Acquired from the Blue Jays in exchange for Jeff Mathis in December 2011, Mills has logged 53 1/3 innings in parts of four seasons in the Majors, posting a 7.76 ERA. He has given up four runs in six Cactus League innings this spring.
Additionally, the Angels sent outfielders Scott Cousins and Matt Young, infielder Tommy Field, catcher Luke Carlin, and pitchers Nick Maronde, Fernando Cabrera, Chad Cordero and Kevin Johnson to Minor League camp. Their spring roster is now at 35.
Maronde, the Angels’ top pitching prospect, came into came battling for a spot in the bullpen, and even though he didn’t win it, the 23-year-old left-hander will remain in that role in Double-A. Maronde was primarily a starter in the Minors, going 11-4 with a 2.22 ERA in 31 games (29 starts) in the Minors. But he pitched well as a reliever with the Angels as a September callup, giving up one run in 12 appearances (six innings) and that’s where the organization sees his future.
“He’s got to maintain his velocity a little better in the ‘pen,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think he has to go face hitters three, four times with just a fasteball slider, a changeup coming. He’s a guy that’s going to be go in in one-inning spurts and just do what you would hope a guy could posssilby pitch at the back end would do. He’s got that upsdide.”
– Alden
Angels sign veteran catcher Chris Snyder …
The Angels, concerned over Hank Conger‘s perpetual throwing woes, have agreed to terms with former Nationals catcher Chris Snyder on a Minor League contract with an invitation for Spring Training.
Snyder will be added to the team on Tuesday and will compete for the backup spot behind the plate, turning up the pressure on the young Conger, who has continued to impress with the bat and has made strides with his footwork and receiving skills — but who has also made four throwing errors this spring, three of which came in one game.
Snyder, 32, has posted a .225/.329/.385 slash line in his nine year Major League career. He appeared in 76 games for the Astros in 2012, batting .176 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 258 plate appearances, then signed a Minor League deal with the Nats after Houston declined his $4 million option.
Snyder’s deal included a clause that allowed him to request his release if he wasn’t on the roster by March 24, so the Nats gave it to him on Monday, six days in advance, and Snyder quickly jumped on with the Angels.
An industry source confirmed on Saturday that the Angels were seeking a cheap, veteran backup catcher, adding that the waiver wire would be the best bet now that teams are paring down the roster. The Angels still believe in Conger, who has one option year left. So if Snyder wins the backup job, the switch-hitting Conger will likely start the season in Triple-A to find the consistent release point that has eluded him.
John Hester (on the 40-man) and Luke Carlin (a non-roster invitee) are the other two catchers technically vying for the backup job, but both have had very inconsistent time in the Majors throughout their careers.
– Alden
Angels in search of a backup catcher …
The Angels, feeling a little uneasy about Hank Conger‘s throwing woes, are in search of a veteran backup catcher as Spring Training winds down, an industry source confirmed to MLB.com on Saturday. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com first reported the Angels’ interest.
Conger, 25, came into camp as the clear-cut favorite to back up catcher Chris Iannetta and has hit well, batting .381 with two homers and 11 RBIs. The Angels like the switch-hitting Conger — who has always hit and has come a long way with his footwork and receiving skills behind the plate — but they need him to correct his throwing issues, which led to three errant throws on Sunday to up his spring total to at least five.
With rosters being pared down this time of year, the Angels will look to the waiver wire to add a steady, inexpensive, veteran presence behind the plate. They have an open spot on the 40-man roster after slipping Bobby Cassevah, now with the Rockies, through waivers. They’ll have some competition, though, with the Phillies, Pirates and Rays also looking for catching help, according to MLB.com’s Peter Gammons.
The Angels still believe in Conger. So in the event of an acquisition, they’re likely to option him to Triple-A to start the season so he can find the consistent release point that has eluded him. Conger has one option year left. John Hester (on the 40-man) and Luke Carlin (a non-roster invitee) are the other two catchers technically vying for the backup job, but both have had very inconsistent time in the Majors throughout their careers.
– Alden
Angels announce Spring Training invites …
The Angels announced 21 non-roster invitees who will be joining those on the 40-man roster in Spring Training. Here’s a look at who’s coming to camp …
Pitchers: Billy Buckner, Kevin Johnson, Tony Pena, Jo-Jo Reyes, A.J. Schugel, Mitch Stetter
Catchers: Jett Bandy, Luke Carlin, Carlos Ramirez, Zach Wright
Infielders: Kaleb Cowart, Brendan Harris, Taylor Lindsey, Efren Navarro, Luis Rodriguez, Eric Stamets, Alex Yarbrough
Outfielders: Randal Grichuk, Trent Oeltjen, J.B. Shuck, Matt Young
* Note that veteran reliever Fernando Cabrera will also be in big league camp when his contract his official.
Here’s the 40-man roster, in case you’re wondering who else is joining them.
Pitchers report Feb. 11, position players report Feb. 14.
– Alden
Alden Gonzalez
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