Results tagged ‘ Taylor Lindsey ’
Pujols still battling plantar fasciitis …
Albert Pujols‘ starts used to be mixed. Now, they’re coming exclusively at designated hitter. And it could continue like that for a while.
The plantar fasciitis on his left foot, which has only grown worse as the season has progressed, has prompted Angels manager Mike Scioscia to start Pujols at DH in four straight games and six of the last seven. He’s tolerating the pain enough to not miss a single start and continue to produce at the plate, posting a .317/.436/.508 slash line in his first 17 games.
But it’s hard for Pujols’ foot to get any better when he’s having to leg out doubles.
It may be even harder to put him on the disabled list.
“You’re always picking at scabs a little bit when you’re out there and you’re trying to play and trying to run,” Scioscia said. “Hopefully, taking the load off of having to go out there and move around first base might be something that might get where it needs to be a little quicker than if he was grinding. Certainly we don’t want it to regress because he’s swinging the bat so well.”
Here’s a look at who’s shining, and who isn’t, in the Angels’ system so far …
HOT
C Chris Snyder (AAA): .358/.424/.698, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 15 G
OF Matt Long (AA): .390/.439/.576, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 16 G
SP Mark Sappington (A): 3-0, 1.59 ERA, 22 2/3 IP, 23 SO, 9 BB
NOT
3B Kaleb Cowart (AA): .179/.281/.232, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 16 G
SP Barry Enright (AAA): 1-2, 9.61 ERA, 19 2/3 IP, 20 SO, 8 BB
2B Taylor Lindsey (AA): .122/.214/.163, 15 G
– 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
Game 5: Padres-Angels …
Padres (1-5)
Cameron Maybin, CF
Makr Kotsay, LF
Yonder Alonso, 1B
Carlos Quentin, DH
Nick Hundley, C
Will Venable, RF
Jedd Gyorko, 3B
Jeudy Valdez, SS
Everth Cabrera, 2B
RH: Clayton Richard
Angels (3-1)
Erick Aybar SS
Howie Kendrick 2B
Albert Pujols 1B
Torii Hunter RF
Vernon Wells LF
Bobby Abreu DH
Alberto Callaspo 3B
Chris Iannetta C
Peter Bourjos CF
SP: Ervin Santana (others: John Hellweg, Trevor Bell, Kevin Jepsen)
Some notes from this morning …
- Reliever Bobby Cassevah should be off a mound for the next couple of days. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said his arm is “a little behind,” but added: “It shouldn’t impact where he is at the end of spring.”
- Scioscia said Mark Trumbo (right foot) is “close.” He’ll run the bases today and do an aggressive fielding drill with some of the coaches. Trumbo targeted Saturday as the day he’d be in full game mode a couple days ago.
- Recovering slugger Kendrys Morales (left ankle) run the bases without bases earlier this morning and Scioscia said he got a “really good report.” The next step is for him to push off bases and make a turn.
- Mike Trout, who lost 10 pounds with his illness, is still a little ways away from getting in games but said he’s feeling good.
- Jerome Williams (left hamstring) needs to make at least four Spring Training starts in order to start the season in the rotation. The Angels don’t need a fifth starter until April 15, and Scoiscia is confident he’s got enough time if all goes according to plan, but the deadline is fast approaching. “There’s a definite line where he’s going to have to be out there pitching in a game,” Scioscia said, “but we’re not near it yet.”
- Maicer Izturis, Scioscia said, is nursing some tightness in his legs.
- The veteran guys who have not pitched yet — guys like Scott Downs, LaTroy Hawkins and Jason Isringhausen — should get in there by Monday.
- Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, C.J. Wilson, Santana, Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter are all on the cover of the Angels media guide.
Some Angels links from Thursday …
- Haren a model of consistency and health
- Haren, Hisanori Takahashi look sharp from the start
- Throwing motion critical for Hank Conger
- Near or far, Pujols wants to play
- Young Taylor Lindsey catches Scioscia’s eye
Some links from around the AL West …
- Transitioning closer Neftali Feliz made his first start, officially putting him in the rotation mix
- Top prospect Jarrod Parker also made his spring debut for the Athletics
- Second baseman Dustin Ackley homered for the Mariners
Udonis Haslem still confident in the clutch despite struggles. I know I trust him.
Mariners 6, Angels 4 …
Albert Pujols and Miguel Olivo greet each other before Wednesday's game.
Recap
Neither No. 3 hitter was in the lineup for this one. Albert Pujols had the day off for the Angels, and new No. 3 hitter Ichiro Suzuki didn’t travel with the Mariners. And so, through six innings, no scoring took place at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Finally, in the seventh, the Mariners broke through against tall Angels reliever Loek Van Mil.
The good
Jered Weaver hurled two scoreless innings, walking none, striking out two and giving up three hits. Weaver, who finished with 34 pitches (20 strikes), worked out of a bases-loaded, two-out situation in the top of the second.Only fastballs and changeups for him at this point.
Closer Jordan Walden made his spring debut, giving up one hit and striking out one in his lone inning of work. He mixed in some changeups — a pitch he’s focusing on this spring — and got a groundball out on one.
Second baseman Taylor Lindsey, the sixth-best Angels prospect, went 2-for-2 with a triple.
Speaking of triples, the speedy Peter Bourjos hit one, too.
The bad
Van Mil, who stands 7-foot-1, surrendered three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Chris Iannetta went 0-for-3 with a couple of strikeouts.
And Mark Trumbo started at third base today, but got absolutely nothing hit to him. Weaver doesn’t give up too many grounders, as you might have heard.
Best quote
Weaver on seeing the 6-foot-4 Trumbo at third base: “I’ve been used to some smaller guys over there at third, so he was in my peripheral a little bit going into the windup. It was a little weird getting that ball from him when they throw it around. But I’ve been watching him taking ground balls and stuff, and he actually looks really comfortable over there.”
Best play (that I saw)
Kendrick hit a rocket to left field in the first inning, but it went right to Mike Carp, who then doubled up Erick Aybar at first base.
– Alden
Alden Gonzalez
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