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Clips

(March 28, 2016)

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Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 4) Angels' Jered Weaver has his best start of the spring against A's

Angels' awful farm system will be big-league problem this season

Mike Trout homers again, Albert Pujols injured in Angels' 11-3 win over

A's

Angels' offense is humming this spring, but Mike Scioscia wants to know

what tune it plays in regular season

Spring training: Angels 9, San Diego 8

Angels' Hector Santiago pitches fairly well, but what he really wants to do

is hit

Cam Bedrosian, hitters shine in Angels' 11-2 exhibition victory over the

San Diego Padres

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 12) Angels Notes: Another setback stops C.J. Wilson's rehab

Final: Jered Weaver picks up victory, Mike Trout homers in Angels' rout of

A's

Angels' Jered Weaver: 'Every day it's getting better'

Angels' Johnny Giavotella takes field with a purpose this spring

Angels Notes: Westminster's Greg Mahle still in the mix

Final: Angels cap wild finish with walk off victory over Padres

Mike Scioscia: Angels prepared to fly with contact play

Final: Hot hitting Angels roll to another victory over Padres

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 21) Weaver working to fill out deep Angels rotation

Wilson likely shut down for remainder of spring

Pujols day to day after being hit in foot by pitch

March 28, 2016 Page 3 of 43

Trout goes yard for second straight day in win

Pujols, Calhoun go back-to-back in win

Halos bats enjoying impressive spring season

Angels hope for better double-play duo in '16

Simmons aims to break out at plate for Halos

Eppler doesn't expect any additions before season

Trout, Simmons lead offense; Santiago goes five

FROM ESPN.COM (Page 31) MLB's best, worst defensive players

Albert Pujols takes pitch to foot repaired in offseason, day-to-day

Prospect notes: Baldoquin looks leaner, Cubs' Happ displaying quick

hands

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 33) Weaver back on mound for Angels in 11-3 win over A's

Pujols, Calhoun hit home runs in Angels' 9-8 win over Padres

Santiago, Nava lead Angels past Padres split squad 11-2

FROM THE EAGLE TRIBUNE (Page 38) Lawrence's Sosa opening eyes in LA Angels organization

FROM THE LA DAILY NEWS (Page 40)

Tragedies gave Angels pitcher Javy Guerra new perspective on work, life

FROM NBC SPORTS (Page 42) 2016 Preview: Los Angeles Angels

March 28, 2016 Page 4 of 43

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels' Jered Weaver has his best start of the spring against A's Pedro Moura

In his last start, against minor league hitters, the Angels' Jered Weaver tried to repeat the arm slot he

has spent this spring searching for. He succeeded sometimes and failed other times.

On Friday, in a start against Oakland's major leaguers, Weaver found the three-quarters slot he desired

again and again, and he used it to put together his best start of the spring.

"I haven't been able to throw the ball out of that arm slot in three years, so that was good," he said

afterward. "My arm slot over the last three years, I've had to throw around stuff, and I didn't have to

throw around anything today. Today was a good day."

Two scouts in attendance clocked Weaver's average fastball velocity at roughly 80 mph, a bit better than

in his recent outings. He did surpass that barrier several times, even reaching 83 mph with his final pitch

of the third inning, which induced a popup.

Weaver gave up two home runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out two hitters — Coco Crisp and

Mark Canha — and did not walk any. He said his body felt looser, and, for the first time, acknowledged

how tight his shoulder and neck have felt in recent seasons.

"About 80% of the league wouldn't have been throwing with what I've been throwing the last couple

years," Weaver said.

Weaver's average fastball velocities in 2014 and 2015 were 86.8 and 84.9 mph. He pitched to 3.59 and

4.64 earned-run averages.

His next start will come in a minor league game Wednesday, after Cactus League play concludes. Most

of his Angels teammates will already be in Anaheim, on a scheduled off day.

The results of that outing should determine whether he will begin the season in the starting rotation or

make one more minor league start before debuting. Weaver said he expected the former situation, but

Manager Mike Scioscia said he was unsure.

"There's no rush to where he needs to be ready," Scioscia said. "We're not going to cram. When he's

ready, he's ready. He's making progress, but he definitely needs some more work."

Weaver was asked Friday who had helped him figure out how to alleviate the discomfort.

"I had to figure this out by myself," he said. "Nobody has had any answers."

March 28, 2016 Page 5 of 43

Wilson shut down

Left-hander C.J. Wilson has ceased throwing and will not resume doing so until opening day, if not later.

Several days ago, the 35-year-old spoke with excitement about his plans to reinvent himself with an

altered delivery, but he soon stopped throwing amid continued concerns about tendinitis in his

shoulder.

It's his second shutdown of the spring. Scioscia said it was a matter of developing strength.

"I wouldn't say he's starting over, but there's no doubt that some issues have come up that he's dealing

with and working his way through," Scioscia said. "We're going to let it go at its own schedule. You can't

force these things."

The timeline means Wilson will not return to the majors until at least May. Scioscia said the Angels have

not discussed surgery for Wilson, who will become a free agent at season's end.

Short hops

The Angels waived right-hander Deolis Guerra, one of two men they picked in December's Rule 5 draft.

Guerra cleared waivers and elected free agency. The Angels are now attempting to re-sign him to a

minor league deal, according to a team spokesman. "His arm is real," Scioscia said. "There's no doubt

that his stuff is good. He's got size, he's got angle. He's just had a little problem with command." … Ji-

Man Choi, the Angels' other Rule 5 selection, remains on the roster bubble. … The team also optioned

catcher Jett Bandy to triple A, leaving 43 players on their spring-training roster.

Angels' awful farm system will be big-league problem this season Dylan Hernandez The baseball industry’s view of the Angels farm system remains unchanged after five weeks of spring

training, with scouts from other teams continuing to use less-than-flattering terms to describe the

organization’s top prospects.

“Awful,” said one scout.

The shortage of up-and-coming talent will compromise not only the Angels’ long-term future, but also

the upcoming season.

With a farm system that is ranked the worst in baseball by multiple national publications, the Angels

won’t be able to adequately replace an injured starter from within their organization. Nor will they have

anyone of value to trade if they have to address a shortcoming at the non-waiver trade deadline.

The dynamic will magnify already-existing problems on the major league roster.

March 28, 2016 Page 6 of 43

There’s still a gap in left field. The pitching rotation has minimal upside behind Garrett Richards and

Andrew Heaney. With the exception of Andrelton Simmons at shortstop, the infield defense is shaky, at

best.

Even with the best player in baseball, it’s entirely possible the Angls finish last in the American League

West.

::

A disappointing observation from the NCAA basketball tournament: In person, Duke guard Grayson

Allen doesn’t resemble Ted Cruz nearly as much as he does in some photographs.

::

Alex Rodriguez once kissed his reflection in a mirror for a magazine photospread. His penchant for

making himself a subject of derision was such that former New York Yankees coach Larry Bowa used to

playfully fine him $100 every time he was quoted saying something stupid in a newspaper. So it was only

more of the same for Rodriguez this week when he stumbled as he discussed his retirement plans, first

saying he would retire at the end of the 2017 season, then saying he wouldn’t, only to backtrack again

to say he would.

::

Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr was jokingly asked in February if he had a Yasiel Puig in his

locker room. Kerr didn’t have an answer then, but he does now: All-Star forward Draymond Green, who

posted a video on his Snapchat account showing the driver’s view of a car traveling at a Puigian 118

mph. On second thought, comparing Green to Puig is an insult to Puig, who is at least smart enough to

not share recordings from a speeding vehicle.

::

Andre Ward made strong case for being the No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world in the fall of 2012

when he stopped Chad Dawson in a masterful performance. Ward has fought only twice since, the result

of a dispute with a promoter and because of injuries. The former Olympic gold medalist remains

determined to become a pay-per-view attraction, but he’s 32 now and it’s unknown if what he has left

at this stage of his career. There will be some answers Saturday, when steps in the ring for the first time

in nine months against Sullivan Barrera.

::

There used to be a sense that soccer’s near-universal popularity shielded the sport from terrorist

violence, but that’s no longer the case. Now, in the wake of the terrorist attack in Belgium, there’s talk

of the European Championships this summer being played in empty stadiums.

The 20-nation tournament will be hosted by France, which was the site of multiple jihadi attacks last

year. A November incident that marked the deadliest terrorist attack in the nation’s history forced the

March 28, 2016 Page 7 of 43

French president to evacuate from a soccer match between France and Germany at the Stade de France

– the same stadium that will host the final match of the Euros.

::

On Friday, at least 29 spectators were killed by a suicide bomber at a soccer match in Baghdad.

::

The United States under-23 national soccer team earned a 1-1 draw against Colombia in the first leg of a

two-match Olympic qualifying series.

While the result was everything the U.S. could have asked for, the match itself was a reminder of how

far American soccer has to go to realize the vision of Jurgen Klinsmann, the manager of the senior

national team. When Klinsmann was hired in 2011, he said he wanted the U.S. to play a more

“proactive” style – in layman’s terms, he wanted the team to take the game to its opponents.

Even with some players who figure to be part of the senior national team in the future – Jordan Morris,

Emerson Hyndman among them – the U.S. allowed Colombia to possess the ball more than 75% of the

time. The Americans had no player anywhere near the level of Colombian playmaker Juan Quintero and

were outshot, 18-5.

Mike Trout homers again, Albert Pujols injured in Angels' 11-3 win over A's

Pedro Moura

Highlights of the Angels' 11-3 win over Oakland at Hohokam Stadium:

AT THE PLATE: Mike Trout hit the first pitch he saw for a home run, and the Angels piled on the offense

throughout the game. Twelve players recorded hits. Yunel Escobar had two to keep his average at .500.

… Catcher Geovany Soto went two four two with a double. Bench candidates Ji-Man Choi, Jefry Marte

and Gregorio Petit added doubles, and utility infielder Cliff Pennington tripled. … The Angels struck out

twice in 45 plate appearances.

ON THE MOUND: In relief of starter Jered Weaver, right-handers Fernando Salas, Cory Rasmus and

Yunesky Maya each threw a scoreless inning, although Maya first loaded the bases. Rasmus threw 16

pitches, walked one and struck out three and remarkably did not induce one swing. …Left-hander Greg

Mahle entered with a runner on base in the seventh inning and retired three consecutive hitters. The

2014 draftee remains in consideration for an opening-day bullpen spot.

EXTRA BASES: Albert Pujols was hit in the right foot by a fastball from Oakland's Sean Manaea in the

third inning. He stayed in the game to run the bases, but was removed after the inning. The Angels'

team physician diagnosed him with a bruised foot, and the team said he is day-to-day. Pujols had

surgery on the foot in November, and the ball struck the scar from that surgery, Manager Mike Scioscia

March 28, 2016 Page 8 of 43

said. … With 13 wins, 8 losses and four ties, the Angels own the second-best winning percentage in

Cactus League play. Arizona is first. … Shortstop Andrelton Simmons successfully stole second base even

though Manaea appeared to have him picked off. Trout also stole a base.

UP NEXT: vs. Padres on Saturday, 1 p.m., at Tempe Diablo Stadium. On the air: TV: Fox Sports West.

Angels' offense is humming this spring, but Mike Scioscia wants to know what tune it plays in regular season Pedro Moura

Mike Scioscia started the spring with a stated focus of finding a way to galvanize the Angels' offense

around superstar center fielder Mike Trout. It was, in the manager's estimation, the problem that most

plagued his 2015 team that fell one win short of qualifying for the playoffs.

Asked how he thought the team would support Trout barely a week before opening day, Scioscia said he

hoped for improvement, but stopped short of guaranteeing it.

"I mean, do you have a crystal ball?" he asked. "We don't have a crystal ball. But, after the process that

we went through all winter, I think we're better poised to do that. It remains to be seen where

everything ends up."

The Angels are hitting well in the Cactus League, but those statistics are fraught with issues, from small

samples to varying quality of competition to changes in conditions.

They have hit .312, with a .373 on-base percentage and .482 slugging percentage. Their .855 on-base-

plus-slugging percentage is third in the major leagues, including Arizona and Florida spring trainings.

Their 162 runs rank fourth, and their 144 strikeouts are the fewest across the sport.

Scioscia said batting average, OPS and runs scored do not adequately capture teams' performance

during Cactus League play. He said he preferred to evaluate his players on the quality of their at-bats,

"guys getting a good pitch to hit and putting good swings on it," and overall perceived depth.

And, based on those aspects, he said, "Offense is showing up much earlier this spring than it ever

evolved to last year," citing statistics produced by the left-field platoon of Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry,

who are both hitting over .300.

"These things are tangible," Scioscia said. "So, are we better offensively? For these reasons, yes. Right

now, there is no comparison to where we are offensively as compared to where we were last year."

Last year the Angels were 27th in the majors in regular-season batting average, 26th in on-base

percentage and 20th in slugging. The year before, they had been sixth, seventh and fifth in those

categories.

March 28, 2016 Page 9 of 43

"If you have enough guys in your lineup who aren't swinging the bat well at the same time, you're in

trouble," Scioscia said. "That's what we ran into last year."

Short hops

Scioscia spotlighted outfielder Todd Cunningham's situational-hitting successes. Cunningham, who can

play all three outfield spots, has twice executed hit-and-run plays in recent days. He is out of options

and remains on the bubble to make the opening-day roster. . . . The Angels reassigned catcher Juan

Graterol, right-handers Yunesky Maya and Ramon Ramirez and outfielders Quintin Berry and Nick Buss

to minor league camp. Their spring roster stands at 38 players, with 13 more to be cut before April 4. . . .

The Angels traded cash to Houston for minor league right-hander Troy Scribner, who pitched for Class-A

Lancaster last season. In more minor league news, the team released outfielder Trevor Gretzky, the son

of Wayne Gretzky, who had been acquired in a trade for Matt Scioscia, the manager's son. The younger

Gretzky had not surpassed Class-A ball.

Spring training: Angels 9, San Diego 8

Pedro Moura

Highlights of the Angels' 9-8 victory over San Diego at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday:

AT THE PLATE: Facing starter James Shields in the second inning, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun hit

consecutive home runs. Shields said he believed Pujols' home run was foul. … Carlos Perez, C.J. Cron,

Daniel Nava and Johnny Giavotella had extra-base hits. … The Angels won it in the ninth inning when

Cliff Pennington singled, stole second base and scored on a single by Craig Gentry.

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Andrew Heaney struck out seven batters and walked one in five innings.

He gave up six hits and two runs. Heaney said he lost the feel for his slider during his second time

through the order and relied only on his fastball and changeup. … Closer Huston Street threw a perfect

inning, as did right-hander Javy Guerra, who is competing for a bullpen role. Right-hander Al

Alburquerque, also competing for a reliever spot, gave up a home run in one inning.

EXTRA BASES: In the third inning, Yunel Escobar fielded a dribbler down the third base line and threw on

time to Ji-Man Choi at first base. Choi did the splits as he stretched for it, but umpire Dane DeMuth

ruled that Choi's foot came off the base. In the fourth inning, Choi made a diving grab at first base. …

The Angels made two errors in the ninth inning to allow the Padres to score five runs and tie the score.

Gentry, playing right field, lost a ball in the sun, and Pennington, playing third base, dropped a pop-up. …

The Angels have lost only two of their last 16 Cactus League games.

UP NEXT: San Diego on Sunday, 1 p.m. at Peoria Sports Complex. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

March 28, 2016 Page 10 of 43

Angels' Hector Santiago pitches fairly well, but what he really wants to do is hit Pedro Moura The Angels played the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon, and major league teams have reached the

point of spring training where starting pitchers often hit, so Hector Santiago came to the ballpark

thinking he'd get to intersperse his start with some at-bats.

"Are we raking today?" Santiago asked the Angels' coaches. "Let's go. Where's my bat?"

When he found out second baseman Johnny Giavotella would be the designated hitter, he continued

the effort: "Johnny's been hitting all week. Let him have a break. Let him enjoy this Sunday."

He did not win the argument.

Santiago, the Angels' 28-year-old left-hander, adores hitting. He believes in it as a form of exercise, a

core workout, and as a means of focusing. When he's hitting, he's only thinking about hitting.

"I hit all the time. I love it," Santiago said. "I can't wait to put up a cage in my house and put a machine in

there. I'll be hitting all day, especially one of those automatic feeders where I don't have to worry about

it. I'll just be out there all night. Honestly, if I had a cage in my house right now, I would've hit for three

hours."

In 13 career major league at-bats, Santiago has two hits. During his second career at-bat, in May 2013

against the New York Mets' Matt Harvey, he emerged from the dugout late, apologized to the umpire

and quickly stepped into the batter's box and fouled back the first pitch he saw.

During the off-season, he installed a tee and net in the backyard of his home in nearby Goodyear, Ariz.

On most nights before he has pitched this spring, he's taken around 100 cuts to let out excess energy.

In Sunday's start against San Diego, his sixth of spring training, Santiago finished five innings, striking out

five without issuing a walk. He permitted two home runs, both solo, keeping his Cactus League earned-

run average at 3.52.

"That's the one thing I notice, the one thing I take away from this game," Santiago said of the walks. "Home runs, they're going to happen."

Walks were part of his undoing in the second half of 2015, when he followed up an All-Star first half with a 5.47 ERA. He walked 34 men in 108 1/3 first-half innings, and 37 in 72 1/3 innings after the All-Star break.

Santiago figures to begin 2016 as the Angels' No. 3 starter, meaning his debut would come April 7 against Texas. He is expected to start Friday's Freeway Series game at Dodger Stadium, and then get an extra day of rest before the regular season.

The team has not yet told him those plans, but he does not mind.

March 28, 2016 Page 11 of 43

"I just don't want to go into this season with too many days off," Santiago said.

Short hops

Utility infielder Cliff Pennington took ground balls at first base Sunday morning. He has never played the position in professional baseball, but his ability to play there could enable the Angels to carry an extra outfielder — Rafael Ortega or Todd Cunningham — instead of a man who specializes in first base, Ji-Man Choi. . . . The Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, threw a side bullpen session Sunday and will pitch again Tuesday in preparation for his opening-day start against the Angels on April 4. There had been concern a blister on Arrieta's thumb would force him to miss that start, but Cubs Manager Joe Maddon told reporters Sunday he is good to go. . . . Right-hander Nick Tropeano will start the Angels' exhibition Monday against the Cubs, making his first appearance in 11 days. He missed a start because of flu.

Cam Bedrosian, hitters shine in Angels' 11-2 exhibition victory over the San Diego Padres

Pedro Moura Highlights of the Angels' 11-2 win over San Diego at Peoria Sports Complex:

AT THE PLATE: The Angels scored a run before they made an out. Johnny Giavotella singled, Daniel Nava

walked and Mike Trout singled Giavotella in. After Kole Calhoun flied out, C.J. Cron walked, Andrelton

Simmons singled and Cliff Pennington singled to cap a four-run inning.

Left fielder Nava, catcher Jett Bandy and Jefry Marte, playing third base, each hit a solo home run. After

three singles and a walk, Bandy added a two-run double in the ninth inning to conclude the Angels'

scoring.

ON THE MOUND: In relief of starter Hector Santiago, right-hander Cam Bedrosian again impressed the

Angels' coaching staff in a scoreless inning. He entered with a runner on first base and retired three

hitters consecutively. He has 17 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings this spring.

Setup man Joe Smith threw a hitless seventh inning. He had allowed at least two hits in each of his

previous five Cactus League appearances. He drew at least two missed swings on the changeup he

committed to throwing more this spring.

Right-hander Mike Morin and left-hander Jose Alvarez threw a scoreless inning apiece. Both men have solidified spots in the Angels' bullpen.

EXTRA BASES: Angels pitchers did not a walk a batter in 34 plate appearances and struck out 11. It probably was the first time this spring all of the team's innings were handled by pitchers who will make the opening-day roster. . . . Gregorio Petit made a diving stop to end the game. The infielder is likely to begin the season with triple-A Salt Lake.

March 28, 2016 Page 12 of 43

UP NEXT: Chicago Cubs on Monday at 1 p.m. at Tempe Diablo Stadium. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Angels Notes: Another setback stops C.J. Wilson's rehab By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. – C.J. Wilson’s slowdown has now ground to a halt.

Wilson has stopped throwing entirely, and he is not expected to pick up a ball for another eight to 10

days, Manager Mike Scioscia said Friday.

Wilson has been dealing with shoulder trouble all spring, and the latest setback certainly pushes his

earliest possible return into May.

“He’s just trying to get a couple weeks of strengthening,” Scioscia said. “When he picks up a ball,

hopefully he’ll be a little further ahead.”

Coming off elbow surgery and coming into the final year of his contract, Wilson has had trouble since he

felt some discomfort on the second day of spring training. This is the second time he will have been shut

down entirely. The first lasted about a week.

Wilson said that pitching with the elbow issue last year caused him to hurt his shoulder, and now he’s

trying to rework his delivery to get around the problem.

Once Wilson is able to resume throwing, he will have weeks of building up his arm before he can pitch in

a major league game.

“I wouldn’t say he’s starting over, but there are no doubt some issues that have come up that he’s

dealing with and working through,” Scioscia said. “We’re going to let it go on its own schedule. You can’t

force these things.”

ALSO

Deolis Guerra, a Rule 5 pick from the Pittsburgh Pirates, elected free agency but is now in the process of

working out a minor league deal with the Angels. Guerra had been outrighted previously, so he had the

right to become a free agent rather than going back to his previous team like most Rule 5 picks. Guerra

gave up seven runs in 7 2/3 innings while he was in big league camp. ...

Tyler Skaggs came through Thursday’s outing well enough that he’s been penciled in to pitch three

innings Tuesday. He could pitch in a minor league game, because Garett Richards will start the major

March 28, 2016 Page 13 of 43

league game that day. Scioscia said there’s a chance both pitch in the major league game, presumably

five or six innings for Richards and then Skaggs. ...

Many of the Angels' regular everyday players will leave Arizona after Monday’s game and have a

workout at Angel Stadium on Tuesday. They will have a full day off Wednesday before beginning the

Freeway Series on Thursday.

Final: Jered Weaver picks up victory, Mike Trout homers in Angels' rout of A's

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

THE GAME: The Angels recorded 16 hits in an 11-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Friday afternoon at

HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Ariz.

PITCHING REPORT: Jered Weaver gave up three runs, two on solo homers, in five innings. It was

Weaver’s first Cactus League outing since March 9. In between he missed a start with a neck issue,

which he said didn’t bother him Friday, and pitched in a minor league game. He said he felt he

rediscovered the arm slot he used when at his best three years ago. “It’s a step in the right direction,”

Weaver said. ... Left-hander Greg Mahle, who still has an outside shot to make the opening day roster,

was summoned in the type of situation he would work in during the regular season. He came in to face

left-hander Yonder Alonso and got him on a groundout. He then struck out righty Marcus Semien and

got lefty Bruce Maxwell on a groundout. Mahle has allowed two earned runs in 10 innings this spring.

“He did a great job,” Manager Mike Scioscia. ... Cory Rasmus threw 16 pitches and the A's didn't swing at

any of them. He struck out three and walked one. Rasmus, who is out of options, has most likely locked

up a spot on the team.

HITTING REPORT: Mike Trout homered on the first pitch in the first inning. Trout swung at the lowest

percentage of first pitches in the league last season. ... Yunel Escobar had two more hits, keeping his

average at .500 for the spring. ... Geovany Soto dropped down a bunt, attempting a safety squeeze. The

bunt was not good enough to get the runner in, but then pitcher Sean Manaea threw the ball away and

the run scored. ... Jefry Marte, who is in the running for the final bench job, ripped a two-run double. He

is hitting .333 this spring. ... The Angels improved their spring training average to .312.

UP NEXT: Angels (Andrew Heaney) vs. Padres (James Shields), 1 p.m. PT, Tempe Diablo Stadium

March 28, 2016 Page 14 of 43

Angels' Jered Weaver: 'Every day it's getting better'

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

MESA, Ariz. – Jered Weaver is growing more confident that he will be back to his old self, based in part

on rediscovering his arm slot.

“I haven’t been able to throw the ball out of that arm slot in three years,” Weaver said after allowing

three runs in five innings Friday. “It’s good. Everything is starting to loosen up. Every day it’s getting

better.”

Despite what Weaver considered a positive outing, and his repeated assertion that he'll be ready to

pitch in the first series of the season, Manager Mike Scioscia was still reluctant to commit. Weaver

would have just one more outing to prepare if he is going to pitch in the season-opening two-game

series against the Chicago Cubs.

"There's no rush to where he needs to be ready," Scioscia said. "We're not going to cram. When he's

ready, he's ready. He definitely needs some more work, but he's making progress."

Weaver is next scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Wednesday, with the goal of getting six

innings. If he needs another outing after that, he could still be ready for April 11, the first day the Angels

need a fifth starter in the regular season.

Weaver is still focused on being ready after one more outing, and he was encouraged by Friday's

performance, in which he returned to the three-quarters arm slot he used for most of his career. He said

he changed it over the years to work around tightness.

“About 80 percent of the league wouldn’t have been throwing with (the tightness) I’ve been throwing

with the last couple years,” Weaver said.

Weaver, 33, said he’s been discovering different types of stretching to try to get back to the delivery

that helped him to be one of the league’s best pitchers.

The velocity, however, still may not be there. Weaver has consistently been throwing around 80-82 mph

this spring, which forces him to be exceptionally sharp with his location.

In Friday’s outing he mostly kept the Oakland A’s off balance with offspeed stuff. They hit five balls hard,

including two homers and three doubles.

Weaver, who hadn’t pitched in a Cactus League game since Mar. 9, said the neck issue that caused him

to miss a start was not a problem on Friday. The only issue was fatigue toward the end.

"It's nothing I can't do in between starts, up my workload as far as getting my strength back," he said.

March 28, 2016 Page 15 of 43

Angels Albert Pujols leaves game with right foot contusion

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

MESA, Ariz. -- Albert Pujols was listed as day to day after leaving Friday's game with a contusion in his

right foot, which was surgically repaired in the offseason.

Pujols was hit in the foot by a pitch in the third inning. He jogged to first and remained in the game to

run the bases, but did not bat the next time his turn as the designated hitter came up in the next inning.

Scioscia said Pujols wanted to stay in the game.

"He should be OK," Scioscia said. "We'll wait and see where he is tomorrow."

Angels reliever Joe Smith working on a solution for lefty issues: a changeup

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. – Joe Smith has responded to a disappointing season – by his standard anyway – with a

new pitch.

The Angels setup man said this spring he has developed a changeup, which he hasn’t thrown since 2010.

“Do I need it? I don’t know, but I think it’s good to try to develop something later in your career,

especially as people in your division see you a lot more,” Smith said Friday.

Smith posted a 3.58 ERA last season, nothing to be ashamed of but higher than his 2.78 career mark

heading into the year.

One of the primary issues was his performance against left-handed batters, who hit .288 against him. In

all his previous years in which he faced at least 75 lefties, he had held them to a .227 average or worse.

Hence, the changeup. Smith said he abandoned it earlier in his career when he was not being used much

against lefties. Over the past few years, since he’s become an eighth-inning setup man facing lefties and

righties, he has noticed an increasing need to mix it up.

So far this spring, he likes the results.

“We worked on it a lot,” he said. “Just getting the feel and seeing the action, what it’s going to do. I’ll

break it out. ... I think it will be good. We have some really good left-handed hitters in our division.”

March 28, 2016 Page 16 of 43

Angels' Johnny Giavotella takes field with a purpose this spring By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

Tempe, Ariz. – To hear Alfredo Griffin tell it, Johnny Giavotella’s problems in the field last year weren’t

so much physical as they were mental.

“He needed to concentrate more,” said Griffin, the Angels infield instructor. “He’s a kid who worries

about hitting. Everything he thinks is hitting. We had to talk to him about that.”

The Angels second baseman actually acknowledges as much now.

“I think there is some truth to that,” Giavotella said. “I proved last year I’m capable of being an everyday

big leaguer offensively. I proved that, so now I’m proving myself defensively this year.

“I don’t think I have as much pressure to perform offensively. They know what I bring to the table. Now

it’s a matter of proving I’m a good defensive player.”

In Giavotella’s first year as a major league everyday player last year, he finished near the bottom in most

defensive metrics among second basemen.

This spring, for what it’s worth, Griffin said he has been much better.

“He’s more focused on defense this year,” Griffin said. “We have worked a lot more this year. He is

realizing defense is more important for him and the team. You have to play defense to stay in the big

leagues.”

Besides the mental adjustment, Giavotella has put in plenty of physical work too.

Two of the past three winters, he has worked out at home in New Orleans with Ron Washington, now

the A’s third base coach. Washington is generally considered one of baseball’s best infield coaches.

Washington, who also lives in New Orleans, connected with Giavotella at a University of New Orleans

baseball event. They worked together three days a week this winter.

“He’s real big on really attacking the ball and not being passive and not letting the ball dictate what hop

you’re going to get,” Giavotella said. “Read the hop and get a good one. That’s something we worked

hard at.”

If Giavotella’s improvement carries over into the season, he will have a chance to stay on the field.

Otherwise, look for Cliff Pennington to replace him late in games.

March 28, 2016 Page 17 of 43

Angels Notes: Westminster's Greg Mahle still in the mix

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. – As the days before opening day come off the calendar and Greg Mahle remains in the

Angels clubhouse, he can feel the anticipation.

Through his phone.

“All of my college buddies are texting me,” Mahle said, adding that he’s also hearing from “people you

never talk to. I know it’s only going to get worse.”

Or better, depending on your perspective.

Mahle, a Westminster High product who came to the Angels in the 2014 draft via UC Santa Barbara,

didn’t seem to be too high on the depth chart when camp began. After he pitched last year at Double-A,

Mahle seemed like he was in big league camp for a cameo before heading down to minor league camp.

With just over a week before opening day, Mahle is getting a serious look at making the team. Al

Alburquerque and Cam Bedrosian seem to be the other two top candidates for the final spot in the

Angels bullpen. If the Angels play the first week with four starters, two of them could be on the opening

day roster.

“It’s going better than I expected, that’s for sure,” Mahle said.

Mahle, 22, could provide the Angels the lefty specialist they haven’t had in a few years. Jose Alvarez, the

only other lefty who is likely to be in the bullpen, is more of a multi-inning pitcher than someone who

would come in to get a tough lefty or two.

On Friday, though, Manager Scioscia summoned Mahle in the middle of an inning, with two of the three

upcoming hitters being lefties. He retired all three.

Mahle has allowed two earned runs in 10 innings this spring. Part of his success is a return to his

unusual, two-release-point delivery. Mahle throws some pitches from over the top and some sidearm.

Last year the Angels coaches had him abandon the sidearm delivery. He said he’s been pleasantly

surprised at how well he’s done from the side this spring, particularly with the slider.

“It’s something I love doing,” he said. “I didn’t know it would come back and be such a big part of what

I’m doing.”

ALSO

Albert Pujols was back in the lineup at DH on Saturday, after being hit in his surgically repaired right foot

by a pitch on Friday. Pujols was diagnosed with a contusion, but it apparently was not serious enough

keep him out of the lineup...

March 28, 2016 Page 18 of 43

Scioscia said he’s been pleased with C.J. Cron’s defense at first so far this spring. “There’s no doubt on

the practice field it’s evident that he’s moving a lot better,” Scioscia said. “In the field he’s feeling a lot

more comfortable.”…

The Angels came into Saturday’s game hitting .312 with a .375 on-base percentage this spring, each

second best in the majors. Although the raw stats aren’t significant to Scioscia, he said the approach of

his team has been good, particulary in comparison to last year. “Right now there is no comparison to

where we are offensively compared to where we were last year,” Scioscia said….

The Angels reassigned outfielders Quintin Berry and Nick Buss and right-hander Yunesky Maya to minor

league camp, leaving them with 45 players in big league camp. Scioscia said they will have a few more

cuts before breaking camp.

Final: Angels cap wild finish with walk off victory over Padres

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

THE GAME: The Angels beat the San Diego Padres, 9-8, on Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The

Angels gave up five runs in the top of the ninth, but then won it in the bottom of the ninth on a Cliff

Pennington single and a two-out hit by Craig Gentry. The Angels have won six of their last seven games

and improved to 14-8-4 this spring.

PITCHING REPORT: Andrew Heaney gave up two runs in five innings. He allowed only an infield single

the first time through the order, but then the Padres had five hits the second time through. “The second

and third time through the order, I lost the feel for the breaking ball and just started going all fastballs,

which I felt pretty good with, but eventually that catches up to you,” Heaney said. The Padres loaded the

bases with no outs in the fourth, but Heaney escaped with only one run scoring. Heaney’s next start, his

final one of the spring, will come in the Freeway Series… Javy Guerra, who is on the bubble for the final

spot in the Angels bullpen, pitched a perfect inning, with a strikeout. Guerra has allowed three runs in

nine innings this spring… Al Alburquerque, who is also in the running for that spot, gave up a homer. He

has allowed four earned runs in eight innings this spring. “He’s pitched better than some of the

numbers,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

HITTING REPORT: Albert Pujols hit a homer, his fourth of the spring. Pujols showed no ill-affects of

getting hit in his surgically repaired right foot by a pitch on Friday… Kole Calhoun hit a long homer to

right-center field, his first of the spring… Daniel Nava tripled and scored the go-ahead run on a Mike

Trout sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

DEFENSE REPORT: 3B Yunel Escobar raced in and made a barehand pickup and then 1B Ji-Man Choi did a

full split to extend to catch his throw. The umpire ruled that Choi pulled his foot off the bag, although

replays indicated he didn’t… Choi also made a diving catch of a line drive with the bases loaded, saving

at least two runs. Choi is the leading candidate to win the Angels final bench spot, in part because he is a

March 28, 2016 Page 19 of 43

good defensive first baseman who could go in late for C.J. Cron… 3B Pennington dropped a popup that

would have ended the game before the Padres tied it.

UP NEXT: Angels (Hector Santiago) vs. Padres (Andrew Cashner), 1 p.m. PT, Peoria Sports Complex,

Peoria, Ariz.

Mike Scioscia: Angels prepared to fly with contact play By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. – A sharp two-hopper is hit right at the shortstop, playing in, as the Angels runner takes off

from third. The shortstop throws home, and the runner is out easily.

Three … Two … One … Social media bubbles with disgust.

Happens like clockwork. The contact play – when a runner from third goes on contact, rather than

waiting to read the play – is used more by the Angels than most teams in the majors. It often goes

unnoticed when it works, but never when it fails.

Despite its more memorable failures, the numbers seem to indicate it is working for the Angels. In

situations when the contact play makes a difference, the Angels have outscored the major league

average.

Identifying the specific situations when the contact play was used is dicey, and also not the best way to

measure its effectiveness. For teams like the Angels that use it frequently, some of its value is the mere

threat.

The situations when the play is relevant are easy to identify. There has to be an unforced runner at third,

less than two outs and a ball on the ground.

In 56 of those spots last year, the Angels produced 47 runs and made six outs at the plate. That’s .107

outs at the plate and .839 runs per plate appearance.

All other major league teams made .084 outs at the plate and produced .654 runs per plate appearance

in those situations.

The tradeoff of a few extra outs at the plate seems well worth the scoring advantage.

In 2014, the Angels did better on both ends. They outscored the rest of baseball (.831 to .700) and made

fewer outs at home (.078 to .089).

“I think it’s an aggressive play that lets you take advantage of some team speed and forces the defense

to make plays,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Just ask Cliff Pennington.

March 28, 2016 Page 20 of 43

Pennington, now an Angels utility infielder, spent the first five years of his career as an infielder with the

Oakland A’s, so he faced the Angels plenty of times. Facing teams like the Angels, Pennington said,

forces infielders to play differently.

“If you think a team is going on contact you have to play all the way in,” Pennington said. “You can’t

cheat back and give yourself a little extra range.”

Which means there are times when the infield is in tighter simply to defend against or discourage the

contact play, and that may result in a ball getting through for a hit. And some of those hits drive in a

runner from second, too.

The more obvious payoff for the contact play is when the fielder makes the play but has to rush and

makes an errant throw. Or when he opts against even trying and just takes the out at first.

“I don’t know if it makes you panic or anything,” Pennington said. “If they go and it’s a hard-hit ball at

you, the guy is going to be out. But if it’s a step or two to either side, you aren’t going to be able to get

them. It’s part of the gamble for them and for us.”

Scioscia also said that some of the time when you give up the out at the plate, the runner can get in a

rundown long enough that the offensive team still ends up with at least one runner in scoring position

for the next hitter.

“You are not blindly going contact, you are waiting on the right situation, but it puts a high priority on

teams to be able to make that play,” Scioscia said. “I just know that in the years I played and the years I

managed or coached in the minor leagues, I definitely understand how that play can be productive.”

Scioscia, who has been a fan of the contact play since his earliest days playing in the Dodgers farm

system, said it’s a gamble worth taking.

Bud Black, who also used the contact play frequently when managing the San Diego Padres, said it puts

opponents on edge.

“If a team runs the bases aggressively, there’s that feeling from when the game starts that you’re a little

uncomfortable as an outfielder or infielder,” Black said. “You know you have to be on point all the time.”

ALSO

On Tuesday, both Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs will pitch in the exhibition game against the

Cleveland Indians. Richards is expected to throw the first six innings, in his final tune-up before opening

day.

Skaggs is scheduled for three innings in his second outing since coming back from Tommy John surgery.

He is likely to make another start or two in Arizona, and then begin the season at Triple-A. He could be

ready to pitch in the majors by late April.

Matt Shoemaker will pitch in a Triple-A game on Tuesday, getting up for seven innings.

March 28, 2016 Page 21 of 43

Final: Hot hitting Angels roll to another victory over Padres

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

THE GAME: The Angels continued their hot hitting this spring with a 11-2 victory over the San Diego

Padres on Sunday at the Peoria Sports Complex. Winners of seven of their last eight games, the Angels

are hitting .316 this spring.

PITCHING REPORT: Hector Santiago retired the first eight hitters on his way to a five-inning, two-run

outing. He started the sixth, but left after two batters. Santiago gave up two runs, both on homers, in

five-plus innings. The second homer, to Melvin Upton, was a monster shot off the batter’s eye beyond

the center field fence, about 430 feet… Cam Bedrosian, who is in the running for the final bullpen spot,

retired all three hitters he face, including two strikeouts. Bedrosian has 17 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings

this spring… Joe Smith pitched a perfect inning, including three swing and misses on his new changeup…

Mike Morin has not allowed a run in eight innings this spring.

HITTING REPORT: The Angels scored four runs in the first inning, as six of the nine batters reached

safely… Daniel Nava hit his second homer of the spring and drew a walk. He is hitting .462 (18 for 39)

with 10 walks this spring… Jett Bandy hit his first homer of the spring and drove in two more runs with a

double… The Angels scored their last five runs after the starters were out of the game.

DEFENSE REPORT: 1B C.J. Cron and 2B Cliff Pennington seemed to lose a catchable foul pop in the sun…

2B Gregorio Petit made a diving stop to end the game.

OOPS: The Angels took advantage of Padres catcher Christian Bethancourt’s mistake in the first inning.

With runners at first and second, Cron drew a walk, but Bethancourt apparently didn’t realize it was ball

four and he threw to third to try to get Nava, who was jogging. He threw the ball into left field, and Nava

scored.

UP NEXT: Angels (RHP Nick Tropeano) vs. Cubs (RHP Kyle Hendricks), 1 p.m., Tempe Diablo Stadium,

FSW

FROM ANGELS.COM

Weaver working to fill out deep Angels rotation Ten-year vet making progress to strengthen right arm By Tracy Ringolsby / MLB.com | @TracyRingolsby | March 25th, 2016 MESA, Ariz. -- It's not just batters that Angels right-hander Jered Weaver is ready to challenge. Father time is on his list, too.

March 28, 2016 Page 22 of 43

Weaver, 33, is a three-time All-Star who has twice led the American League in victories. He has finished

in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting three times. And even with nagging right shoulder problems

the past three seasons, he's 14th among Major League pitchers in innings pitched over the past seven

years with 1,386 1/3.

The fastball has been pretty much in the 79-81 mph range this spring, although he did raise the radar

readings to 83 mph a time or two in the fourth inning of his five-inning effort in the Angels' 11-3 victory

over the A's at Hohokam Stadium on Friday afternoon.

And while Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia is hedging a bit, Weaver has declared himself ready to be

a part of the rotation once he makes a six-inning appearance in a Minor League game at the Angels'

training facility in Tempe on Wednesday.

They can only hope.

They arrived in Spring Training nearly six weeks ago knowing that all the hype in the AL West has

focused on the defending division champion Rangers and AL Wild Card-winning Astros, with a ray or two

shining on a revamped Mariners roster. But the Angels were confident that they had an edge on every

other team in the division, boasting eight legitimate candidates for the rotation.

OK, there's no Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke or Madison Bumgarner, but there's the type of ability

that provides reason to believe the Angels are built for the 162-game grind.

Then came the revelation that Tyler Skaggs is likely going to need the first month of the season to

recover in his return from Tommy John surgery in August 2014.

In addition, C.J. Wilson's achy left shoulder is trouble enough that he hasn't even thrown a bullpen

session in the last week. He will continue to work on strengthening the shoulder "another eight to 10

days" before resuming a throwing program, according to Scioscia.

There is also Weaver's continuing battle to work his way through life at a lesser velocity.

"We have chewed up some of that depth for sure," said Scioscia. "Hopefully it will stabilize by the end of

spring and we will enjoy that depth at some point in the season."

Weaver is a big part of that.

The Angels' rotation seems nearly set with Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney and Hector Santiago, which

leaves Matt Shoemaker and Nick Tropeano battling to fill the rotation spot that Skaggs is expected to

eventually claim. Weaver continues to build arm strength with the knowledge that the Angels won't

need a fifth starter until April 11 in Oakland.

Weaver seems to be targeting the season-opening two-game series against the Cubs.

March 28, 2016 Page 23 of 43

"He could be," Scioscia said when asked if Weaver can be ready for the regular season with just one

more Spring Training start. "He has one more [start next week] and we will try to get him six innings.

Then we will see where Jered is."

Weaver is more optimistic, but after the shoulder problems he has pitched through the last three

seasons, the fact he finally found a comfortable arm slot on Friday gives him every reason to proclaim he

will be in the rotation at the start of the season.

"About 80 percent of the league wouldn't have been throwing with what I've been throwing with the

last couple years," said Weaver, referring to tightness in his right shoulder.

Weaver said he finally was able to alleviate that after coming up with a stretching program on his own

during the past offseason. He was particularly pleased with his five-inning effort against the A's, in which

he gave up three runs over five innings -- including two homers -- but didn't walk a batter.

"Just more consistency with the arm slot," Weaver said of the difference from two previous Spring

Training starts, in which he allowed five runs in 4 2/3 total innings. "I haven't been able to throw a ball

out of that arm slot in three years.

"I was able to throw the ball like I want to. I kind of threw an array of pitches, kind of throwing

everything towards the end. I wanted to get a feel for all my pitches. It was good, a step in the right

direction."

Looking to improve off last season's third-place finish, in which the Angels were three games back of the

Rangers and one behind the Astros, a key would be a rebound from Weaver, who is coming off a season

in which he had a losing record (7-12) for the first time in 10 big league seasons, a career-high 4.64 ERA

and his second-lowest innings total (159) in the past nine years.

Weaver is confident the best is yet to come.

"Everything is starting to loosen up," Weaver said. "Every day is getting better. I found a couple more

hot spots to hit to loosen everything up. Progress has been good."

Wilson likely shut down for remainder of spring Yet to pitch in camp due to shoulder tendinitis, Angels lefty will have to restart throwing program from scratch By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 25th, 2016

TEMPE, Ariz. -- C.J. Wilson still has a long, long way to go.

March 28, 2016 Page 24 of 43

The veteran starting pitcher, bothered by pain in his throwing shoulder for most of Spring Training,

probably won't start playing catch again until Opening Day, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Friday, at

which point Wilson will basically have to restart his throwing program from scratch.

Wilson's ailment dates back to a bullpen session from the first couple of days in camp, which prompted

an MRI that revealed shoulder tendinitis. The 35-year-old left-hander continued to experience pain in

ensuing bullpen sessions and is currently shut down from throwing altogether. For the next 8-10 days,

Wilson will focus on strengthening his shoulder with hope that the pain will be gone by the time he

throws off a mound again.

Surgery has not been discussed.

"I wouldn't say he's starting over, but there's no doubt that some issues have come up that he's dealing

with and working his way through," Scioscia said. "We're going to let it go at its own schedule. You can't

force these things."

Wilson underwent season-ending surgery to remove bone chips and spurs from his elbow last August,

but was able to go through his normal throwing program over the offseason. His shoulder didn't flare up

until he started to throw off a mound, prompting the first time he's had issues in that area since a brief

bout with tendinitis in 2006.

The southpaw recently told reporters the pain has forced him to basically re-invent the way he throws --

"I won't even look like the same pitcher," Wilson said -- but Scioscia cautioned that the changes won't

be so drastic.

Wilson is nonetheless being extra cautious, because the Angels have a decent amount of starting-

pitching depth, and also because he finds it counterproductive to pitch when not fully healthy.

"I don't really care how long it takes me to get back to the level I want to get back to," Wilson, making

$20 million in his final year before free agency, said earlier in camp.

"If it takes an extra 3-4 weeks, whatever. It's better than me going out there and being substandard and

getting my head knocked off and being like, 'OK, now what do we do?' That's what a lot of guys do, and

it's not a good way to do it. I'd rather build up to the point where I need to be, and then I'll be fine."

Pujols day to day after being hit in foot by pitch Slugger stayed in game, was pinch-hit for next inning By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 25th, 2016

MESA, Ariz. -- Albert Pujols exited Friday's 11-3 win over the A's in the top of the fourth, one inning after

taking a breaking ball to his surgically repaired right foot. The team later diagnosed him with a bruise

and listed him as day to day.

March 28, 2016 Page 25 of 43

Pujols was plunked by A's starter Sean Manaea to lead off the third and walked gingerly to first base, but

remained in the game and momentarily ran the bases after being checked on. When his turn came up

the next inning, though, Johnny Giavotella was brought off the bench to pinch-hit.

Pujols underwent surgery to repair the plantar plate of his right foot last November, alleviating the

continual pain he nursed throughout the month of September. The 36-year-old has only made starts at

designated hitter this spring, but has worked out at first base during defensive drills.

Manaea's pitch plunked Pujols directly on his surgical scar, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he

"should be OK."

Trout goes yard for second straight day in win

By Jane Lee / MLB.com | @JaneMLB | March 25th, 2016 MESA, Ariz. -- Mike Trout homered, and Jered Weaver completed five innings in his first Cactus League

start since March 9, helping the Angels secure an 11-3 victory over the host A's at Hohokam Stadium on

Friday afternoon.

Coco Crisp and Bruce Maxwell each hit solo homers off Weaver, who allowed five hits total with two

strikeouts and no walks while throwing his fastball mostly in the 79- to 81-mph range, as he did in his

last start against the Dodgers when he gave up five runs while recording eight outs and later complained

of neck pain.

3/25/16: Bruce Maxwell sends a towering shot to right field to get the Athletics on the board in the 3rd inning After undergoing an MRI that revealed tightening of the nerves in his neck, Weaver pitched in a Minor

League game Sunday before returning to Cactus League action. He remains adamant about being ready

by Opening Day.

"I thought it was good," Weaver said. "Couple mishaps as far as arm slot goes, but everything felt like it

was coming out good. Location was good those first three innings. I started to get a little tired towards

the end. But I just needed to build up some arm strength. It was really good."

3/25/16: Craig Gentry chips a single to center field to drive in Andrelton Simmons and Geovany Soto in the 2nd Trout, who also went deep Thursday, finished with two hits and two RBIs to raise his spring average to

.395, and third baseman Yunel Escobar kept pace with a pair of hits to improve to 22-for-44 in exhibition

play.

A's starter Sean Manaea, the club's top pitching prospect, lasted four innings and was on the hook for

five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in that span. He committed one of four A's errors on

the day, leading to one of three runs in the second.

March 28, 2016 Page 26 of 43

Oakland shortstop Jed Lowrie chipped in with an RBI double in the fourth and finished 2-for-3. He's

batting .469 this spring.

3/25/16: Mike Trout hits a single that deflects off Marcus Semien and into center, knocking in Yunel Escobar Ji-Man Choi, Todd Cunningham, Jefry Marte and Gregorio Petit all drove in runs during a five-run eighth.

Cory Rasmus, who seems like a lock to crack the Angels' bullpen, struck out the side and issued a walk in

an eighth inning in which the A's didn't swing at any of his 16 pitches.

"We're happy to see where he is," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Rasmus. "This is how he was

pitching when he was getting the ball to start for us towards the end of '14. It's good to see him back on

the beam. It's going to be important."

Up next for the Angels: Andrew Heaney makes his fourth Cactus League start on Saturday, opposite

righty James Shields, when the Angels host the Padres at Tempe Diablo Stadium for a 1:10 p.m. PT first

pitch on MLB.TV. Heaney, who is all but a lock to make the rotation at this point, has given up only two

runs in nine innings this spring.

Up next for the A's: The A's travel to Surprise, Ariz., on Saturday for a 1:05 p.m. matchup with the

defending World Series champion Royals on MLB.TV. Right-hander Chris Bassitt is scheduled to start for

Oakland, with closer Sean Doolittle also slated to pitch in the game, which would mark his first

appearance since March 13. Doolittle was slowed by a slight triceps strain but is expected to be ready

for Opening Day.

Pujols, Calhoun go back-to-back in win

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | 2:28 AM ET TEMPE, Ariz. -- Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun hit back-to-back home runs, Andrew Heaney pitched five solid innings and Craig Gentry provided a walk-off single as the Angels beat the split-squad Padres, 9-8, at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday. Padres starter James Shields extended to seven innings in his fourth spring start, which saw him give up

five runs and seven hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts.

"I felt good; it was good work today," Shields said. "Results, I don't think, really showed how I pitched today. I feel like I made some really good pitches."

With no one out in the second, Pujols jumped all over a chest-high offspeed pitch and crushed it well over the left-field fence, just inside the foul pole, for his fourth home run of the spring. It came one day after Pujols took a breaking ball to his surgically repaired right foot, an instance that forced him to exit the game an inning later.

The next batter, Calhoun, ripped his first home run of the spring, a long drive to right-center field.

March 28, 2016 Page 27 of 43

Pujols, who has made all of his starts at designated hitter, is batting .244/.295/.537 this spring. Angels manager Mike Scioscia feels his timing "is getting there."

"Today he was right on the money," Scioscia said. "He felt really good."

Heaney finished giving up just two runs on six hits and one walk, striking out seven to put his spring ERA at 2.57. Second baseman Jemile Weeks, who got a rare start in center field, put the Padres on the board with an RBI single in the third and third baseman Nelson Ward tied it up with a run-scoring single in the fourth.

The Angels took the lead again in the sixth on a triple by Daniel Nava and a sac fly by Mike Trout.

The Padres scored five runs off A.J. Achter and Ramon Ramirez in the top of the ninth, highlighted by

Edwin Moreno's two-run triple. Jason Hagerty tied the game and completed the rally with a single to

right field, which scored Michael Miller.

Gentry and Cliff Pennington both dropped fly balls in the top of the ninth -- though Gentry's was a result

of losing it in the sun -- and both helped win it in the bottom half. Pennington singled, stole second base,

then scored on Gentry's line drive in the right-center-field gap.

Heaney, who could begin the season as the Angels' No. 2 starter, momentarily lost feel for his breaking

ball in his fourth spring start.

"That's always kind of the last pitch that I find, the last one I really feel comfortable with," Heaney said.

"I've been working on throwing it for strikes, and I've been doing better the last two times. Last time, in

Texas, it was really good. This time, it was there early, I threw a couple good ones, and then later it got

away from me."

Up next for the Padres: The Padres wrap up their Mexico Series against the Astros at noon PT on Sunday

with Cesar Vargas on the hill, pitching in front of friends and family. Vargas grew up two hours to the

south in Puebla. Fans can watch a free live stream of that game on padres.com. Meanwhile, in Cactus

League action, Andrew Cashner gets the ball against the Angels in Peoria for a 1:10 p.m. PT first pitch on

MLB.TV. Cashner has been sharp this spring, posting a 2.40 ERA in four starts.

Up next for the Angels: Hector Santiago takes the ball, opposite righty Andrew Cashner, when the Angels

travel to Peoria Sports Complex for their second straight game against the Padres on Sunday. Santiago

will be making his sixth Cactus League start and has posted a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings this spring, striking

out 21 batters and walking six. Game time is set for 1:10 p.m. PT on MLB.TV.

March 28, 2016 Page 28 of 43

Halos bats enjoying impressive spring season

Angels rank second in average and on-base, fourth in slugging

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 26th, 2016

TEMPE, Ariz. -- When the Angels finished their 26th spring game on Saturday, a 9-8 win over the Padres,

they ranked second in the Majors in batting average (.312), second in on-base percentage (.373) and

fourth in slugging (.482).

It's only Spring Training, of course. But it's a positive sign from the area that gave them the most trouble

last summer and was easily their biggest concern entering camp.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia believes that "the depth of our offense is showing up much earlier in this

spring than it ever evolved to last year," and it isn't really about the aggregate numbers.

"What we look at is probably a little different from what you're looking at," Scioscia said. "You're looking

at what they're hitting as a team, how many runs they're scoring, what's their OPS. I think, in Arizona

especially, you're looking at the quality of the at-bats, you're looking at guys getting a pitch to hit and

putting a good swing on it."

Scioscia referenced the left-field platoon of Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry, combining to go 30-for-77

with 10 strikeouts, and leadoff hitter Yunel Escobar, who has been on base more than half the time. Kole

Calhoun (.835 OPS), Mike Trout (1.131), Albert Pujols (.832), Carlos Perez (.821) and Geovany Soto

(1.224) have all provided encouragement at the plate.

Scioscia can only hope it spills into the regular season.

"I would say right now there's no comparison to where we are offensively as opposed to where we were

last year," he said. "We're much better."

Worth noting

• The Angels have agreed to terms on a Minor League contract with right-handed reliever Deolis Guerra,

who was originally taken in the Rule 5 Draft last December. Guerra slipped through waivers and initially

elected free agency, but will not begin the season at Triple-A Salt Lake.

• The Angels sent five players to Minor League camp on Saturday: catcher Juan Graterol, starter Yunesky

Maya, reliever Ramon Ramirez, and outfielders Nick Buss and Quintin Berry. Their Spring Training roster

is down to 38 players with only eight days remaining until Opening Day.

• The Angels have released Trevor Gretzky, son of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who was originally

acquired in exchange for Scioscia's son, Matt. The younger Gretzky is a 23-year-old left fielder who has

batted .259/.306/.332 in the Minor Leagues and has yet to advance past Class A.

March 28, 2016 Page 29 of 43

Angels hope for better double-play duo in '16

Simmons, Giavotella look to increase efficiency in middle of infield

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 26th, 2016 TEMPE, Ariz. -- One overlooked aspect of the Angels' 2015 season is that they weren't very good at

turning double plays.

"It was bad," Angels infield coach Alfredo Griffin said. "Really bad."

The Angels turned only 108 double plays last year, the fewest in the Major Leagues. A big reason for that

was a flyball-heavy staff that yielded the lowest groundball percentage in the game. But execution was

also an issue.

"We didn't finish them," Griffin said, "and that's very important. Finishing innings is really important,

especially for our pitchers."

The Angels have a new shortstop now, in Andrelton Simmons, that is widely regarded as the best

defender at his position in the game. Their new second baseman, Johnny Giavotella, was considered one

of the worst defensively at his position last year.

The two have spent the entirety of Spring Training trying to feel each other out on double-play

situations.

Giavotella has had to change his entire perspective. The 28-year-old has never played alongside a

shortstop who went from fielding a baseball to getting rid of it so quickly. With Simmons, baseballs tend

to shoot out from whatever position he catches them. There is no pause, no windup.

"No matter where the groundball is, he's able to throw it from that same arm slot," Giavotella said. "If

he catches it down, he's able to throw it from any arm angle, which separates him from a lot of other

shortstops, just because it's that much quicker."

Giavotella typically likes to reach across the bag for feeds, which gives him a little more momentum on

his throws to first base. But Simmons has been working on feeding him either directly on top the second

base or slightly behind it, largely because of new rules that basically eliminate the neighborhood out on

double plays.

"We're getting there," Simmons said. "We're working on a few things."

Simmons, 26, has gone out of his way to guide Giavotella, helping him get rid of the ball quicker and

familiarizing himself with where Giavotella feels most comfortable receiving throws.

March 28, 2016 Page 30 of 43

"It's going well," Griffin said. "Simmons has helped [Giavotella] a lot, because he's open to helping him.

That's important. He's not afraid of being in charge of the infield, of being the leader on defense. That's

important. He assumes that responsibility."

Prospect notes: Baldoquin looks leaner, Cubs' Happ displaying quick hands Eric Longenhagen Passing along a few scouting notes from this spring:

Angels prospects

Julio Garcia was a late-summer addition to the Angels AZL (rookie-level Arizona League) club last year,

arriving from the Dominican Summer League despite a subpar offensive performance there. The 18-

year-old shortstop had the footwork, range, actions and athleticism that are emblematic of a long-term

shortstop, and the hope is that he would fill out and figure out how to do something with the bat,

though it was a long way off if it came at all. This spring, Garcia looks like he has taken a big step forward

defensively. He has gotten a little bigger, stronger and more explosive, and he made some spectacular

plays Thursday night, ranging well to both his right (he back-handed a ball deep in the hole that, off the

bat, I didn't think anyone would get to) and left (he laid out for a ball behind the bag then spun around

as he rose up and made a strong throw to the bag) while showing an above-average arm. He made some

plays look more acrobatic than they had to be and his hands still need refinement, but Garcia has

explosive athletic gifts that could make him a special defender.

Garcia's feel for switch-hitting is still raw and he's still not physically mature enough to compete with big

velocity, but he has a projectable frame and I think his body will have to develop before his bat can.

I also got a look at shortstop Roberto Baldoquin (Garcia replaced him midway through the game). The

Angels gave Baldoquin, 21, an $8 million signing bonus in December 2014, but he had a rough 2015,

posting a .235/.266/.294 line over 77 games in the hitter-friendly Cal League (high-A). Baldoquin was

clearly overweight for Inland Empire, he was slow, and he had a hard time getting into the everyday

lineup because of how poorly he was playing.

Baldoquin has clearly cut some of the weight this year and has regained some of the quick-twitch aspects of his game that allowed him to have success in Cuba's Serie Nacional as a teenager.

March 28, 2016 Page 31 of 43

FROM ESPN.COM

MLB's best, worst defensive players Scott Spratt

The long offseason is nearly behind us, and with all the player moves, promotions and many spring-training battles decided, the 2016 baseball landscape is becoming clear. Around this time each spring, Baseball Info Solutions (BIS) releases its annual defensive projections, which combine the recent defensive performances of players with our expectations for their playing time this season. While some excellent defenders, such as Nick Ahmed and Juan Lagares, seem likely to see a reduction in

playing time because of offensive limitations, on the whole, the league is loaded with exciting defensive

talent. I'll run through the most prominent projected defensive leaders and close with the poor

defenders teams will hope can offset their deficiencies with excellent offensive production.

The reigning king

It seems Andrelton Simmons has been the best defensive player in baseball forever, but he has played in

the majors only three-and-a-half seasons. At 26 years old, he could continue to dominate the field for

the rest of the decade or longer. Still, it isn't hyperbole to heap praise on Simmons, despite his short-

seeming career to date. With shortstop constantly renewing itself with young and athletic prospects, it

can be very difficult to sustain excellence at the game's premier defensive position. Adam Everett and

Brendan Ryan are the only other shortstops with four consecutive seasons of double-digit Defensive

Runs Saved (DRS) since 2003. Simmons very nearly made it four seasons of 20-plus DRS, but he managed

"only" 19 in his rookie season of 2012, when he played just 426 innings after a midseason call-up.

The most exciting thing about Simmons is that he has the potential to make an even bigger defensive

impact in 2016. With the Braves, Simmons was held back by his team's reluctance to deploy defensive

shifts. Last season, the Braves shifted on just 211 batted balls, the fewest in baseball. In contrast,

Simmons' new team, the Angels, shifted on 436 batted balls. Even that total was in the bottom half of

teams, but the Angels saved five runs more than the Braves, thanks to their shifting. Meanwhile, BIS'

latest research indicates that while Simmons unsurprisingly led all shortstops in Range and Throwing

Runs Saved, the Braves' lack of shifting led to a below-average total of Positioning Runs Saved,

something Simmons could improve on with his new team. Projected DRS (2016): 26

Albert Pujols takes pitch to foot repaired in offseason, day-to-day Albert Pujols left the Los Angeles Angels' spring training game Friday against the Oakland Athletics with

a contusion in his right foot after being hit by a pitch.

Pujols took a pitch from A's left-hander Sean Manaea to the same foot that was surgically repaired in

the offseason, leaving the game after the third inning.

March 28, 2016 Page 32 of 43

The injury was diagnosed as a bruise and Pujols, who was serving as the DH, was listed as day-to-day.

The Pujols injury was tempered with good news for the Angels, who got back Jered Weaver after the

right-hander missed about two weeks with a neck injury.

Weaver, whose injury was diagnosed as degenerative changes in the cervical spine, threw five solid

innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits and striking out two in his third start.

He gave up a home run to Bruce Maxwell for Oakland's first run in the third inning and a solo homer to

Coco Crisp in the fifth in the Angels' 11-3 Cactus League win.

Prospect notes: Baldoquin looks leaner, Cubs' Happ displaying quick hands Eric Longenhagen Passing along a few scouting notes from this spring:

Angels prospects

Julio Garcia was a late-summer addition to the Angels AZL (rookie-level Arizona League) club last year,

arriving from the Dominican Summer League despite a subpar offensive performance there. The 18-

year-old shortstop had the footwork, range, actions and athleticism that are emblematic of a long-term

shortstop, and the hope is that he would fill out and figure out how to do something with the bat,

though it was a long way off if it came at all. This spring, Garcia looks like he has taken a big step forward

defensively. He has gotten a little bigger, stronger and more explosive, and he made some spectacular

plays Thursday night, ranging well to both his right (he back-handed a ball deep in the hole that, off the

bat, I didn't think anyone would get to) and left (he laid out for a ball behind the bag then spun around

as he rose up and made a strong throw to the bag) while showing an above-average arm. He made some

plays look more acrobatic than they had to be and his hands still need refinement, but Garcia has

explosive athletic gifts that could make him a special defender.

Garcia's feel for switch-hitting is still raw and he's still not physically mature enough to compete with big

velocity, but he has a projectable frame and I think his body will have to develop before his bat can.

I also got a look at shortstop Roberto Baldoquin (Garcia replaced him midway through the game). The

Angels gave Baldoquin, 21, an $8 million signing bonus in December 2014, but he had a rough 2015,

posting a .235/.266/.294 line over 77 games in the hitter-friendly Cal League (high-A). Baldoquin was

clearly overweight for Inland Empire, he was slow, and he had a hard time getting into the everyday

lineup because of how poorly he was playing.

Baldoquin has clearly cut some of the weight this year and has regained some of the quick-twitch aspects of his game that allowed him to have success in Cuba's Serie Nacional as a teenager.

March 28, 2016 Page 33 of 43

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Weaver back on mound for Angels in 11-3 win over A's MESA, Ariz. -- Right-hander Jered Weaver returned to the mound after missing about two weeks with a

neck injury to throw five solid innings and Mike Trout homered in his second straight game as the Los

Angeles Angels defeated the Oakland Athletics 11-3 on Friday.

Weaver, whose injury was diagnosed as degenerative changes in the cervical spine, gave up three

earned runs on five hits and struck out two in his third start. He gave up a home run to Bruce Maxwell

for Oakland's first run in the third inning and a solo homer to Coco Crisp in the fifth.

Trout, batting third, hit the first pitch from left-hander Sean Manaea over the fence in right-center field.

Trout also had a run-scoring single in the fourth and stole a base.

"He (Trout) never swings at the first pitch, but he took him deep," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

Trout had homered in a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He now has 12 RBI.

The A's pulled to 5-3 in the fifth, but the Angels broke it open with five runs in the eighth.

STARTING TIME

Angels: Weaver had pitched four innings in a game against Colorado Rockies minor leaguers on Sunday.

Friday's effort against the A's was an indication he is making progress, he said.

"Everything is starting to loosen up. Everything is strong and I am excited about it," said Weaver, who

last pitched in a Cactus League game on March 9.

He had lost some velocity due to the injury but has adjusted by returning to the three-quarters arm slot

he has used for most of his career.

"It's going to take some time, like anything else," he said.

He never has been a proponent of stretching, but he will continue to do that, lift weights and work on

keeping the rotator cuff from tightening up.

March 28, 2016 Page 34 of 43

A's: Manaea, making his third start in five spring appearances, is getting a good look from the team this

spring.

In four innings against the Angels, he gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits, walked two and

struck out one.

"He struggled with his slider, but overall, I thought he had good stuff," Melvin said. "We like what we

see."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: Albert Pujols left the game after the third inning after getting hit in the right foot by a pitch from

Manaea. The injury was diagnosed as a bruise and Pujols, who was serving as the DH, is listed as day-to-

day.

A's: RH reliever R.J. Alvarez has bone chips in his right elbow and will have surgery to remove them early

next week. He was 0-1 in four appearances this spring. ... OF Sam Fuld will miss the remainder of the

spring with a sprained left shoulder.

DEFENSE A PROBLEM FOR A'S

Oakland had four errors on Friday, its fifth game with three or more, and 17 in the last eight games.

Oakland has 38 overall. Three of the errors were on throws that missed the cutoff man.

"Our defense has been putrid, and it's going to be addressed, believe me," Melvin said. "It's frustrating.

We were our own worst enemy today. That makes it tough to evaluate (pitching) numbers."

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney will make his fourth start of the spring against a split-squad San Diego

Padres team in Tempe.

A's: The team begins a two-game series with World Series champion Kansas City on Saturday, the first in

Surprise and the second on Sunday in Mesa. RHP Chris Bassitt is due to start for the A's on Saturday.

Pujols, Calhoun hit home runs in Angels' 9-8 win over Padres TEMPE, Ariz. -- Albert Pujols hit a towering home run, Kole Calhoun followed with a homer and Andrew

Heaney pitched five solid innings to help the Los Angeles Angels beat a San Diego Padres split-squad 9-8

on Saturday.

A day after leaving a game early after getting hit by a pitch in the right foot, Pujols showed no signs of

soreness when he hit a ball to the back of the berm in left field. Calhoun followed by drilling a ball over

the right-center field fence.

March 28, 2016 Page 35 of 43

Mike Trout also drove in a run and Ji-Man Choi had a pair of RBI for the Angels.

Heaney allowed a pair of runs on six hits, walking one and striking out seven.

Padres starter James Shields gave up five runs on seven hits over seven innings. He walked one and

struck out eight.

STARTING TIME

Padres: Shields needed seven innings to reach his pitch count of 90.

"Ninety-one to be exact," Shields said. "The results did not show how I pitched today. I felt good and got

some good work in. It was good to get up and down seven times."

Shields will back off in his last start of the spring, likely to come Wednesday in El Paso.

"I'm ready to go," he said. "I feel real good."

Angels: Heaney felt like he could pitch a few more innings in each of his last two outings. He just needs

to get a better feel for his breaking ball.

"The second time through the lineup I lost the feel for my breaking ball," Heaney said. "I went with all

fastballs, which is OK but it catches up to you."

Heaney said the breaking ball is the last pitch to come around heading into the regular season and he'll

be working on it in his next start.

"The last time out it was really good and early in the game today," he said. "I choke it off and pull it

through the batter's box. It's a waste of a pitch at that point."

AROUND THE HORN

Padres: Jemile Weeks drove in his team-leading 13th run of the spring. Derek Norris is the only other

Padre with double-digit RBI (10). ... The Padres rallied for five unearned runs in the top of the ninth to tie

the score.

Angels: C.J. Cron had a pinch-hit RBI single and has hits in 11 straight. ... Daniel Nava tripled and has

reached base in all 16 of his spring appearances. ... Craig Gentry drove in the winning run in the ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: OF Travis Jankowski (ankle) was hopeful he would be able to make the trip to Mexico City with a

Padres split-squad this weekend after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday.

Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson (left shoulder) has been shut down after throwing a pair of bullpen sessions.

He'll try to strengthen his shoulder before continuing a throwing program.

UP NEXT

March 28, 2016 Page 36 of 43

The two teams play again Sunday in Peoria, with RHP Andrew Cashner pitching for San Diego and LHP

Hector Santiago going for Los Angeles.

CUTS

Angels: Reassigned RHP Roman Ramirez and C Juan Graterol to minor league camp.

Santiago, Nava lead Angels past Padres split squad 11-2 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Hector Santiago was sharp before tiring in the sixth inning, Daniel Nava stayed

productive with a home run and the Los Angeles Angels beat a San Diego Padres split squad 11-2

Sunday.

Mike Trout added an RBI single in a four-run first inning and Jefry Marte homered on an 0-2 pitch

against struggling Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner.

Santiago allowed one run on Wil Myers' homer in the fourth before Melvin Upton Jr. led off the sixth

with a homer high off the center-field batter's eye. The lefty was lifted after Matt Kemp's ensuing single.

Nava's opposite-field shot came after a first-inning walk extended his streak of reaching base to 17

games. Nava has 18 hits after collecting just 27 in 60 regular-season games with Boston and Tampa Bay

in 2015.

"Last year was obviously a struggle for him, but he still had the ability to work counts and get on base,"

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's shown that this spring. Where he is right now, his swing just

looks really smooth."

Nava, who played a role on Boston's 2013 World Series title team, is expected to platoon with Craig

Gentry in left field.

"He's seeing the ball well. He's driving the ball well," Scioscia said of Nava. "He can be an important part

of our lineup."

Cashner got through 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs and six hits while walking three.

STARTING TIME

Angels: Santiago, in his sixth start, allowed two runs and six hits with five strikeouts while working on his

slider. He threw 87 pitches.

March 28, 2016 Page 37 of 43

"No walks today, that's the one thing I can take away," he said. "Home runs, that's going to happen. I'm

just trying to not walk people."

Padres: Cashner needed 85 pitches to get 10 outs.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (neck) hopes to throw six innings in a minor league game Wednesday, a key

test in whether he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. . LHP C.J. Wilson, dealing with shoulder

pain all spring, won't throw for at least another week. It's likely the earliest he would be ready is May. . C

Geovany Soto was treated but stayed in the game after taking a foul tip off his right hand in the sixth.

Padres: SS Alexei Ramirez (sick) sat out the other split-squad game in Mexico City.

BIG MAC MANAGING

Mark McGwire has some interest in managing one day. He got his chance with Andy Green in Mexico

City with San Diego's other split squad.

McGwire guided the Padres for the second straight day. The polarizing former slugger, who hit 583

home runs and later admitted using steroids, is in his first season on San Diego's staff.

"I've never ruled it out," McGwire said of managing. "When I had the opportunity to come and be Andy's

bench coach, it's just a fantastic opportunity. I love challenges and there's nothing better than

challenging yourself."

RULED OUT

The Padres returned RHP Blake Smith, a Rule 5 selection, to the White Sox. Smith was then assigned to

Chicago's minor league camp.

KEMP ERRS

Kemp, whose defense has been an issue the past few seasons, booted a ball in right field for an error in

the seventh.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Kyle Hendricks starts Monday against the Chicago Cubs.

Padres: LHP Drew Pomeranz starts Monday against Kansas City.

March 28, 2016 Page 38 of 43

FROM THE EAGLE TRIBUNE

Lawrence's Sosa opening eyes in LA Angels organization

By David Willis

Ruben Sosa’s first big league at-bat remains a dream, an aspiration he spends each and every day fighting for.

To the former Eagle-Tribune All-Star, that first major league promotion sometimes feels painfully close, while other times it seems just out of his reach.

But, on a good day, Sosa can look to his left or right and see the face of major league baseball, Mike Trout, warming up in the same outfield.

There are times Sosa finds himself chasing after a batting practice fly ball hit by future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, or earning a tip from World Series-winning manager and former All-Star catcher Mike Scioscia.

After all, when the opportunity arises, Sosa is wearing the same Los Angeles Angels uniform.

The former Lawrence High star is currently in his first spring training as a member of the Angels organization, and on multiple occasions this spring has earned a call-up from minor league camp to serve as a bench player in major league exhibition games.

“It’s always an honor to get a call from the big club because it shows they have me in mind,” said Sosa by phone from the Angels’ spring training home. “Whenever than chance comes, you have to be ready. I try to learn from those great players. You have to be ready to learn, and you never know what might happen when you get a shot.”

Standing at just 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, the outfielder/second baseman hardly looks the part of an athlete who has knocked on the door of a major league promotion.

But Sosa believes his combination of blazing speed and a quick bat, which helped him reach triple-A in the Houston Astros organization and tear up the Caribbean Winter League, makes him a match for the Angels organization.

“I think I fit perfectly,” said Sosa, who has stolen three bases for the Angels as a pinch runner this spring. “I’m the type of player that our manager (Scioscia) loves. I put the ball in play, I am always on base and I score runs. I feel like there aren’t that many players like me.”

Sosa’s journey to professional baseball has been an unlikely one.

After moving to Lawrence from the Dominican Republic at age 11, Sosa starred first at Greater Lawrence Tech (area-leading .575 as a sophomore) and then at Lawrence High (.406, 17 RBIs as a senior).

March 28, 2016 Page 39 of 43

He began his college career at Western Oklahoma State College, before moving to Oklahoma City University, where he hit .389 with 15 doubles and 42 RBIs in his final season.

That was enough to convince the Astros to select Sosa in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft and sign him to a contract.

Sosa’s tenure with the Houston organization was filled with highs, and a few lows.

After two nondescript seasons, Sosa received a shot at triple-A in 2013, and responded by hitting .272 with 18 runs in 46 games for Oklahoma City.

He returned to triple-A in 2014, but after a rough start spend the summer bouncing throughout the organization.

Finally, during spring training 2015, the Astros dealt Sosa to Los Angeles in a trade.

“It was tough because I wanted to make it to the big leagues with Houston,” said Sosa. “That was my dream. And the Astros organization was the only one I had ever known. But there was no room for me there, so I told myself that God has a plan for everything.”

The transition was initially rocky, as Sosa hit .256 in 31 games with Single-A Inland Empire. But after he was promoted to Double-A Arkansas, he saw his average rise to .277 with 22 runs and 11 stolen bases in 31 games.

“I feel like my confidence finally returned when I got to double-A,” he said. “It was frustrating going from triple-A to single-A. They wanted to see what I was capable of, and I feel like I opened some eyes.”

But the speedster really opened eyes over the winter in the Caribbean.

Sosa finished second in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente with a .318 average in 31 games, leading Cangrejeros de Santurce to the title. He also led the league in steals (18) and was tied for second in runs (21).

“It was an amazing winter,” he said. “No one expected me to have that kind of season. But you just have to trust your work ethic and believe that you can do it.”

After some rest, including a stop in Lawrence, Sosa reported to spring training in Tempe, Arizona. While spending much of his early time with the minor leaguers, Sosa has earned a few calls to back up the big leaguers.

He now hopes to start the regular season in triple-A, but know that wherever he starts, his eyes will continue to be on the ultimate prize.

“I believe I should be in triple-A, but I don’t make those decisions,” he said. “I will just be ready to play. I know what I am capable of. I know that I’m not a home run hitter. But I can bunt, I can cause trouble on the base and and I work hard on my defense. And the Angels love that.

March 28, 2016 Page 40 of 43

“Of course I dream about making it to the bigs. That’s been my dream since I was little. I know I have a lot of friends and family that are rooting for me. In the end, I just have to have fun.”

FROM THE LA DAILY NEWS

Tragedies gave Angels pitcher Javy Guerra new perspective on work, life

By JP Hoornstra, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

TEMPE, Ariz. >> Javy Guerra was at his locker Friday when Snapchat beckoned. The pitcher was going back and forth with his 8-year-old nephew Jayden, who’s more like a son at this point. Sometimes they’ll chat on Facetime, too. For baseball players with young children, this is Typical Dad Routine stuff.

Guerra said he’s learned a lot of typical dad stuff the last couple years by talking to teammates, first on the Chicago White Sox and now as a non-roster invitee in the Angels’ camp. That’s the happy ending to this story: Guerra has a routine now, and a son, and his teammates are there for him.

Guerra’s story deserves a happy ending, one more meaningful than the final spot in the Angels’ bullpen (though he might get that, too). Tragedy has followed him long enough.

Guerra was in the middle of a strong 2014 season with the White Sox when his sister Roxy, Jayden’s mom, was killed in a car crash driving on a highway south of Dallas, Texas.

“She was just coming home,” Guerra said.

It was the middle of a homestand, a Saturday. Guerra, who had pitched the night before, flew from Chicago to Dallas to bury his 25-year-old sister. Major League Baseball allows players on the bereavement list to miss up to seven games, and Guerra took the full seven.

This isn’t something a young man should be familiar with, but Guerra was. The year before, he was preparing for his final spring training with the Dodgers when a rare form of mouth cancer rapidly and mercilessly claimed his 31-year-old brother, Sergio.

In the span of two years, all before his 30th birthday, Guerra had lost two of his four siblings. He needed time to grieve, of course. The Dodgers and White Sox gave him that.

“Then you start realizing you get on track, get your good foundation, move on,” Guerra said. “Take little strides forward.”

After Roxy died, though, Javy needed more than time to grieve. He needed to grow up and become a dad.

Jayden’s biological father was never in the picture, Guerra said, so he bought a house for his family near Dallas that would allow Jayden to stay in the same school district. Guerra said his older sister, Jessica, lives there and handles a lot of the day-to-day parenting.

March 28, 2016 Page 41 of 43

When you’re trying to be a dad and a baseball player at the same time, Facetime helps.

“Throughout the whole process, (Jayden) just allowed me to kind of realize how strong he was and let me piggyback off him,” Guerra said. “It was crazy to see how he knew what was going on but still was taking the role of a leader — looking out for his baby brother, who didn’t even realize what was going on.”

Guerra is a name but not a star. His career peaked as a rookie with the Dodgers in 2011 when he saved 21 games; the next season he lost the closer’s job to Kenley Jansen and never got it back.

When the Dodgers assembled baseball’s first $30 million bullpen in 2014, Guerra was pushed out in favor of established veterans like Chris Perez, Brian Wilson and Jamey Wright. He was designated for assignment in spring training.

The White Sox claimed Guerra off waivers, and he would make a total of 45 appearances over the next two seasons. His career in Chicago was cut short by a mistake of his own doing, a failed test for a drug of abuse in July 2015.

For a man intent on being a role model, it was a wake-up call.

“Talk to my teammates,” Guerra said. “I think they’d tell you I’m a lot more responsible now. I have a routine. I come in at the same time. I do the same thing every day. That helps me build on what I’ve always been taught in the past — I never really understood what they meant — as far as have a routine, come in, get your stuff done. You’re the same guy every day. You’re never searching when you’re going good, never searching when you’re going bad. You’re always the same guy. You know that there’s a handful of things that you do normally that will allow you to keep yourself in the same mind frame.”

Three of Guerra’s former teammates who still play for the Dodgers remembered him bouncing back when his brother died. As far as they could tell, it didn’t affect him when he got to the park. One, Jansen, has seen Guerra change off the field.

“Just going out and having a great time, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I feel like he just used that as an escape,” Jansen said. “He’s strong now. I wish him all the best.”

Baseball is now both Guerra’s job and his escape, occasionally interrupted by a buzzing smartphone with a smiling 8-year-old on the other end. It’s a pleasant interruption.

It’s also a reminder of how cruel life is sometimes, a reminder he didn’t ask for but one that’s given him purpose.

“Everyone in your family’s going through it,” Guerra said, “so that’s good. We balance each other out.”

The Angels re-assigned outfielder Nick Buss, outfielder Quintin Berry and pitcher Yunesky Maya to their minor-league camp. … Dodgers pitcher Brandon Beachy threw a 42-pitch bullpen session, his first since a recurrence of elbow pain earlier this month. … Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu also threw a bullpen session as he continues to recover from left shoulder surgery. … Right-hander Ross Stripling will start for the Dodgers on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres, likely his only audition for the fifth starter’s job

March 28, 2016 Page 42 of 43

before the regular season. … Yasiel Puig was scratched from the Dodgers’ lineup as a precaution when he awoke Saturday with a stiff left hamstring.

FROM NBCSPORTS.COM

2016 Preview: Los Angeles Angels By Craig Calcaterra Between now and Opening Day, HardballTalk will take a look at each of baseball’s 30 teams, asking the

key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2016

season. Next up: The Los Angeles Angels.

With Mike Trout, all things are possible. Well, not all things, but a whole lot more wins than a team with

this many holes and as thin a system as the Angels have might otherwise expect to get. When you start

with the best player in baseball — and when you back him up with a declining but still dangerous Albert

Pujols — you’re starting out OK.

Beyond those two things get a bit uncertain. The trade for Andrelton Simmons definitely shores up the

defense up the middle, but unless he has that breakout offensive season some have figured he has in

him someplace (Braves fans waited for four years and it never happened), his bat won’t add much to the

party. Yunel Escobar at third base is an intriguing option for some offense if you think his nice 2015 was

indicative of a resurgence as opposed to an outlier. Kole Calhoun took a step back last year but is still

solid and has some upside. C.J. Cron‘s power is the real deal and he could hit between 20-30 homers.

Overall, though, there’s an awful lot of low-OBP dudes on this Angels lineup, minimizing the damage

Trout, Pujols and Cron can do with their bombs. And that’s before you figure that Pujols, who is battling

some foot problems this spring, is likely to continue to go slowly and gently into that good night. Last

year the Angels were close to a bottom-third offense. It’s hard to see them improving dramatically this

year.

Garrett Richards tops the rotation. He wasn’t as great in 2015 as he was in 2014, but still has fantastic

stuff and is another full offseason and a regular-ramp-up removed from his ugly knee injury from late in

2014. Jered Weaver‘s velocity — or shocking lack thereof — is concerning. Hector Santiago‘s screwballs

are fun. Andrew Heaney could truly emerge this year as a solid number two or three starter. C.J. Wilson

will start the year on the DL and there is no solid timetable for his return. Matt Shoemaker was a

disappointment last year but he’ll fill in for Wilson. Huston Street and Joe Smith in the pen is pretty

decent. The rest of the pen is neither great nor terrible.

The biggest issue with the Angels: there’s not a lot of upside to be seen here. Mike Trout is amazing, but

you can’t reasonably expect him to get better. You can’t expect most of the rest of this club to get better

either, but that’s because it’s less than amazing. They won 85 games last year and it felt like that

March 28, 2016 Page 43 of 43

exceeded their real level of talent by a good deal. Where does the improvement come from this year?

Especially given how barren their minor league system is?

Prediction: Third place, AL West.