ANGELES NOTEBOOK: SAUNDERS MAKING THE MOST OF LIMBO.Byline: DOUG PADILLA Douglas ("Doug") Padilla (born October 4, 1956 in Oakland, California) is a former middle and long distance runner from the United States, who won the overall Grand Prix 1985 and the World Cup 5000m race in 1985. Staff Writer MESA, Ariz. -- Joe Saunders Joseph Francis "Joe" Saunders (born June 16, 1981 in Falls Church, Virginia) is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Saunders played college baseball at Virginia Tech, where he compiled a 27-7 career record. might have made a splash last season, but he still is fighting for name recognition. On a board entering the concourse at HoHoKam Park HoHoKam Park is a baseball field located in Mesa, Arizona (the Chicago Cubs spring training facility since 1979). The stadium was built in January 1997 and holds 12,632 people. It is the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs and the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. on Friday, the Angels' starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; was listed as "Jose" Saunders. The left-hander made his spring debut against the Chicago Cubs and pitched a solid two innings, allowing a home run to Matt Murton Matthew Henry Murton (born October 3, 1981 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is an outfielder who currently plays for Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs. Murton went to and played baseball for Eagle's Landing High School in McDonough, Georgia and later for the Georgia Tech Yellow but nothing else. He gave up a walk and recorded four of his six outs on fly balls to Vladimir Guerrero in right field. "I located for the most part," said Saunders, who had his contract renewed by the club Friday. "That one pitch to Murton I tried to go in and left it out over the plate a little bit and he hit it good. Other than that, I felt my command was pretty good, so I was pretty happy." You can excuse Saunders if he feels like he is in limbo this spring. As soon as Jered Weaver and Bartolo Colon are fit enough to join the rotation, the Angels are expected to send their insurance policy back to Triple-A. Weaver's status remains up in the air, while Colon isn't expected to be back until mid-summer at the earliest, even though he has impressed manager Mike Scioscia of late with his progress in rehab. So Saunders forges on like an intern who has to return back to college in the fall. For now, Saunders is aiming at being the No. 4 starter and making his season debut April 5 against the Oakland Athletics. Playing well: Gary Matthews Jr. is showing that the pressure of being implicated im·pli·cate tr.v. im·pli·cat·ed, im·pli·cat·ing, im·pli·cates 1. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly: evidence that implicates others in the plot. 2. in baseball's latest scandal might not hurt his play on the field. Matthews, who was named this week in an investigation of pharmacies selling human growth hormone human growth hormone (HGH): see growth hormone. , crushed a home run to right field. It was Matthews' first right-handed at-bat in Cactus League play after going 0 for 4 from the left side. Making progress: Despite the fact his long-toss sessions have been stalled in the 110- to 130-foot range, Weaver insists he is making progress on his sore biceps every time he throws. The biggest reason for his optimism came at the start of camp, when he found out he had nothing more than tendinitis. "After I got the MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. results that were negative, it kind of kicked me in the (rear) and made me work harder to get ready," Weaver said. The fact remains, that with more than two weeks of camp now gone, there still is no date for Weaver's first session from a mound. doug.padilla@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2731 CAPTION(S): box Box: BEYOND THE BOX SCORE |
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