ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANGELS' CALL-UPS WILL BE FEW.Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Utility players Trent Durrington and Adam Riggs were eating lunch at a restaurant here when an Angels fan, clad in an Angels golf shirt and World Series championship hat, got up and went to the restroom. He walked right past the two players and didn't so much as pause, let alone do a double take. It's true that you can't tell many of the Angels without a program these days, and for that reason, it will be only a trickle and not a flood of minor-leaguers called up when rosters expand Monday. The injury-ravaged Angels, whose game with Kansas City on Saturday was rained out, already have raided their Triple-A Salt Lake affiliate to the point that the Stingers lost their past five games to fall out of playoff contention. ``There's not going to be six or seven guys called up,'' manager Mike Scioscia said, ``because most of those guys are already here.'' Starting pitcher Kevin Gregg and reliever Derrick Turnbow will join the Angels on Monday in Minneapolis. Fellow starter Chris Bootcheck is expected to be recalled after he pitches in Salt Lake's season finale Monday. If Bootcheck gets recalled, he will be the first player from the Angels' past four drafts to make the major leagues. Gregg and Turnbow appeared with the Angels earlier this season. Gregg pitched six innings and gave up one run in a spot start at Cleveland, and Turnbow, one of the hardest throwers in the organization, pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up one run in April, when he replaced Francisco Rodriguez, who was on the bereavement list. Turnbow struggled at Salt Lake, going 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA, but he struck out 60 in 53 innings. ``He's got that power arm that we need to look at,'' Scioscia said of Turnbow. With shortstop Alfredo Amezaga and utility players Robb Quinlan, Riggs and Durrington joining the team the past five weeks, the pool of players available at Triple-A Salt Lake is woefully thin. In addition to Gregg, Turnbow and Bootcheck, catcher Wil Nieves and a middle infielder to replace Amezaga (torn labrum) will be recalled. --Will wait for sun: Today could be the longest day of the season, whether or not the Angels and Royals get two games in. The teams have no common off-days the rest of the season, because the Royals already have a makeup game scheduled Thursday, against Arizona. So every effort will be made to get at least one game in today, but more thundershowers are forecast for the Kansas City area. Royals president Dan Glass said if the games don't get played today, they will be made up Sept. 29, the day after the regular season concludes, if the outcomes affect the Royals in the American League Central race. Scioscia said he would prefer the games be made up when the Royals visit Anaheim next weekend, but the commissioner's office indicated to Glass the games would not be played until after the season, if necessary. While Missouri has been suffering through a drought, the Royals nonetheless have had a record five games postponed this season. --TV schedule: The first game of today's doubleheader will be broadcast by Fox Sports Net. Because of Saturday's rainout, Channel 9 might add a game to its broadcast schedule later in the season. --Dominican success: The Angels' aggressive forays into the Dominican Republic have paid dividends, if minor-league awards are any indication. Ervin Santana, who went 10-2 with a 2.53 ERA for Rancho Cucamonga, was named California League pitcher of the year. Abel Moreno, 10-0, 2.38 ERA at rookie- league Provo (Utah), was named Pioneer League pitcher of the year. Gabe Lacques, (626) 962-8811 gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): box Box: ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY - Gabe Lacques |
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