ANGELS NOTEBOOK: CABRERA LEADS THE WAY.Byline: BEN VILLA Staff Writer ANAHEIM -- Maicer Izturis Maicer Izturis (IPA pronunciation: [maɪsɛr ɪs'turɪs]) (born September 12, 1980 in Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball infielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. was given Saturday's game off because of a sore hamstring, but Chone Figgins Desmond DeChone "Chone" Figgins (born January 22, 1978 in Leary, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Despite the unusual spelling of his first name, "Chone" is pronounced as "Shawn. wasn't put in the leadoff spot to replace him. Instead, Angels manager Mike Scioscia ``We just thought that with us facing Gustavo Chacin, a left- hander, that this was the best way to go,'' Scioscia said. ``This way, we keep the middle of our order intact and we still have all our depth. ``What's important to remember here is that Izturis has to be at a level to run the bases at full speed, and if he's a little banged up, it's better to rest him. At this time of the year, we're not going to take any chances.'' Help on the way: The Angels' Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League (PCL) minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Class AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. , are in the Pacific Coast League For the high school sports league, see . The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. It is one of two leagues, along with the International League, playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below playoffs but as soon as their season ends, more players are expected to be called up. Dallas McPherson -- who homered Friday -- along with Kendry Morales and Tommy Murphy, are all expected to rejoin the Angels as soon as the Bees are done. ``Let's say they were to get eliminated tonight, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. that they would be up here tomorrow,'' Scioscia said. ``We would probably wait a couple of days but hopefully, they can stay in the race down there. ``Now, if somebody on our club were to got hurt tonight, we'll have somebody here tomorrow, no matter if they're still in the playoffs.'' Go wild: In the Angels' 45-year history, they have won the American League West The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Division five times, including the past two seasons. The one season they made the playoffs without winning the division -- 2002 -- they went on to win the World Series. And the moral of this story? Maybe the Angels should stop worrying about catching Oakland in the AL West and start worrying about catching the Twins and the White Sox. Entering Saturday's game, the Angels trailed the A's by 5 1/2 games for first place in the AL West but also trailed the Twins by the same number for the lead in the wild-card race. The White Sox were in second place, a half-game behind. ``It's funny, I was talking to Garret (Anderson) the other day about how every year, the team that wins the wild card seems to win the World Series,'' Figgins said. ``I can't explain it but I think the wild card is a good thing and it helps teams out.'' |
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