ANGELS NOTEBOOK: GREENE STARTS 3-GAME SUSPENSION.Byline: Joe Haakenson Manager Terry Collins made out his lineup card for Thursday's game, which included Todd Greene Todd Anthony Greene (born May 8, 1971 in Augusta, Georgia) is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Anaheim Angels (1996-2000), Toronto Blue Jays (2000), New York Yankees (2001), Texas Rangers 2002-2003) and the Colorado in right field. ``Then he came in and said, `I'm suspended,' '' Collins said. ``So I said `OK, there's a scratch.' '' Greene dropped his appeal of a three-game suspension handed down by the American League American League (AL) One of the two associations of professional baseball teams in the U.S. and Canada designated as major leagues; the other is the National League (NL). for charging the mound In baseball, charging the mound is when a batter assaults the pitcher after being hit by a pitch. The first incidence of a professional charging the mound has not been identified but the practice certainly dates back to the game's early days. in a game against the Mariners April 18. Greene had been hit with a pitch by Mariners pitcher Brett Hinchliffe, one pitch after Troy Glaus Troy Edward Glaus (born August 3, 1976 in Tarzana, California) is a Major League Baseball player who plays third base for the Toronto Blue Jays. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels (1998-2004) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (2005). homered. Both general manager Bill Bavasi William J. Bavasi (born December 27, 1957, Pasadena, California) is the current general manager and vice president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners. The son of longtime Major League Baseball executive Buzzie Bavasi and the brother of Peter Bavasi, also a former MLB and team president Tony Tavares talked with AL President Gene Budig Gene Budig was the president of Major League Baseball's American League from 1994-1999. In 1999, the President's offices of the two leagues were disestablished. Prior to his position with the American League, Budig served as chancellor of the University of Kansas. , but ``talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to Budig, (Bavasi and Tavares) didn't feel the league was going to budge on it,'' Greene said. Greene began serving the suspension Thursday and will miss games tonight and Saturday. ``It was a national TV game - I couldn't have given them a sad enough story to change it,'' Greene said, adding that he would do it again given the circumstances. Angels hitters were hit five times in the three-game series. ``I don't ever want to do it again, but if I have to, I will,'' he said. ``Baseballs break bones.'' Thanks to O'Brien: Pitcher Chuck Finley's eight shutout innings Wednesday against the Yankees was easily his best performance of the year, and he credited catcher Charlie O'Brien
Charles Hugh O'Brien for making a key adjustment. ``Charlie suggested something after my last start. He said, `This is what I need your forkball fork·ball n. Baseball A pitch with the ball placed between the index and middle fingers so that the ball takes a sharp dip near home plate. fork to start doing for me,' '' Finley said. ``I throw two forkballs, one for strikes and one in the dirt to get guys to swing at. He didn't like the one I throw for strikes, particularly when I'm ahead in the count.'' So Finley threw plenty of forkballs in the dirt, gave up only three hits and registered a season-high 11 strikeouts. Breathe deeply: Troy Glaus had started all 34 games this season at third base until Thursday, when Tim Unroe started in his place. Glaus has just three hits in his past 34 at-bats, his average falling to .274. ``He needs to sit here for a day and just take a deep breath,'' Collins said of his 22-year-old third baseman. ``If I wasn't seeing pitches or recognizing pitches, it'd be a whole different problem. It's a matter of executing,'' Glaus said of his slump. ``I'm not tired at all. Physically I feel great. Can't hold Mo down: Mo Vaughn's sprained left ankle limits him to the designated-hitter spot. But even after it improves enough to allow him to play first base, he'll need occasional stints at DH to keep the ankle from being overworked. However, a week of Vaughn not playing at all is not an option according to Collins. ``I'm not big enough to hold him down,'' Collins said. ``We don't have enough guys to hold him down.'' Tough sked: The schedule continues to be an enemy for the Angels early in the season. Thursday they completed a 10-day, nine-game trip to Detroit, Boston and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of but are home to play just three games - their third three-game homestand of the season - before traveling to Baltimore and Tampa Bay for six games. ``We get home at 3 in the morning, get up and play (tonight),'' Collins said. ``We wake up Saturday and play, then Sunday we bring our suitcases to the stadium again.'' The Angels begin a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are a professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Florida. The Devil Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Devil Rays have played in Tropicana Field. tonight at 7:05. Tim Belcher (1-3, 9.89 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Tampa Bay's Bobby Witt (3-0, 4.11). ANGELS vs. TAMPA BAY Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field. Radio/TV: KCAL-9; KLAC-570, XPRS-1090. Matchup: Tim Belcher (1-1, 9.89 ERA) will try to break out of his slump - he's made it out of the sixth inning only once in seven starts this season. Bobby Witt (3-0, 4.11) will start for the Devil Rays. After the three-game series, the Angels are back on the road for six games in Baltimore and Tampa. - Joe Haakenson CAPTION(S): Box BOX: ANGELS vs. TAMPA BAY (See text) |
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