ANGELS NOTEBOOK: NEW LINEUP FULL OF SWINGERS.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer SUNRISE, Ariz. - The Angels were last in 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). last season with 450 walks, and some of their more patient hitters - David Eckstein David Mark Eckstein, (born January 20, 1975 in Sanford, Florida), is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is noted for his size, as he is a small (for professional sports) 5' 7", but weighs 175 pounds. , Tim Salmon Manager Mike Scioscia ``You look at the team last year and bases on balls were not prevalent,'' Scioscia said. ``But the number of hitter's counts were prevalent. The number of hits we got (1,603, third in the AL) was terrific. ``I don't think it's necessary to force walks. But you have to have discipline to get into a hitter's count and maintain aggressiveness.'' The Angels put the ball in play. Their .341 on-base percentage ranked sixth in the AL last year, and their 942 strikeouts were the fewest in the league. ``It's one thing to be on first base and another to hit a double and be in scoring position In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on ,'' Scioscia said. ``The amount of times we're in scoring position is off the charts.'' New shortstop Orlando Cabrera Orlando Luis Cabrera (born November 2, 1974 in Cartagena, Colombia) is a Major League Baseball shortstop who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He bats and throws right-handed. is known as a free swinger, and Vladimir Guerrero Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (born February 9, 1976 in Don Gregorio, Nizao, Dominican Republic), and known in his native Dominican Republic as Miquéas (Spanish for Micah), is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. and Garret Anderson don't take many pitches. But the term ``free swingers'' should not be confused with the term ``undisciplined hitters,'' Anderson said. ``The guys we have here now are pretty good hitters,'' he continued. ``We're free swingers, but that doesn't mean we swing at bad pitches. I don't mind having a team that's aggressive. It puts pressure on the pitcher. He knows he can't mess up.'' --Lackey impressive: Angels starting pitcher John Lackey gave up two unearned runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings Friday during the Angels' 5-3 victory against Kansas City at Surprise Stadium. Other than battling a cough, Lackey said he felt fine, and was pleased with the continued development of his changeup. Lackey estimates he threw about two or three changeups a game last season, but plans to use it significantly more this year. --Tee time: Third baseman Dallas McPherson (protruding pro·trude v. pro·trud·ed, pro·trud·ing, pro·trudes v.tr. To push or thrust outward. v.intr. To jut out; project. See Synonyms at bulge. disc in lower back) hit off a tee Friday and could return to the lineup next Thursday or Friday. Barring any other setbacks, he could be in the lineup Opening Day. If not, the job will go to Robb Quinlan, who is a work in progress at third, a position he only began playing last year. ``Everybody realizes he's not going to be pretty down there,'' Scioscia said. ``But he'll make the plays. He's shown range to his right and he's improving to his left. Q's got good hands; he can catch the ball. There's always going to be rough edges you have to clean up.'' --Back with the team: Shortstop Orlando Cabrera took a plane from Columbia to Arizona on Friday after returning to his home country earlier in the week to fill out the paperwork necessary to establish U.S. residency. He should be back in the lineup Sunday. Joe Haakenson, (626) 962-8811 joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): box Box: BEYOND THE BOX SCORE |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion