ANGELS NOTEBOOK: STARTERS EQUATE TO SUCCESS.Byline: Greg MacDonald Staff Writer ANAHEIM - As they begin the second half of their 162-game schedule, the Angels sit comfortably on top of 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. standings, and they have their starting pitching to thank for a good portion of their success. With the best starting rotation ERA 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). , the Angels know that continuing their 100-win pace will require their five-man rotation to keep up its stellar performance. ``I think that (when) your pitching is down, you are really swimming up stream to get to your goal,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia With current injuries to key position players (center fielder Steve Finley Steven Allen Finley (born March 12 1965, in Union City, Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who bats and throws left-handed. He currently is a free agent, and has been working out on a regular basis since his release, hopeful a call will come from a team looking and 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. ) and the starting rotation (right-hander Kelvim Escobar Kelvim Jose Escobar Bolivar [ess-coe-BAR] (born April 11, 1976 in La Guaira, Venezuela) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004-present). He bats and throws right handed. ), Bartolo Colon, John Lackey John Derran Lackey (born October 23, 1978, in Abilene, Texas) is a major league baseball starting pitcher from Abilene, Texas. He has played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim his entire career. , Paul Byrd and Jarrod Washburn have allowed Scioscia to be patient with his team. ``We have a lot of guys who have changed some roles, who have come up from the minor leagues who have given us a boost,'' Scioscia said. ``That's what is going to be the driving force for any championship club that has those aspirations.'' --Injury update: Among the injured Angels, Finley appears to be the closest to returning to the lineup. The 40-year-old center fielder, who has been on the disabled list since June 21 with a strained right shoulder, has begun taking soft toss and batting practice. Even though the Angels don't want to rush him back to the lineup, Finley does have an outside chance of being activated before the All-Star break. Cabrera also may attempt to feel out his injury before the All-Star break. The 30-year-old shortstop, on the DL since June 27, possibly will test his right elbow strain with some throwing drills this weekend. Meanwhile, Escobar is still expected to miss the next several weeks. Scioscia, however, said the surgery on Escobar's right elbow went well. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion