RENDERED USELESS, PERCIVAL PONDERS FUTURE.Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer BOSTON - Troy Percival's 10-year Angels career has spanned the emotional spectrum. Friday night, it might have ended in a haze of frustration. The Angels were eliminated from the playoffs when David Ortiz David Ortiz (born November 18, 1975 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter who has played for the Boston Red Sox since 2003. Previously, Ortiz played for the Minnesota Twins (1997-2002). hit a two-run 10th-inning home run to cap the Boston Red Sox's three-game division series sweep with an 8-6 victory. As Ortiz's shot off unlikely reliever Jarrod Washburn Jarrod Michael Washburn (born August 13, 1974 in La Crosse, Wisconsin) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1995 amateur draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Washburn won the final game climbed over the Green Monster This article is about the left-field wall at Fenway Park. For other uses, see Green Monster (disambiguation). The Green Monster (often known simply as The Monster or The Wall) is the nickname of the 37-foot, two-inch (11. , Percival was left in an odd position. On the bullpen mound, warmed up, but nowhere to go. He did not appear once in this three-game sweep, as the Angels led only briefly in Game 2, before a sixth-inning Jason Varitek Jason Andrew Varitek (born April 11, 1972 in Rochester, Michigan) is an American baseball player. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox. home run tied the game. A club that can't take the lead has little use for a closer, so Percival sat ... the whole series. Friday, the wait proved excruciating. ``It was more frustrating sitting down there, getting loose, getting loose, getting loose, thinking you're gonna come in,'' Percival said. ``I felt horrible about that, especially if I'm not coming back in this uniform, to think this might be my last game.'' Percival, the 35-year-old closer and franchise leader with 316 career saves, will become a free agent 15 days after the World Series ends. Francisco Rodriguez Francisco Rodriguez may refer to:
Percival made $7.5 million this season and is prepared to take a pay cut, within reason. With the Angels wanting to pare a $112 million payroll to around $90 million, Percival could be expendable, despite converting 21 of his past 22 save chances and posting a 1.67 ERA since the All-Star break. ``I hope to God they bring him back,'' reliever Brendan Donnelly Brendan Kevin Donnelly (b. July 4, 1971 in Washington, D.C.) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. Donnelly had bounced around the minor leagues for 10 seasons after he was drafted in 1992 by the Chicago White Sox before he finally made his said Friday. ``He's got stuff left, quality stuff. Check his second-half numbers. He's still one of the best in the game. Hopefully, they'll come to an agreement to keep this bullpen together.'' Percival has been its leader for the better part of a decade, and his pupils put on a dazzling show to keep the Angels in the game Friday. With manager Mike Scioscia While Scot Shields Scot Shields (b. July 22, 1975, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, with whom he has spent his entire career, serving as their setup man since 2005. (four hits, 1 1/3 innings) was not effective, Donnelly rebounded from a Game 2 disaster to retire all seven batters he faced, five by strikeout. He entered with Ortiz at bat and two on, but struck him out looking to end the fifth. Rodriguez held the Red Sox scoreless in the eighth and ninth after the Angels tied it 6-6. And as the Angels threatened in the ninth and 10th, Percival loosened up, ready to enter. But the Angels left the bases loaded in the ninth when Keith Foulke Even with the score tied and the Angels on the road, Scioscia was prepared to bring Percival in had Ortiz reached against Washburn and right-handed Gabe Kapler pinch-hit for Trot Nixon. But that didn't come to pass, so Percival was left to trudge in from the right-field bullpen as Ortiz rounded the bases and New England went wild around him. It might have been his last walk-off job as a member of the Angels. ``I'm an Angel forever,'' he said. ``I love it. But once I saw (Chuck) Finley go, I know anything can happen. I wouldn't be surprised.'' Gabe Lacques, (626) 962-8811 gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com |
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