Results tagged ‘ Angels ’
Angels, Kendry Morales avoid arbitration
The Angels and first baseman Kendry Morales have agreed on one-year deal for $2.975 million to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source.
The deal also includes a $50,000 bonus for 550 plate appearances.
Morales was hitting .290 with 11 home and 39 RBIs in 51 games before he suffered a season-ending leg injury when he landed wrong on home plate after a walkoff home run on May 29.
He placed fifth in the American League’s Most Valuable Player balloting in 2009 after hitting .306 with 34 homers and 108 RBIs.
Angelino: Jose Arredondo
Not too long ago, a reliever from Latin America joined an American League West team near the end of the season and propelled the club to a World Series title. The reliever was Francisco Rodriguez. The team was the Angels. The year was 2002.
Could Jose Arredondo be the second coming of K-Rod? He just might be.
“He’s pretty electric,” Angels reliever Scot Shields said. “Sometimes I just sit in the bullpen and watch him throw. I know I’m not a good hitter and I know I never would have been but I don’t see how anybody hits him. It’s coming in hot and he has that split finger and the slider. He’s an exciting young pitcher and I hope to be side by side with him for a long time.”
It doesn’t look like Arredondo is going anywhere soon. The former shortstop turned pitcher is 9-2 with a 1.54 ERA in 58 1/3 innings since being called up in May. Last season, the young man from San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic, saved 10 games at Double-A. He saved 10 games at Triple-A this season to earn the big league promotion.
His nine victories lead all relievers.
“We are having a great year. I’m doing well, too,” Arredondo said. “You try to do a good job where ever you are. I like pitching in the last innings. I’m comfortable there.”
It doesn’t hurt to have Shields and Rodriguez, two of the best relievers in the game, in the bullpen with him. The pair serves as mentors for the young right-handed pitcher.
“To have them here, that’s a big advantage for somebody like me,” Arredondo said. “We want the same thing. To finish the season strong and win. I want to be a champion.”
He might get his wish. The first-place Angels have steamrolled through the American League and are heading into the postseason. And with Rodriguez heading for free agency, Arredondo could be the closer of the future. But he still has work to do. Arredondo is 0-6 in save opportunities.
“He’s taken the opportunity and run with it,” Shields said. “He has the demeanor. He has that no fear attitude you need to go along with his stuff.”
Angels notita: Ervin Santana
Their playoff rotation has not been announced but don’t be surprised to see Angels right-hander Ervin Santana take the mound for the hometown team in the second game of the American League Division Series that starts next week.
Don’t be surprised to hear him downplay the possibility, either.
“I don’t think about that,” Santana said. “I just take it day by day. I’ll be ready for the playoffs when they get here, but right now I’m just thinking about the job I have to do Monday.”
The Dominican is 15-6 with a 3.33 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 30 starts this season. For his career, he is 50-36 with a 4.39 ERA in 114 career games. Last season, he went 7-14 with a 5.76 ERA in 28 games for the Angels.
“It’s been a good year. That was a bad year, but this is a good one,” he said. “You concentrate on the good. I am doing the same thing I did last year. I am just going inning to inning and pitch to pitch.”
“This is a brand new year and you move forward,” he continued. “I learned last year, I practiced my location in the minor leagues and I’ve been able to do my job.”
Santana has also been able to give his arm a break. The Angels gave him a couple of extra days rest before his start against the Mariners on Monday.
“So far, so good,” Santana said. “I’ve enjoyed it. I didn’t need it, but it allowed me to relax a little bit.”
No-hit Monday
Did CC Sabathia throw a no-hitter Sunday? You decide. It was tough to call it an error or a hit live but I’m sure it’s a lot easier after the fact. No matter what is decided, it shouldn’t take away from how dominant Sabathia has been and how those pesky Brewers might end up in the playoffs. Milwaukee needs to enjoy CC while it has him. The Brew Crew won’t be able to afford him next year. Few will.
If the Arizona Diamondbacks make it to the playoffs, people will smirk …as usual. The team’s record is just above average and the team’s play, well …is also average. That said, if these guys get hot, they can upset anybody. The D-Backs can pitch. It could be a hot October in Phoenix.
Lost in a horrible season for the Seattle Mariners is the fact that second baseman Jose Lopez is having very good year. Ian Kinsler might be the best second baseman in the American League, but Lopez is up there with the Pedroias of the world. Yep, I said it. Kinsler is better than Pedroia.
I wonder about the effects of all those saves on the right arm of Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez? He has 50 saves already and his final tally is going to be outrageous. But what’s the point? The Angels are leading the division by more than a dozen games and Rodriguez’s arm could be better served in the playoffs. I know. I know. I can’t see the Angels resting him either, especially in close regular season games, but I think the guy might need a break before the playoffs begin. Put yourself in the Angels shoes: if you were the organization, would you rest a free-agent-to-be that will likely price himself out of your organization at the end of the season or would you use him up?
Now that I think about it …Is the saves record really that big of a deal? Really?
My gut feeling is Manny Ramirez will end up back in the AL. So will Carlos Delgado.
Rangers shortstop Michael Young needs 40 hits in the final 29 games of the season to reach the 200-hit mark for the sixth consecutive season. And he just might get them. Young is a grinder and he battles every single at-bat like it’s his last at-bat. Losing in Texas every year has to get old for Young but you would never know it by watching him play. He gives max-effort all season long and that’s part of the reason he is one of the most respected players in the game.
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Happy Labor Day.
Jesse Sanchez
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