Monday, April 03, 2006

 

Angels Win the Final Tuneup

They feel ready for season after 4-2 victory over Dodgers, who could win 90 games, Little says.
By Bill Shaikin, Times Staff WriterApril 3, 2006
In the good old days, when UCLA played for the national basketball championship just about every spring, the Dodgers usually got to September with a chance to win, and the Angels got to September with a chance to see how many guys Nolan Ryan could strike out.In the good new days, the Angels usually get to September with a chance to win, and we'll see about the Dodgers. The games start counting today, after the Angels beat the Dodgers, 4-2, in Sunday's Freeway Series finale.
No longer do the Angels and their fans dread September. The Angels begin the season in search of their third consecutive division championship, a feat neither team has accomplished."This is a championship club," designated hitter Tim Salmon said. "You'd expect to be in the postseason with the kind of players we have."The Dodgers, well, who knows? They won their division two seasons ago, lost 91 games last season and begin this season with a new general manager, a new manager and newcomers at first base, shortstop, third base and center field."I don't see anything that could keep us from being competitive in September," Manager Grady Little said.First baseman Nomar Garciaparra, 32, finished the spring hitting .246, with three extra-base hits in 61 at-bats. Shortstop Rafael Furcal, 28, played Sunday after sitting out four days because of a strained back. Center fielder Kenny Lofton, 38, is starting the season on the disabled list because of a strained calf.Catcher Dioner Navarro, 22, sat out two weeks because of a strained hamstring and had one hit in 27 at-bats (.037) this spring."We know we have the talent in the room to get the job done," Little said. "If they are able to stay on the field, we like our chances."The San Diego Padres won the National League West with 82 victories last season, but Little said he isn't buying the conventional wisdom that the Dodgers can get into the playoffs with 85 or so victories.Does he believe the Dodgers can win 90?"Yes," he said.In Sunday's game, Juan Rivera tagged Brett Tomko for a three-run homer hit "almost halfway back to L.A.," according to Little. Angel starter Ervin Santana recorded the victory despite walking four and hitting two batters in four innings.They play for keeps today, counting on a red October and hoping for a blue one.

 

Escobar ready to get started

Starter back in rotation after elbow shelved him for most of 2005


Kelvim Escobar spent more time with the trainer last year than he did with a baseball in his hand, and doesn't try to hide the fact that he quickly grew tired of seeing so much of the Angels' medical staff.
"It was hard going to the ballpark every day and being in the training room," Escobar said. "I hate the training room. I don't like to go in there.
"You have to do it, but I'm glad everything feels fine."
After elbow injuries limited him to 59 2/3 innings last year, the Angels' No. 4 starter said he is fully healthy and looking forward to a better season in 2006.
Escobar won 11 games in his first season with the Angels in 2004 and entered last spring with high expectations, but he landed on the disabled list three times and eventually underwent surgery on June 29 to shave down bone spurs in his right elbow. Before the surgery, he endured nearly constant uncertainty about whether his arm would recover with therapy or he would have to shut down his season.
Escobar eventually returned in September, but, with rookie Ervin Santana having established himself in the starting rotation, was pushed into the bullpen. It was soon clear that the post-surgery Escobar was as good as new, as he posted a 1-0 record and a 1.89 ERA in 19 regular-season innings. He was just as effective in the postseason.
"That was a good thing, because I pitched a lot coming off surgery," Escobar said. "I showed them that I was back healthy and told myself that, too."
He continued his progress by going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings this spring. Escobar is expected to start the Angels' home opener against the Yankees on Friday.
"I know that results are not very important in Spring Training," he said. "But if you're working on something and you do it, you're going to get good results. If you're not getting good results, then something's wrong."
Angels manager Mike Scioscia feels one of the biggest strengths of this year's team is its starting rotation, especially considering Escobar and staff ace Bartolo Colon appear healthy to start the season.
"When we came into Spring Training," Scioscia said, "if you had told me our rotation would be where it is now, with the guys we had banged up last year, I would be ecstatic.
"I think Kelvim, from coming off arm surgery to going into the bullpen to reestablishing himself as a starter, it's easier said than done. He's accomplished that."

 

Angels' success rests on rotation

Colon, Escobar healthy heading into AL West title defense


The key word for the Angels in 2006 is pitching, and it starts in the rotation.
As it was last season, when Angels starters paced the club to its second consecutive division crown in the American League West, the group that takes the hill each day will again be called on to carry the flag.
"It's a five-cylinder engine, and we'll need those five guys every night," manager Mike Scioscia said.
The quintet faces a bar that will not be easy to clear. Last year's rotation posted a 3.75 ERA, tying the White Sox for the league's low mark while Bartolo Colon distinguished himself by winning the AL Cy Young award.
Left-hander Jarrod Washburn had the low ERA in the rotation at 3.20 while John Lackey matched a career-high with 14 wins and dropped only five decisions. Ervin Santana chipped in 12 victories as a rookie.
"I think it has a chance to perform as well as last year's, but I don't think you can ask for more than what we got last year," Scioscia said. "We pitched deep enough into games on a nightly basis and throughout the season. That allowed us to keep the bullpen on pace. We have the potential to do that again."
The makings for a repeat are there, though.
Colon returns as the ace of the all-right-handed rotation and will be followed by Lackey and Jeff Weaver in the regular season's opening series in Seattle. Kelvim Escobar will be the No. 4 starter with Santana handling the fifth spot.
Two health concerns faced the Angels at the opening of camp this spring. Colon suffered a right shoulder strain last October while Escobar had surgery to remove bone chips and shave a bone spur from his right elbow last June.
The two pitchers have been healthy all spring and both pitched in the World Baseball Classic: Colon for the Dominican Republic and Escobar for the pitching-rich Venezuelan team.
It was Colon who enjoyed the upper hand as the Dominicans eliminated Venezuela to advance to the semis. Colon then held Cuba scoreless for six innings to lower his ERA in the Classic to 0.64 only to see Cuba rally against the Dominican bullpen.
Escobar returned from the experience of playing in the international tournament not only energized for the regular season but feeling better than he has in years. He last started over a full season in 2004, when he went 11-12 with a 3.93 ERA but suffered from a lack of run support that resulted in the Angels getting shut out in five of his starts. The right-hander is pain-free this season and has the ability to dominate with a five-pitch repertoire that features fastball, slider, split, curve and changeup. He can also cut his fastball and will form a solid back end of the rotation with Santana.
"We have good pitching all the way through; it doesn't matter your place in the rotation," Escobar said. "It is pretty good when you have me and then Ervin as the No. 4 and the No. 5 guy."
The rotation is down a pair of starters from last year with the departure of Washburn and Paul Byrd. Escobar is taking one slot with the other going to Weaver.
The Angels did not make many headlines during the offseason, adding right-hander Hector Carrasco and left-hander J.C. Romero to the bullpen. But as camp opened, they landed Weaver with a one-year deal worth a potential $9 million with incentives.
After two seasons with the Dodgers, Weaver is returning to the AL and will give the Angels a veteran presence that is capable of taking the ball every fifth day and chew up innings. Weaver has logged at least 200 innings in each of the last two seaons and has never been on the disabled list in his career.
"I'm excited," said Weaver, who won a career-high 14 games last season. "I think everyone that goes out there is a No. 1. I think it is a sign of a great rotation. That is what wins: pitching and defense. If everyone stays healthy and does what they're capable of, it is going to be a fine year."
Darin Erstad is returning to center this season with Casey Kotchman taking over at first. Orlando Cabrera and Adam Kennedy form a Gold Glove double-play combo in the middle of the infield so the defense that plays behind the starters should once again be solid.
"Our team starts with pitching and part of our pitching is the defense that goes behind it," Scioscia said. "Erstad is a part of that defense. Adam Kennedy is a part of that."
Francisco Rodriguez in the closer's role will anchor a bullpen that should rank among baseball's best, but the road to a three-peat in the AL West will be fueled by the success of the starting staff.

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