After last weekend's pasting by the Jays, the Halos got well this week -- thanks to home cookin' and a visit by the Tribe. The Angels are still vulnerable, especially if the Jays can give Aaron Sele a rude re-introduction to Major League Baseball. Of course, the Jays definitely do not want to have to face the back end of Anaheim's bullpen down more than one run.
For those of us from outside the GTA, this is another series in which MLB.TV has elected not to show any of the Jays' games. Bah, humbug.
On to the Advance Scout!
* The Angels are 11-17 against clubs from anywhere but Cleveland …
* As Gitz mentioned in last week’s Advance Scout, John Lackey has been numbingly bad, but he avoids the Jays again …
* Aaron Sele returns from the DL tonight from a long shoulder-related rehab. He got knocked around in his minor-league rehab starts …
* Barry's hero, David Eckstein, has numbers that are down, but not at home: .338 BA, .407 OBP … Against the Jays last weekend, Eckstein assumed more than his share of the blame for the sweep: “It’s all on me right now. I’m not doing my job at the plate...My job is to get on base and I haven’t been doing that”… But he got a trademark HBP to start a rally on Thursday … He's the two-time defending hit-batsman champ ...
* Take away Vernon Wells’ grand slam and the eccentric, glove-pumping, super-intense Ben Weber would only have allowed one run in 17 IP … But the Jays aren’t giving those runs back …
* Tim Salmon’s 20-game hitting streak was snapped by Lurch & Co. on Sunday …
* The Angels had a desperation team meeting after the Jays concluded the sweep … Mike Scioscia: “We’re going to get better. We have to get in touch with how we play the game” … Adam Kennedy said the Angels weren’t up to snuff against the Jays offensively or defensively …
* Once-christened “Little Pedro,” Ramon Ortiz, has been far too hittable: 49 H, 40 IP …
* Garret Anderson is slugging .612 and batting .351, but his BB/K is a weak 6/22 … But he drove in all seven runs in Thursday’s 7-1 win … He’s driven in 33 in 33 games … The humble Anderson: “You’ve got to give credit to guys in front of me” …
* One reason for K-Rod’s struggles: 8 walks in 17 innings … And only 15 K’s, low for him … He has simply lacked last season's aura ...
* Jarrod Washburn pitched his first-ever complete game on Sunday … He was outstanding, spinning a six-hitter … Troy Percival said that although Washburn had been trying to throw a CG for some time, he’s been “team-oriented” enough to cheerfully turn the ball over to the bullpen … Washburn only needed 106 pitches, 70 of which were strikes …
* Troy Glaus hit one down the right-field line on Wednesday that turned out to be a triple – not because of his “speed” but because of the enormous shift employed by the Indians. RF Shane Spencer: “Glaus hits one down the right-field line maybe once, twice a year” …
* With Kevin Appier’s successful return on Thursday, veteran LOOGY Rich Rodriguez was sent down …
* The Orange County Register is lobbying for the Halos to sign old friend (and free agent) Chuck Finley to address their rotation-related woes …
* Darin Erstad is making progress with his hamstring tendonitis, but does not yet have a timetable for his return … Coach Joe Maddon: “Ersty is not about any one thing…He’s about everything. He’s the guy who definitely sets an example for the whole club” …
* What more can you say about Brendan Donnelly? He’s stranded all seven inherited runners … Hitters are batting a nifty .040 with RISP against him … The 32-year-old second-year man … ERA: 0.00. Opponent’s batting average: .100 … Pitching coach (and notable ex-Jay deadline acquisition) Bud Black on Donnelly: “He has good stuff, deception in his delivery, and he’s fearless”… Donnelly himself: “I try to go for perfection. And when I don’t get it, I’m upset about it and I think about what I did wrong” … Donnelly got out of a first-and-third, one-out jam on Wednesday …
* Tim Salmon cites the “wear and tear” of a long postseason as one reason (excuse?) for the Angels’ early struggles …
Probable Batting Orders
vs. LH
6 Eckstein
8 Owens
9 Salmon
7/DH Anderson
5 Glaus
3 Wooten
2 Molina
DH Fullmer/7 DaVanon
4 Gil/Kennedy
Vs. RH
6 Eckstein
4 Kennedy
9 Salmon
7 Anderson
5 Glaus
DH Fullmer
3 Spiezio
2 Molina
8 DaVanon
Pitching Probables
Friday: RH Sele vs. Davis
Saturday: RH Ortiz vs. Hendrickson
Sunday: LH Washburn vs. Halladay
Bullpen Usage
Long: Callaway R, Shields R
Short: Schoenweis L, F. Rodriguez R
Setup: Donnelly R, Weber R
Closer: Percival R
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030509013340999