Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim news, rumors and injuries

Sun, 16 Mar 2014 00:05:15 -0700

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim acquired SS Hector Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later.

Share: | Source: MLB Daily Dish -- Justin Millar

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:31:42 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim SP Garrett Richards will pitch in a minor league game Tuesday, March 18, to stay on his once-every-five-days schedule, since the team has an open date on the Cactus League spring schedule.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:31:21 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF Brennan Boesch was ejected in the Cactus League spring game Saturday, March 15, for arguing balls and strikes. Boesch is fighting for a bench spot. Manager Mike Scioscia felt the ejection wasn't warranted, saying Boesch was "walking away and wasn't even looking at the umpire. I think you just had a young umpire who wasn't very experienced at how to handle something like that."

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:30:59 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF Josh Hamilton (calf) ran the bases at the team's spring complex Saturday, March 15, and manager Mike Scioscia said Hamilton "felt great" in doing so. If he does not feel any uncommon soreness Sunday, March 16, he might make his Cactus League spring debut as early as Monday, March 17.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:30:29 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim P Dane De La Rosa (forearm) has been cleared by team doctors to resume his throwing program, and he will play catch Sunday, March 16. Despite the fact he appears to have dodged serious injury, it appears he will begin the regular season on the 15-day disbled list.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:29:51 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF J.B. Shuck started out Cactus League spring play with few hits, but he know why. "I wanted to come in and prove that last year wasn't a fluke," Shuck said Saturday, March 15. "I think I just put a little too much pressure on myself." Shuck recently watched a video with new hitting coach Don Baylor and noticed he was "jumpy" at the plate and expanding his strike zone, all indications he was trying too hard.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:29:16 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF Mike Trout said Saturday, March 15, that he is looking to be more aggressive early in the count in an effort to cut down on strikeouts. "I think the biggest thing, for me, is being aggressive early," Trout said. "A lot of counts last year, I'd be taking, seeing pitches. But I'm going to be aggressive this year. Instead of just flipping one over for strike one, or 2-0 strike one, I'm going to be up there hacking, I'm going to be up there swinging."

Fantasy Tip: Fantasy owners can't really complain about anything with Trout, but if he curbed his strikeouts even slightly, he would be even more of a stud. He already said earlier in the spring he wants to run more, too, so it is nice to see he isn't resting on his laurels, and is working hard to be even better.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:57:05 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1B Albert Pujols is happy with his progress this spring after dealing with plantar fasciitis in his foot most of last season. He's getting back to his old self defensively, and he continues to consider himself a first baseman and not a designated hitter. Pujols' timing at the plate is also starting to get back to where he wants it, and he's starting to square balls up after getting off to a slow start in the spring.

"I feel better than that first week," said Pujols, whose Cactus League slash line is at .240/.355/.320. "Remember, I missed 300 at-bats last year. I've never gone this long without seeing live pitching. This is my first time in my 13-, 14-year career. But I feel better. It seems like my first week I was a little bit uncomfortable, but I started seeing the ball better, getting better at-bats, seeing pitches." His left foot and right knee are both completely healthy heading into the season.

Fantasy Tip: Pujols' plate skills remain steady enough for him to put up another 30-home run season. Health is now the key for him, but as of now, there shouldn't be any concerns in that department.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:37:21 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim SP Joe Blanton moved from the first base side of the pitching rubber to the third base side Wednesday, March 12, and had excellent results in his outing. Blanton allowed one hit in five innings in a split-squad game against the Texas Rangers. He has "a chance to create angles both to lefties and righties, especially with his fastball to be able to get it cross-corner and down, or in, to a lefty," manager Mike Scioscia said. However, Blanton is unlikely to surpass SP Tyler Skaggs for the final rotation spot.

Fantasy Tip: Blanton may find himself on another team if he doesn't make the rotation out of camp, unless the Halos plan to use him as a long reliever, which is unlikely. Blanton shouldn't be on your fantasy radar.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:34:09 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim RP Sean Burnett (elbow) threw his first "official" bullpen session Thursday, March 13, and his arm felt good. He threw 30 fastballs at 80 to 90 percent intensity. Burnett thinks he'll need two or three more bullpens before he can move to live batting practice and games. He's likely to start the year on the disabled list.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:32:45 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim RP Dane De La Rosa (forearm) is expected to be re-evaluated Thursday, March 13, to see if he can resume throwing.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:32:25 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim RP Ryan Brasier (forearm) has been rehabbing this spring due to tightness in his forearm. He's expected to start the year on the disabled list.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:43:57 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF Josh Hamilton (calf) will take live batting practice Thursday, March 13, and he's still targeting early next week to return to spring games.

Fantasy Tip: Hamilton is running out of time in order to get ready for the regular season, and he'll definitely need to open on the DL if he suffers a setback. If he doesn't receive enough spring at-bats, his timing at the plate may suffer in April. Keep that in mind.

Share: | Source: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:31:29 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim SP Hector Santiago said he wants to throw his screwball more this season, even though he's much more comfortable with his other three pitches. He's been throwing it frequently for strikes this spring.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:31:09 -0700

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF Kole Calhoun will be the team's leadoff hitter this year, and he has no problems with being patient. "I'm not scared to take a walk, to work a count, so I really don't see any advantage of going out hacking," Calhoun said. "I want to let those guys see how a guy's working early in a game and set the table for the guys behind me." In 20 of his 222 plate appearances last year, Calhoun swung at the first pitch.

Share: | Source: MLB.com - Alden Gonzalez