(march 14, 2017) - mlb.com | the official site of major...
TRANSCRIPT
March 14, 2017 Page 1 of 21
Clips
(March 14, 2017)
March 14, 2017 Page 2 of 21
Today’s Clips Contents
FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)
Angels' Mike Trout is open to playing for U.S. in WBC in the future
Kenta Maeda is sharp as Dodgers beat Angels, 3-1, in exhibition game at Tempe
Los Angeles Angels ask Wally Joyner to work with slumping Cameron Maybin
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 7)
Albert Pujols homers but Angels fall to Dodgers
Angels Notes: Wally Joyner looking for a new role in the game
FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 9)
Pujols wastes no time warming up boomstick
Pujols' first homer not enough vs. Dodgers
Meyer 'electric,' full of confidence in rebound
Joyner returns to Angels, where it all began
FROM ESPN.COM (Page 13)
Starting pitchers looking for their second act
FROM FOX SPORTS (Page 16)
MLB’s 6 divisions, ranked by overall strength
FROM USA TODAY SPORTS (Page 19)
Meet the Angels’ bullpen coach who doubles as punk-rock star
March 14, 2017 Page 3 of 21
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES .
Angels' Mike Trout is open to playing for U.S. in WBC in the future
By Mike DiGiovanna
Mike Trout hasn’t contracted a full-blown case of World Baseball Classic fever, but the Angels center
fielder and two-time American League most valuable player is warming to the idea of playing in the
event after watching the passion and excitement of several first-round games.
“I mean, definitely, in the future, for sure,” Trout said Monday, when asked if this spring’s tournament
has increased his desire to play in the next WBC. “If I get the opportunity to do it again, I’ll probably do
it.”
Trout has watched several WBC games, but he was especially intrigued by the U.S.-Dominican Republic
game Saturday night.
The Dominicans trailed, 5-0, in the sixth inning but mounted a rally, highlighted by Nelson Cruz’s three-
run home run against reliever Andrew Miller, for a 7-5 victory in front of a raucous and record crowd of
37,446 in Marlins Park.
“The games have been good, fun to watch,” Trout said. “The park in Miami was sold out. That’s good for
baseball. A lot of people are saying baseball is falling off the map, but with the World Series last year and
now the WBC, it’s definitely helping out.”
The WBC would be an even bigger event if top U.S. players such as Trout, Washington Nationals slugger
Bryce Harper, Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and Nationals ace Max
Scherzer participated.
Trout said “it was a personal decision” to not play in this year’s event. Is the WBC to Trout sort of like
the home run derby, the All-Star game showcase that Trout has declined to participate in but says he
would like to do some day?
“Yeah, that hits it on the nose,” said Trout, who went hitless in three at-bats in the Angels’ 3-1 exhibition
loss to the Dodgers in Tempe Diablo Stadium. “The U.S. has a great team. I was talking to some of the
guys. Obviously, they wanted me to be there, but like I said, it was just a personal decision, nothing
more than that.”
Armed and dangerous
Manager Mike Scioscia was asked to describe the throwing arm of new catcher Martin Maldonado, who
was acquired in December from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for catcher Jett Bandy and minor
league pitcher Drew Gagnon.
“A cannon,” said Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher.
March 14, 2017 Page 4 of 21
Like the one Ivan Rodriguez, one of baseball’s best-throwing catchers and a 2017 inductee into the Hall
of Fame, had?
“A cannon,” Scioscia repeated.
How about in relation to other current major league catchers?
“Some guys have a bazooka, some guys have a cannon, some guys have an M-16, and some guys have a
pop-gun,” Scioscia said. “His arm ranks with any of the best-throwing catchers I’ve seen. His arm
strength is tremendous.”
Maldonado, who has thrown out 67 of 190 base-stealers (35%) in five big league seasons, showed off
the arm in the seventh inning Monday when he made a snap-throw to first base to pick off Charlie
Culberson, who had wandered too far off the bag on a pitch to O’Koyea Dickson.
Maldonado, 30, has a reputation as one of the game’s better pitch-framers, and Scioscia was impressed
with the way the catcher guided starter Ricky Nolasco and five relievers through a well-pitched game
Monday.
“Martin did nice job behind the plate,” Scioscia said. “You can see the presence he brings.”
Maldonado has been less impressive as a hitter. After striking out in both of his at-bats against the
Dodgers, he has one hit in 23 at-bats.
Twitter trends
The Angels held their annual spring-training media and social media awareness meeting before
Monday’s workout.
What advice do the experts give players about using Twitter and other social media platforms?
“Just think,” reliever Mike Morin said. “You don’t want to do something that can’t be undone. It’s not
rocket science. Just use your common sense, that’s it.”
For Morin, that means essentially avoiding social media. The right-hander maintains a Twitter account
but has ignored it for the most part after receiving too many nasty comments after his rocky outings in
his first two seasons.
“It’s good and bad, a double-edged sword,” Morin said. “There’s a lot of positive stuff … and I think it’s
good to use your platform to connect with the fans and stuff like that. But there’s a lot of negative stuff,
too.
“When I first came up, it’s kind of hard not to read [fan comments on Twitter]. You have a tough outing,
some people aren’t thrilled, the next thing you know it’s just like … nothing productive is going to come
out of reading anything like that.”
March 14, 2017 Page 5 of 21
Kenta Maeda is sharp as Dodgers beat Angels, 3-1, in exhibition game at Tempe
By Mike DiGiovanna
The Dodgers improved to 10-8 in Cactus League play with a 3-1 victory over the Angels on Monday at
Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angels fell to 10-6.
AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers bunched three straight two-out hits off Angels starter Ricky Nolasco for a
run in the third inning. O’Koyea Dickson and Chase Utley both singled to left-center field, and Justin
Turner ripped a run-scoring double to left. Austin Barnes followed Cody Bellinger’s walk in the fourth by
driving a hanging slider from Nolasco over the left-field wall for a two-run homer. The Angels scored
their only run in the second when Albert Pujols, making his third start of the spring as he recovers from
surgery on his right foot, lofted his first home run to left field. New Angels catcher Martin Maldonado
struck out in both of his at-bats and is now hitting .043 (one for 23) with nine strikeouts and two walks
in nine spring games.
ON THE MOUND: Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda was extremely sharp, allowing Pujols’ homer but no
other hits, striking out seven and walking none in a 3 2/3-inning effort in which he threw 40 of his 60
pitches for strikes. The right-hander felt his fastball allowed him to put away hitters once he got to two
strikes in the count. “My command for my four-seamer was pretty good today,” Maeda said through an
interpreter. Nolasco, who threw 54 pitches, retired eight consecutive batters to open the game before
giving up the three straight hits in the third. Angels relievers Jose Valdez, Kirby Yates, Brooks Pounders,
Cody Ege and Eduardo Paredes combined to allow one hit in five scoreless innings. Dodgers relievers
Josh Ravin, Brandon Morrow, Trevor Oaks and Patrick Schuster combined to allow two hits in 5 1/3
scoreless innings.
EXTRA BASES: The Angels executed a perfect relay to cut down a potential run on Turner’s run-scoring
double in the third, left fielder Cameron Maybin throwing to shortstop Nolan Fontana, who fired to the
plate in time to nail Utley, who was trying to score from first. … Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs,
scratched from his last start because of shoulder fatigue, completed a bullpen workout without setback
on Monday and is in line to start Wednesday against San Francisco. … The Angels optioned left-hander
Nate Smith to triple-A Salt Lake and reassigned catcher Jose Briceno to minor league camp. … The
Dodgers optioned catcher Kyle Farmer and right-hander Jacob Rhame to minor league camp. Right-
handers Josh Sborz and Ralston Cash and outfielder Henry Ramos were reassigned to minor league
camp.
UP NEXT: Angels vs. Kansas City Royals on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Surprise Stadium. TV: Fox Sports West;
Radio: 830. Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Camelback Ranch. TV/Radio: None.
March 14, 2017 Page 6 of 21
Los Angeles Angels ask Wally Joyner to work with slumping Cameron Maybin
By Mike DiGiovanna
Former Angels first baseman Wally Joyner, in the midst of a one-week stint as a guest instructor, has
paid particularly close attention to struggling left fielder Cameron Maybin, who is hitless in 19 at-bats in
nine exhibition games, including Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Joyner, who played the first six seasons and the last season of his 16-year career in Anaheim, spent the
last three years as hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers. Maybin put up career bests in batting average,
on-base percentage and slugging percentage with the Tigers last season.
“He’s worried and he’s pressing, which doesn’t mix very well with baseball,” Joyner said of Maybin. “You
have to allow your talent to play for you. I told him there’s a reason he’s here — not [for] what they
want him to do, but [for] what he’s done, and to do that again.”
Maybin, acquired in a trade for minor league pitcher Victor Alcantara last November, walked twice and
struck out in three plate appearances Monday. He has eight strikeouts and six walks this spring.
“He’s as loose as he can be in the clubhouse — we’ve got good chemistry in there, and he’s leading the
charge, so I think he feels comfortable,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.
“He learned a lot about himself in the last couple of years, and last year he made a lot of adjustments
with his swing. He’s probably just missed three or four home runs this spring, so he’s not that far off.
He’ll find it. He just needs some time.”
Angels left fielders combined to produce the major league’s worst on-base-plus-slugging percentages in
each of the last two seasons, .584 in 2016 and .592 in 2015, but Joyner is confident that Maybin, despite
his slow start, will end the string this season.
“He’s pressing, not unlike any other great player who wants to come in and contribute [to a new team],”
Joyner said. “But you’ll be pleased with him.”
The Angels also asked Joyner, 54, to work in the minor league complex with Matt Thaiss, a 2016 first-
round pick from Virginia who made the transition from catcher to first base last summer.
Joyner, who lives in Utah, has offered to work with players at the Angels’ triple-A Salt Lake and rookie-
league Orem, Utah, affiliates during the summer, and the Angels are receptive to the idea. Joyner would
like to coach again in a full-time capacity if the right opportunity arises.
“I have grandkids now, and I really enjoy my summers,” he said. “I haven’t closed the door, but I don’t
want to just take a job. I want one I would enjoy. Bench coach, manager, those jobs are few and far
between, but they have my interest.”
March 14, 2017 Page 7 of 21
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER .
Albert Pujols homers but Angels fall to Dodgers
BY JEFF FLETCHER
THE GAME: The Angels managed just three hits in a 3-1 loss to the Dodgers on Monday afternoon at
Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angels have lost both of their Arizona meetings against the Dodgers, with
three more to come in Southern California before the start of the season.
PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco retired the first eight hitters of the game, but then got
hit hard. He gave up hits to the last three batters of the third inning, producing one run. In the fourth
inning, he walked a batter and gave up a two-run homer. … Right-hander Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless
inning, with one strikeout. This spring he has not allowed a run in five innings, with seven strikeouts. ...
Right-hander Jose Valdez pitched a perfect inning, with two strikeouts. Valdez, who walked 16 batters in
23-1/3 innings last season, has just one walk in five innings this spring. “I don’t think he’s thrown a pitch
out of the strike zone all year,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It’s unbelievable. ... He’s tightened stuff up
a lot. He’s made some adjustments. He’s got a great arm.”
HITTING REPORT: Designated hitter Albert Pujols hit a homer, his first of the spring. Pujols, who missed
the first two weeks of Cactus League games because of rehab from foot surgery, was playing
consecutive games for the first time this spring. … Catcher Martin Maldonado struck out twice, dropping
to 1 for 23 this spring. … Left fielder Cameron Maybin drew two walks for the second game in a row, but
he is still looking for his first hit of the spring. He’s 0 for 19. … Center fielder Mike Trout went hitless in
three at-bats. He is hitting .227 (5 for 22)…
DEFENSE REPORT: Maybin and shortstop Nolan Fontana combined on couple throws to nail Chase Utley
at the plate. Utley was trying to score from first on a double. ... Third baseman Sherman Johnson made a
nice catch of a foul pop along the railing. … The Angels picked off two runners in the sixth inning. Relief
pitcher Brooks Pounders picked off one, and Maldonado got the other…
ALSO: The game attracted a crowd of 9,111, the first sellout of the spring for the Angels at Tempe Diablo
Stadium.
UP NEXT: Angels (Matt Shoemaker) vs. Royals (Ian Kennedy), 1 p.m. PT, Surprise Stadium, Fox Sports
West, KLAA (830 AM).
Angels Notes: Wally Joyner looking for a new role in the game
BY JEFF FLETCHER
TEMPE, Ariz. — Wally Joyner said he felt like he had come “back home” when he pulled on an Angels
uniform.
“Wearing the red again is great,” said Joyner, who began and ended his career with the Angels. “Those
are great memories.”
March 14, 2017 Page 8 of 21
Joyner has been in camp as a guest instructor since late last week. He said he's been working with the
hitters and also plans to work with Matt Thaiss, one of the Angels top prospects, on the conversion to
first base.
Joyner has also offered his services to the team to continue in a more formal capacity during the season.
Joyner lives in Utah, and the Angels have farm teams in Salt Lake City and Orem.
Joyner spent the past four years as a major league hitting coach -- three with the Detroit Tigers and one
with he Philadelphia Phillies -- and has interest in eventually getting back into baseball at a higher level.
“I don’t want to just take any job,” he said. “I’d like to contribute in a manner that I would enjoy. Bench
coach and manager, I know they are few and far between and limited, but those have my interest.”
MAYBIN PRESSING
As hitting coach for the Tigers last season, Joyner worked with Cameron Maybin, who had the best
season of his career in 2016 in Detroit. So far Maybin’s first spring with the Angels has seen him go
hitless in his first 19 at-bats.
Joyner has watched Maybin for the past few days and talked to him. His message: relax.
“He’s pressing right now, which doesn’t mix very well with baseball,” Joyner said. “You have to go play
and allow your talent to play for you… He’s slowed it all down a little bit… (The Angels) will be pleased
with him.”
Manager Mike Scioscia said last week that Maybin is still the Angels starting left fielder, despite the slow
start in the spring and the performance of fourth outfielder Ben Revere, who had 11 hits in his first 22
at-bats.
After Monday's game, Scioscia said Maybin is close: "He is just missed probably three or four home runs.
He's not that far off. He'll find it. He just needs some time."
WBC UPDATES
Andrelton Simmons is hitting .333 (8 for 24) in the World Baseball Classic, through five games for the
Netherlands.
The Netherlands has one game remaining in Tokyo, on Tuesday at 8 p.m. PT (Wednesday afternoon in
Tokyo). If they beat Cuba, they are likely to advance to the final round next week at Dodger Stadium,
although it’s possible they would need to play one more tie-breaker game.
Yusmeiro Petit threw 50 pitches for Venezuela in Sunday’s WBC loss to Mexico, allowing five runs.
Although the results weren’t what Petit or the Angels wanted, Scioscia said it was good to see Petit get
stretched out. The Angels brought him to camp to look at him as a starter, although he is also a
candidate to make the team as a long reliever.
March 14, 2017 Page 9 of 21
Deolis Guerra and Jose Alvarez are also pitching for Venezuela, which will play an elimination game
against Italy on Monday at 6 p.m. PT.
NOTES
Luis Valbuena, who has not played in a game since March 2 because of sore legs, is expected to return to
the lineup on Wednesday, Scioscia said…
Cliff Pennington, who missed a few days with a tight shoulder, could also return to action on
Wednesday, Scioscia said…
The Angels sent left-hander Nate Smith and catcher Jose Briceno to minor league camp. Smith, one of
the Angels top starting pitching prospects, came to camp with an outside chance at cracking the
rotation, but he pitched just four innings in two games. He is expected to be in the rotation at Triple-A,
with a chance to be recalled the next time the Angels need a starter in the majors...
Huston Street, out with a strained lat, said he feels he’s making some progress, but he can’t really tell
because he hasn’t thrown yet. He said he has no idea when that is going to happen, because he’s just
letting the medical staff tell him each day what he’s doing. “I don’t ask my schedule,” he said. “They just
tell me what to do. If I start planning, I’ll start getting anxious.”…
Nick Tropeano, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to be evaluated by a doctor on
Friday, at which point he is hoping to be cleared to begin throwing.
FROM ANGELS.COM .
Pujols wastes no time warming up boomstick
By Doug Miller
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Well, that didn't take long.
Albert Pujols, who is already a huge part of Major League home run history, swatted a ball out of the
yard for the first time this spring in his fifth official at-bat of the 2017 Cactus League schedule on
Monday afternoon against the Dodgers.
It was not surprising at all for a guy who ranks ninth on MLB's all-time homers list with 591, but it still
was a welcome sight for the Angels, who hope to see him make even more of a dent in the record books
once the regular season begins.
In his first at-bat of his third Spring Training game, Pujols -- who started at designated hitter against Los
Angeles -- squared up a Kenta Maeda pitch and slammed it onto the grassy berm beyond the left-field
wall.
March 14, 2017 Page 10 of 21
"His swing's there, but it's timing," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's just a situation where all the
guys have to see the ball, get their timing, and Albert's no different. But you can see after a couple of
days that his at-bats are getting better and better."
Pujols, 37, got a late start to Spring Training games as he recovered from December foot surgery. Pujols
has been occasionally plagued by plantar fasciitis since 2013, but still has pop at the plate. He hit 31
homers last year and drove in 119 runs, his highest single-season RBI total since 2009.
This year, he has to hit only nine homers to reach the rare 600 mark. He's also only 18 away from
Sammy Sosa, who's No. 8 on the list, 21 away from No. 7, Jim Thome (612), and 39 away from Hall of
Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who's sixth on the list with 630 homers. Pujols also needs 175 hits to reach the
exalted 3,000 mark.
He won't get there unless he's healthy for a good portion of the season, but the Angels got another
encouraging sign from Pujols on Sunday.
Facing Seattle, Pujols doubled down the left-field line in his first at-bat and tested the foot right away,
running as hard as he could all the way and sliding into second. When left fielder Guillermo Heredia's
errant throw got away, Pujols advanced to third base, and he completed the circuit by scoring on a wild
pitch.
"You won't believe how hard he's worked to get back to this point," Scioscia said.
"And just the fact of him legging out a double … he's running better now than obviously once he had
that injury, once it started bothering him last year. And that's a positive."
Pujols' first homer not enough vs. Dodgers
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kenta Maeda's brilliant start and Austin Barnes' tie-breaking two-run home run were
enough to push the Dodgers past the Angels, 3-1, on Monday afternoon before a sellout crowd of 9,111
in Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Maeda was razor-sharp, allowing only one hit -- an Albert Pujols solo home run in the second inning -- in
3 2/3 innings of work. Maeda struck out seven batters, including the side in order in the first inning and
three strikeouts in the third, which amounted to a four-out frame because of a wild pitch that allowed a
runner to reach first.
"The life of his fastball in the zone, and the conviction he had throwing it, was really good," Dodgers
manager Dave Roberts said of Maeda. "He's got such good command, but sometimes he tries to be too
fine. Today he was down in the zone and he executed all day."
Angels starter Ricky Nolasco was equally effective early on, allowing one run on a Justin Turner run-
scoring double in the third inning.
March 14, 2017 Page 11 of 21
The Dodgers broke the 1-1 deadlock in the fourth when Nolasco walked Cody Bellinger, allowed him to
take second on a wild pitch and then gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Barnes, the Dodgers
catcher's second long ball of the spring.
Pujols' homer, a shot to left field, was his first Cactus League round-tripper this year. The defensive
highlight of the game was a nifty relay from Angels left fielder Cameron Maybin to shortstop Nolan
Fontana, to catcher Martin Maldonado that nailed Chase Utley at home to end the top of the third
inning.
Nolasco kept his spring progression on track, going four innings and allowing three runs on four hits
while striking out two and walking one.
"I was just being aggressive, trying to fill up the zone, and toward the end there, a couple of base hits
with two outs, I'd like to clean that up and make a pitch with two outs," Nolasco said. "I hung a slider for
the homer, obviously … but that's what we're here for. To work on stuff."
Dodgers up next: The Dodgers will be home Tuesday afternoon for a 1:05 p.m. PT game against the
Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch. Left-hander Rich Hill (0-2, 12.60 ERA) will get the start in his fourth
Cactus League appearance of the spring. Hill has given up seven runs on four hits and seven walks in five
innings of work. He has four strikeouts.
Angels up next: The Angels will hit the road to Surprise Stadium on Tuesday for a 1:05 p.m. PT game
against the Kansas City Royals. Right-hander Matt Shoemaker (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will get the start for the
Angels. It will be his third appearance of the spring as he comes back from the skull fracture and brain
surgery he suffered after being struck in the head by a 105-mph line drive in a game last September.
Righty Ian Kennedy (1-0, 0.00) will start for the Royals .
Meyer 'electric,' full of confidence in rebound
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Mike Scioscia called it "electric" and said it was a "complete 180" from the previous
outing.
Alex Meyer, the 6-foot-9, hard-throwing right-hander who is competing with Jesse Chavez and Bud
Norris for the No. 5 spot in the Angels' starting rotation, looked fantastic Sunday against the Mariners,
throwing two scoreless innings, striking out two without a walk and giving up one hit.
His fastball, which hits the mid-to-high 90s, was crisp and Meyer was full of confidence. It was, indeed, a
stark departure from his prior stint against the Cubs on March 6, when Meyer gave up three runs on two
hits in 2/3 of an inning and couldn't find the strike zone, walking four batters.
Meyer, a 27-year-old who was selected by the Twins with the 23rd overall pick of the 2011 Draft, has
been in the Angels organization since Aug. 1, when he was acquired along with righty Ricky Nolasco in
March 14, 2017 Page 12 of 21
the trade that sent left-hander Hector Santiago and Minor League righty Alan Busenitz to Minnesota. He
is the organization's No. 8 overall prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com
Meyer has had shoulder problems that stifled his Major League development, but he's healthy now. The
physical and mental are two very different aspects of being a big league starter, however, and Meyer
found that out against the Cubs.
"It's just a mindset thing, I think," Meyer said in the Angels clubhouse on Tuesday. "The other day I was
out there and walked a couple of guys, and started beating myself up. And that turned into a snowball
effect. I had a good talk with [the coaching staff] between outings and it was all about staying positive
and not worrying about stuff like that.
"I think it's one of those things where I've put a lot of stress on walking guys in the past, and it's just a
bad habit that I need to keep in mind. You're probably going to walk a guy every now and then, just
don't let it become two or three."
The fact that Meyer is knocking on the door of the rotation means he'll likely pitch for the team at some
point in the 2017 season even if he doesn't make the club out of Spring Training. That's why it was
encouraging for the team to see him right himself Sunday and flash the potential of that right arm.
"Alex is a unique talent, and I think he understands his talent and he's trying to harness it both from the
physical side and also the mental side of just getting his process where it needs to be," Scioscia said.
"I think he's very, very confident in the fact that he's a Major League pitcher, and I think he's trying
through experience to find the keys that he needs to be able to make adjustments out there.
"That stuff he was throwing out there yesterday was nasty."
Joyner returns to Angels, where it all began
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The "A" is back on Wally Joyner's jersey. The halo is back on his cap. And he says it's
"good to be back home."
The former first baseman, now 54, was drafted by the Angels in the third round in 1983, finished second
in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 1986, went on to play 16 Major League seasons and
came back to the Angels to retire in their uniform at the end of 2001.
He was the Detroit Tigers' hitting coach for the past three seasons, and manned that position for the
Philadelphia Phillies in 2013, but he's a free agent now.
He says he would be interested in managerial or bench coach openings, but for the time being, Joyner,
who lives in Utah, is in the midst of a week at Angels spring camp and said he'd probably help out here
and there with the Triple-A team in Salt Lake City, and the Class A team in Orem, Utah, when the Minor
League seasons begin.
March 14, 2017 Page 13 of 21
"It's where it all started and where it ended," Joyner said. "And not by accident. I hope it wasn't by
accident that they drafted me. I was able to come back at the end of my career to finish. Those are great
memories."
Joyner said the team has asked him "to just use my eyes a little bit, help out with some hitters" this
week. He has been working with top prospect Matt Thaiss in his transition to first base, and has
consulted Cameron Maybin, with whom Joyner worked in Detroit last year. Maybin, for whom the
Angels traded in the offseason to play left field, was hitless in Cactus League play entering Monday.
Joyner will depart Wednesday, but he said he's looking forward to putting on that Angels uniform again
soon.
"I'm happy to help out any way I can," he said.
Worth noting
• Scioscia said infielders Luis Valbuena (sore legs) and Cliff Pennington (shoulder stiffness), and lefty
Tyler Skaggs (shoulder weakness) are progressing and on track to play in Wednesday's game against the
Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.
• The Angels on Monday optioned left-hander Nate Smith to Triple-A Salt Lake, and reassigned catcher
Jose Briceno to Minor League camp.
FROM ESPN.COM
Starting pitchers looking for their second act
By Tony Blengino/Special to ESPN.com
The career of a starting pitcher is inherently tenuous. You can go from greatness to out of baseball in
record time due to injury or ineffectiveness. Just ask Brandon Webb or Dontrelle Willis. Young power
pitchers might often become old command pitchers, while young command pitchers become young
broadcasters. There are exceptions to this as with every rule -- hello, Greg Maddux -- but at any given
time there are a number of starting pitchers attempting to extend their careers while dealing with
changing stuff.
Two starting pitchers successfully made this transition last season, buying themselves more time on the
mound as stars. One, Justin Verlander, was perhaps obvious, but CC Sabathia not so much. Verlander did
it in a way that simply isn't available to most mortals: He ramped up his velocity at age 33. While his
average fastball velocity increased by just half a tick to 93.7 mph, he ramped up his average slider
velocity over 2 mph to 87.9. That doesn't happen every day. Verlander led all MLB ERA qualifiers in
swing-and-miss rate (12.6 percent) on his four-seam fastball. He also posted exceptional Adjusted
Contact Scores on both of his breaking balls (scoring 62 with his curve, 66 with his slider). Bat-missing
and contact management are a pitcher's primary tasks, and Verlander now does both well again.
March 14, 2017 Page 14 of 21
CC was a bit more subtle. He's no longer a pure dominator with two top-shelf swing-and-miss pitches.
He's now an elite contact manager with average bat-missing ability. His whiff rates are highest on his
changeup and slider, but on a pitch-specific basis, he exceeds league average just with his four-seamer
and sinker. He has respectable bat-missing ability on all four. Using all four to squelch good contact,
Sabathia rated as my American League Contact Manager of the Year in 2016. From best to worst, his
Adjusted Contact Scores ranged from 53 (changeup) to 66 (four-seamer) to 70 (slider) to 85 (sinker).
Bottom line, his second act is real. He has another big contract left in that arm.
This season, there are several veteran hurlers similarly trying to hold on, either to extend the second act
of their careers, or trying to begin one. Can they do as well as Verlander or Sabathia did last year?
Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners: King Felix is on my extremely short list of key players to watch. Most
would acknowledge that 2016 was his most disappointing season, but I would submit it was even worse
than traditional numbers indicated. He built his long-term excellence on very high strikeout and
grounder rates, but both of those cratered last season.
Hernandez's numbers remained somewhat respectable as hitters still performed poorly on grounders
despite hitting them much harder. But his Unadjusted vs. Adjusted Contact Scores were way out of
whack for his changeup (54 vs. 84), curve (88 vs. 144) and four-seamer (74 vs. 126).
I'm not writing him off. He was injured last season, and he has flashed improved velocity this spring.
That isn't enough, however. He needs to re-establish downward plane with his stuff, as he allowed
nearly as many fly balls as grounders on his sinker last season. His makeup and work ethic are excellent,
giving him a chance to beat the odds.
John Lackey, Chicago Cubs: The Cubs boasted a bunch of excellent contact managers on the mound,
who meshed with a strong team defense to form a run-prevention machine. Lackey, however, was the
odd man out -- he allowed fairly loud contact on three of his four offerings, with Adjusted Contact
Scores of 111, 115 and 150 on his two-seamer, four-seamer and curve, respectively.
That leaves his cutter, which is basically his entire story. Lackey's overall swing-and-miss rate of 11.4
percent was almost solely attributable to his getting a 23.1 percent whiff rate with his cutter, the best in
baseball by far. (How far ahead? Teammate Jon Lester was next at 13.6 percent.) But Lackey was
extremely lucky contact management-wise on the cutter as well, with a 23 Unadjusted vs. 97 Adjusted
Contact Score.
That cutter is a plus-plus pitch surrounded by mediocre offerings. Thinking out of the box a bit, Lackey
would be an interesting closer candidate in his golden years, perhaps doing a nifty Mariano Rivera
impression with his cutter.
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals: This is probably more like a third or fourth act for Wainwright,
with major injuries and role changes dotting his career. His bat-missing ability is essentially gone,
though, and he posted abysmal whiff rates with both his four-seamer and sinker in 2016.
March 14, 2017 Page 15 of 21
Contact management-wise, Wainwright suffered primarily from a very high rate of line drives allowed
(25.5 percent), which rendered both the four-seamer and sinker useless, earning Adjusted Contact
Scores of 135 and 137. The good news is that liner rates are usually volatile year to year, and his has
nowhere to go but down.
Now that he's a full year removed from his Achilles tendon injury, I would expect Wainwright to be able
to finish his pitches better. His curve (95 Adjusted Contact Score) and cutter (85) were both solid pitches
last year. Getting his fastballs back as at least average offerings is a distinct possibility, which would
make him at least a slightly above-average starting pitcher again.
Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays: In one sense, Estrada is already in the middle of a successful second
act. A journeyman fifth starter and swingman with the Brewers, he blossomed after being dealt to
Toronto. He has been one of the foremost popup generators in the game, and he mutes hitters' power
on fly balls despite yielding so many of them.
Estrada's chief weapon is his changeup. His 21.5 percent whiff rate on that pitch in 2016 was
significantly above average; combining that with an excellent 70 Adjusted Contact Score earns the pitch
a plus-plus rating.
Very quietly, however, the fade usually suffered by pitchers of his type has begun. Estrada was very
lucky with his four-seamer in 2016, generating a 60 Unadjusted vs. 102 Adjusted Contact Score. By
definition, a changeup is a change of pace, and as his fastball becomes less of a factor, his out pitch will
slip. Estrada's best days are behind him.
Jeremy Hellickson, Philadelphia Phillies: The youngest hurler on this list is another changeup specialist.
After a couple of seasons in the wilderness, Hellickson re-emerged in Philadelphia last season as a stable
veteran anchor for their young rotation.
His changeup missed even more bats than Estrada's -- the 26.1 percent whiff rate he generated with it
was the highest among MLB ERA qualifiers. Unfortunately, it's also his only true bat-missing offering. His
whiff rates on his four- seam (4.1 percent) and two-seam (2.4 percent) fastballs were well below
average. After adjusting for exit speed and launch angle, Hellickson has only the changeup (81 Adjusted)
as a successful contact management pitch, while he had extremely good luck with his curve (58
Unadjusted vs. 110 Adjusted).
It's difficult to maintain effectiveness with just one viable pitch. He was wise to snatch up the Phillies'
qualifying offer.
Ricky Nolasco, Los Angeles Angels: In one of last summer's more curious low-profile deals, the Twins
sent this expensive, ordinary veteran to the Angels for the younger -- but getting too expensive -- Hector
Santiago.
Nolasco is below average at missing bats, with none of his pitches exceeding league-average whiff rates.
His fastballs got hit hard last season, as he posted Adjusted Contact Scores of 117 and 137 on his two-
and four-seamers. What he has done with some success, however, is mute contact with his breaking
March 14, 2017 Page 16 of 21
pitches; Adjusted Contact Scores of 59 and 68 on his curve and slider certified them as above average
despite unexciting whiff rates. As a result, he threw his two fastballs less frequently than most starters,
just 48.4 percent of the time.
Nolasco has a tough balancing act. How low can he go with his fastball usage without overexposing his
breaking stuff? We'll see, but he can still be a viable innings guy, but one I think will ultimately seal the
Santiago deal in the Angels' favor.
Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins: Using traditional stats, Santana appeared to have a decent season last
year, but batted-ball data tells a different story. He was extremely lucky with his contact management
on both his four-seamer (76 Unadjusted vs. 110 Adjusted Contact Score) and slider (85 vs. 111). His
changeup also comes in at 111 (Adjusted). Only the slider is anywhere near to generating a league-
average whiff rate. At this point, Santana only gets high marks for durability. There isn't much potential
for a successful second act. He's an innings guy at best.
Jered Weaver, San Diego Padres: At his best, Weaver was a massive popup generator with enough
fastball to muffle hitters' fly-ball authority to offset the sheer volume of fly balls allowed. Now, his
fastball velocity is down, the popup totals are down, and the amount of damage done against his fastball
is trending up.
Weaver has virtually no bat-missing ability left, so he'll need above-average contact management to
simply survive. The changeup is still a strong offering in that regard (66 Adjusted Contact Score), and
he's still adept at generating weak contact that almost always lands in an outfielder's glove. But he still
allows more fly balls than any other pitcher in the game, and the resulting risk for damage adds up. His
only hope for extending his usefulness is to get a sizeable contribution from the marine layer over Petco
Park -- but that effect fluctuates wildly from year to year.
FROM FOX SPORTS
MLB’s 6 divisions, ranked by overall strength
By Chris Bahr
Major League Baseball features a pretty level playing field. Last season, each division had at least two
teams with winning records, and no division featured more than two teams with fewer than 75 wins.
However, only one division sent three teams to the postseason and had four teams finish above .500.
And that division tops our power rankings again heading into the 2017 season.
How the six stack up:
1. AL East
March 14, 2017 Page 17 of 21
Providing the power: The Red Sox are legitimate World Series contenders after winning 93 games last
season and acquiring a third ace in Chris Sale. The Blue Jays and Orioles both earned wild cards last
season and are talented enough to do so again despite a couple of key losses (Edwin Encarnacion and
Matt Wieters, respectively).
Weighing it down: After a 94-loss season – its worst since it was still known as the Devil Rays – Tampa
has had three consecutive losing campaigns and appears destined for a fourth, especially if Chris Archer
and/or Jake Odorizzi are dealt.
X-factor: If the youth movement progresses and the rotation is effective, the Yankees are a dark horse
after finishing strong last season as an 84-win fourth-place squad.
2. AL West
Providing the power: The Astros and Mariners had among the busiest and most productive offseasons
in the majors, while the two-time defending division champion Rangers lost a bunch of talent. This has
the makings of a three-team race, with Houston the clear favorite if its starting pitching rebounds.
Weighing it down: Seemingly stuck in neutral in their latest rebuilding phase, the A’s are thin in the
pitching department even when Sonny Gray, who will begin the season on the DL, is healthy.
X-factor: The Angels quietly bolstered their lineup (Cameron Maybin, Danny Espinosa, Luis Valbuena)
this offseason, but their success will depend upon the rotation, which features three starters (Garrett
Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Tyler Skaggs) returning from injuries.
3. NL East
Providing the power: The race between the Nationals and Mets could come down to which team can
stay healthier. Assuming the injury bug is kept at bay, Washington has the superior lineup while New
York has the arms advantage – but each should reach the playoffs again.
Weighing it down: Although they seasoned their roster with some veterans (Howie Kendrick, Michael
Saunders, Clay Buchholz), even the most optimistic outlook for the Phillies is a finish near .500. In fact,
the Braves’ rebuild is advancing so well that they should overtake Philly.
X-factor: The Marlins’ lineup is loaded, but it’s their question-filled rotation that will make or break the
franchise’s chances of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2003.
4. NL Central
Providing the power: The Cubs are heavy favorites to repeat as World Series champions and are
positioned to contend for years to come thanks to an elite young nucleus. And after missing the playoffs
for the first time since 2010, the Cardinals will shave a few games off the division deficit and contend for
an NL wild card.
March 14, 2017 Page 18 of 21
Weighing it down: There’s reason for optimism in Milwaukee, but the Brewers lack the pitching and
hitting to hope for anything more than a run at .500. Meanwhile, things could get even worse before
they get better for the rebuilding Reds.
X-factor: After their string of three consecutive playoff appearances ended in 2016, the Pirates are
talented enough to challenge the Cardinals for second place but vulnerable enough to fall behind the
Brewers into fourth.
5. NL West
Providing the power: The Dodgers are the favorites to win a fifth consecutive division title, though they
clearly have bigger goals, as they still haven't advanced to the World Series since 1988. Hoping to break
their odd-year jinx, the Giants addressed their biggest need by signing stopper Mark Melancon.
Weighing it down: It will take more than one season for the new front office and coaching staff to clean
up the mess in Arizona, and the depleted Padres should finish with the worst record in the NL – if not
the majors.
X-factor: The Rockies are this year’s trendy sleeper pick, mainly on the strength of a loaded lineup and a
bolstered bullpen. But expectation are awfully high for a young rotation that still must pitch at Coors
Field.
6. AL Central
Providing the power: Last season’s AL pennant winners are even stronger after adding Edwin
Encarnacion, keeping their bullpen intact and welcoming back Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and
(hopefully) Michael Brantley from injury. As for the Indians’ competition, the Tigers – coming off an 86-
win season – are talented enough to be a threat if they get their pitching in order and keep their aging
bones off the DL.
Weighing it down: Although loaded with promising young talent, the Twins will field a largely unproven
lineup that is at least a couple years away from contention. And despite the pause button being pushed
for now, the White Sox’s sell-off will continue.
X-factor: The bulk of the Royals’ championship core remains intact, though it could be torn apart if the
team gets off to a slow start and decides to deal some combination of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas,
Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar – all of whom are pending free agents.
March 14, 2017 Page 19 of 21
FROM USA TODAY SPORTS
Meet the Angels’ bullpen coach who doubles as punk-rock star
By Ted Berg
TEMPE, Ariz. - Sustained success in Major League Baseball requires extraordinary natural ability,
incredible focus, and an outrageous competitive drive. Sustained success in punk rock requires
unyielding passion for the music and its spirit, a perpetually anti-establishment ethos, and the energy
and enthusiasm necessary to rock the hell out of whatever venue will have you. Baseball, to a large
extent, expects its players to conform to its standards and customs. Punk rock, by definition, rejects
conformity.
The pursuits may seem inherently contradictory to just about everyone but Los Angeles Angels bullpen
coach Scott Radinsky. Perhaps the only person in history who has both struck out Ken Griffey Jr. and
opened for Green Day, Radinsky spent the 1990s pitching as a high-energy lefty reliever in Major League
bullpens and spent his offseasons - still spends his offseasons - touring as a frontman for a series of
Southern California-based punk outfits, first as a founding member of the group Ten Foot Pole and, for
the last two decades, as the lead singer in his band, Pulley.
Radinsky, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports while the Angels warmed up before a Cactus League game at
Tempe Diablo stadium on Sunday, doesn't seem to think it all that strange to balance baseball and punk,
since it's all he's ever known: He started the band that would become Ten Foot Pole years before the
White Sox drafted him out of high school in the third round of the 1986 draft.
"It wasn't weird for me at all," Radinsky said. "Before the mid-90s, modern-day internet and all that, it
was really easy to manage both and there wasn't much of a big deal about it. Once it got exposed, I got
ribbed a bit for being an athlete - just normal sarcastic banter from the crowd: 'Throw a fastball,' stupid
(expletive) like that.
"I've always been in the bullpen - always on the other side of the wall, part of the anti-establishment. I's
corporate. It's all corporate now. I used to laugh, going through the baseball season, staying at the Ritz-
Carlton, the Marriott, and a month later I'm somewhere in Brazil, sleeping on the floor, just played a
divey-ass punk club the night before. I have always been grounded and the balance has always been
there, but this is what I did. I never sold out musically, and I don't think I ever sold out in the baseball
world. I was part of two major corporations, but in my mind I think I was always in the underground part
of it."
The album Rev, Ten Foot Pole's 1994 debut offering for the legendary Epitaph Records, included no
mention whatsoever of its singer's fairly notable day job. Billed as "Scott Pulmyfinger" in the liner notes,
Radinsky sang about vandalism, homelessness and broken relationships over driving, melodic guitar riffs.
The band's song My Wall appeared on the Epitaph compilation album Punk-O-Rama, alongside singles
from the Offspring, Rancid, Bad Religion, and NOFX.
March 14, 2017 Page 20 of 21
But as West Coast pop-punk groups like Green Day and The Offspring began enjoying crossover
commercial success, Radinsky's bandmates wanted to pursue music full-time instead of continuing to
work around his baseball schedule.
"We had been a band for ten years, and all of a sudden things kind of started moving and the wheels
started going in the music world, and I think they kind of forgot the whole concept of how the band was
started," he said. "Baseball always has come first. If we were given an opportunity, if our band would've
broke through on radio and sold tons of records and had all sorts of airplay, and I was getting close to
the end of my career, maybe that would have been an entertaining thought. But that was never the
motive behind playing music, and never really the goal.
"Money is the root of all evil, man. I think in a creative venture, in a band, in music, the whole idea is to
continue to have fun."
Radinsky missed the entire 1994 MLB season battling - and beating - Hodgkin's Disease. He returned to
the mound with the White Sox in 1995 and started Pulley, with the understanding that the band would
have to limit its touring to the four months that constitute the MLB offseason. Pulley released its first
album Esteem Driven Engine on Epitaph in 1996.
Now 49, Radinsky says his side gig as a punk frontman mattered about as much to his teammates during
his playing days as it does to the Angels relievers now in his charge: Not at all.
"I don't think they care," he said. "It has nothing to do with what we're doing on the field. If it comes up
in conversation, I've got a billion great stories I could share, but it doesn't really come up all that much."
"I've heard about it, and I think I looked it up on Wikipedia," said Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian. "Other
than that, I don't know a whole lot. I just know he's a rocker. I think I asked him last year, but it was the
middle of the game and he kind of brushed it off. I didn't really push him much because I didn't know
how he went about it, if he wanted to keep it separate from baseball or whatever."
Baseball gave Radinsky the opportunity to perform around the country in stadiums full of screaming
fans, and as a musician he's played for crowds as large as 30,000. But the particulars of fronting a rock
band, unsurprisingly, are very different from those that come with specialist work out of a Major League
bullpen.
"Unlike baseball, where people come to try to pick apart what you're doing on the field, people that
come pay money to watch a band play music, at least in my experience, they're not coming to
(expletive) us or to bash us, they're genuinely coming to support us," he said. "If the people are there to
watch and sing and genuinely enjoy it, we get the most gratification on the stage. We played a gig a few
weeks back in San Diego at a bar, there might have been 100 people there - it was awesome. It was
Super Bowl night, and it was awesome."
Radinsky believes his experiences touring North America, South America and Europe with his bands
make him better suited for his role as a bullpen coach.
March 14, 2017 Page 21 of 21
"I've gotten so much out of the musical experience through touring, through meeting real people -
actual, real people that are coming out to our gigs. Hanging out with these kids, talking to them,
whether it's overseas where they're more politically conscious than the kids here, or just interacting
with a human being that's not a stereotypical American - not that there's anything wrong with
Americans - to be that culturally exposed, it has made me a better communicator. I understand all
different types of people, whether it's a kid from Alabama, a kid from Southern California, a kid from
Moss Point, Mississippi, wherever they're from, I like to think that I'm going to get them way quicker
than the average guy who has never been exposed to that."
Now signed to the label Cyber Tracks - owned by El Hefe of NOFX - Pulley put out its sixth full-length
album, No Change in the Weather in November. Among other gigs, the band played at West Hollywood's
famous Whisky A Go Go and toured in support of Down By Law until early February, when it came time
for "Pulley season," as they know it, to end and baseball season to begin anew.
"Any major band member started in a garage playing music with his buddies to have fun, but
somewhere along the lines, they lose that," Radinsky said. "I'm 49 years old, and I've been doing this
since I was in eighth grade. That's still the same feeling I get when I go to practice on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. I love it. We all love it. We have fun. And if that feeling went away, I wouldn't be doing it."