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Clips

(March 4, 2016)

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Today’s Clips Contents FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels' Garrett Richards hopes a return to his 2014 form can lead to big

payday

Angels beat Oakland Athletics, 8-2, in Mike Trout's spring debut

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 5)

New Angels pitching coach Charlie Nagy scoring points with his demeanor,

experience

First pitch or fifth, Mike Trout again vows to be more aggressive at the plate

Angels Notes: Yunel Escobar gets a shot at the leadoff spot

Final: Angels 8, A's 2

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 9)

Trout excels in first game action of spring

Wash expects improved 'D' out of Giavotella

Richards getting 2-seamer back to 2014 form

Angels give big bats a helping hand

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 16)

Trout Gets 3 Hits in LA Angels' 8-2 Victory Over Oakland A's

March 4, 2016 Page 3 of 17

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels' Garrett Richards hopes a return to his 2014 form can lead to big payday Pedro Moura

Garrett Richards has entered the stage of his professional career where pitchers often come to terms

with teams on long-term contracts.

Richards, 27, has recorded a 3.18 earned-run average in 376 innings the last two seasons, statistics

similar to those posted by Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann in the same span.

The Angels control the rights to the right-hander for three more seasons and will pay him $6.43 million

this year. Their new general manager, Billy Eppler, has described Richards as the team's ace.

Yet, the Angels have not had a conversation with Richards or his agent about a contract extension. The

chief reason: There's no consensus about what kind of pitcher Richards is and will be.

Until 2014, his baseball career had been defined by results unbefitting his abilities. In a pure upside play,

the Angels selected Richards 42nd overall in the 2009 draft. The best ERA he had in three seasons at the

University of Oklahoma was 6.00, but he threw hard and possessed a sharp slider.

While he rose through the farm system, Richards' strikeout rate shrunk at each level. He performed

capably but unspectacularly when the Angels inserted him into their rotation following Jered Weaver's

freak elbow injury in 2013.

The following season, 2014, was different. Richards struck out nearly a batter per inning, gave up just

five home runs, and posted a 2.61 ERA until he sustained a torn tendon in his left knee on Aug. 20. After

arduous rehabilitation, he returned to the majors eight months later and put up the second-best season

of his career: a 3.65 ERA in 207 1/3 innings.

He was good, but not as good as the year before. His strikeouts shrunk again, his walk rate rose, and the

homers increased.

So, the question that governs any extension beckons: Which season's statistics present the more

accurate Richards representation? As of now, Richards' side can argue 2014, and the team can point to

2015.

"You might look at his stats and say that his ERA was a point higher," said Angels left-hander Andrew

Heaney, Richards' winter throwing partner in Oklahoma City. "But then you can say that the dude didn't

have an off-season, came in and threw 200 innings and pitched the last game of the season for us. With

March 4, 2016 Page 4 of 17

all that, maybe his stats weren't what they were, but when you're talking about who gets paid, it's

people who are dependable in your rotation and throw 200 innings every single year."

Richards said he never felt right last season. Particularly with his sinking fastball that darts in the

opposite direction of his cutting fastball, he was uncomfortable completing his follow-through on his

rehabilitated left leg. He threw the pitch 41% of the time to left-handed hitters in 2014, and 17% of the

time in 2015, according to BrooksBaseball.net. He wants that to revert.

"There were games where I felt better than others, but it was a constant fight," Richards said. "When I

would land last year, my knee would give out, because it was weak. That would make my release point

and my delivery a little bit different every time. Now that I have my lower half under me and I can

repeat my delivery on that front side, I think it's going to make me more consistent."

Heaney thought Richards was lacking only in command last season. He said his teammate lost some

trust in leaning on his lead leg. He also said those issues were absent during their off-season throwing

sessions.

"I imagine he's going to be the 2014 Garrett that everybody saw," Heaney said.

There is no deadline for Richards' negotiations. During the first week of last year's regular season, four

starting pitchers agreed to extensions with their clubs. All were right-handers ranging from age 23 to 28.

The amount of team control that remained largely determined the money they were guaranteed.

Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco, who was around the same service-time stage Richards is, signed for four

years and $22 million. Boston's Rick Porcello, two years later on the scale, signed for four years and

$82.5 million.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun is another extension candidate. The 28-year-old will make $3.4 million

in 2016.

The team has not approached him about a multi-year deal, either.

"With guys that are young and controllable who teams see for the future, that's when you get locked up.

It's good for both sides. It would be awesome to come to an agreement," Calhoun said. "But it's a little

touchy."

Short hops

New Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons has not yet played the field in Cactus League play because of

soreness in his right arm. Manager Mike Scioscia plans to start him at shortstop Saturday, and Simmons

may start at designated hitter Friday. …Third baseman Yunel Escobar made his Angels debut as the

team's leadoff hitter Thursday, and Scioscia indicated that is the regular-season plan. Calhoun could bat

second, between Escobar and Mike Trout, or fifth, following Albert Pujols. … Angels minor league

pitchers and catchers must report to camp by Saturday. Minor league games begin March 17.

March 4, 2016 Page 5 of 17

Angels beat Oakland Athletics, 8-2, in Mike Trout's spring debut

Pedro Moura Highlights from the Los Angeles Angels' 8-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics:

AT THE PLATE: In his spring debut, center fielder Mike Trout went three for three with a double and

drove in a run, raising his career spring training batting average to .392. … Right fielder Kole Calhoun also

went three for three. … Geovany Soto and Daniel Nava had run-scoring singles in their Angels debuts. …

C.J. Cron drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. … Ji-Man Choi walked in a run and singled in two more.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Garrett Richards started the game. In his second inning, Richards issued

a walk and gave up a double and a single, then fired two wild pitches. He did not strike out any of the

eight batters he faced and was charged with two runs. … Right-hander Mike Morin followed Richards

and pitched a hitless inning. … Right-hander Al Alburquerque loaded the bases in his inning but did not

allow a run. … Five other relievers pitched scoreless innings, including right-hander Cory Rasmus, who is

out of options and pitching for a spot in the Angels bullpen.

EXTRA BASES: Trout made a running catch on the first play of the game, saving a probable double on a

ball hit by A's outfielder Billy Burns. "He had my back on that, and I look forward to seeing more catches

like that this season," Richards said. … Thursday marked the spring training opener at the Angels' home

field, Tempe Diablo Stadium. Over the off-season, the team invested in a TrackMan Doppler radar

system to gather analytics during the spring, including spin-rate data.

UP NEXT: Cubs on Friday, noon at Sloan Park. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

FROM THE OC REGISTER

New Angels pitching coach Charlie Nagy scoring points with his demeanor,

experience By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER TEMPE, Ariz. – If any Angels pitchers are unsure about new pitching coach Charlie Nagy, they need only

to ask Tyler Skaggs.

March 4, 2016 Page 6 of 17

Skaggs, who had Nagy as his pitching coach when he reached the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks

in 2012, swears by him.

“He genuinely cares about everybody,” Skaggs said. “He will ask you how you are doing outside of

baseball. He’s a very positive guy. He’s always going to pump you up.”

Joe Smith, who briefly pitched for Nagy in Triple-A with the Cleveland Indians, agreed.

“I love him,” Smith said. “He’s a great dude. He keeps everything simple. Never really high or low.

Always just consistent.”

Although he’s gotten endorsements from those who worked with him, Nagy is still trying to get to know

the rest of the pitchers in Angels camp.

The Angels have a new pitching coach for the first time since 2007, when Mike Butcher took over after

Bud Black left. After nine years as Angels pitching coach, Butcher left last October because of what he

and General Manager Billy Eppler called a “mutual decision.”

When the Angels turned to Nagy, they added a significant playing resume to the job.

Nagy, 48, was a first-round pick and a member of the 1988 Olympic team. He spent parts of 14 years in

the major leagues, much of it as the ace of the power-laden Cleveland Indians teams of the mid ‘90s. He

pitched in the World Series in 1995 and 1997.

Nagy was a three-time All-Star, including the starter for the 1996 game.

While that type of career isn’t mandatory for a pitching coach to be effective, it doesn’t hurt.

“On the level of being able to relate to one another, that’s valuable,” Garrett Richards said. “He’s gone

through the grind and he knows what it takes. He played for a lot of years. Obviously he knows what

he’s doing.”

To Hector Santiago, the length of Nagy’s career is as significant as the quality of it.

“He’s been there for so long,” Santiago said. “Every year you have to make an adjustment. Every year

you’re in the big leagues, the hitters know you better and you have to make an adjustment. A guy who

experienced that can come back and give you information on how to do that.”

Nagy has been a major league pitching coach for three years, with the Diamondbacks, and also three

years at Triple-A, including two as the Angels’ Triple-A pitching coach in 2006-07.

Sandwiched around those jobs, Nagy has also spent a few years working in the front office, with the

Indians from 2004-05 and again the last two years.

That experience no doubt helped Nagy get familiar with the type of analytics the Angels figure to be

implementing more this season for scouting reports and in-game decisions.

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“The more information you get, the better,” Nagy said. “You always hear from a lot of different people.

You sift through and find out what works for you. The analytics will help with the scouting reports and

teaching side of things.”

To Nagy and the pitchers, though, it seems the most important part of the job is something much more

simple.

It’s about communication, relationships, support.

“I think he’s very easy to get along with,” Richards said. “He’s a pretty relaxed guy. Being an ex-player,

he gets it.”

Nagy said he talked on the phone to as many pitchers as he could over the winter, and he’s still trying to

slowly build up that rapport.

“I just want to be able to talk to them about anything,” Nagy said. “Just building relationship. It’s pretty

easy. It’s baseball. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel.”

First pitch or fifth, Mike Trout again vows to be more aggressive at the plate By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER TEMPE, Ariz. – With a new year, there are new questions about Mike Trout and the first pitch.

Aside from his declining stolen bases, one of the few questions about Trout’s otherwise stellar young

career is why he seems to take so many hittable first pitches.

In fact, it seems to be a question that perplexes even Trout, because he has said on a few occasions he’d

like to swing at more of them.

A year ago, he insisted he would be more aggressive on the first pitch. And he was, for a few months. By

the end of the season, though, Trout had swung at 10.2 percent of first pitches, the lowest percentage in

the league. It was slightly less than the 10.6 percent he swung at in 2014.

So, heading into this season, what’s the plan?

“I don’t know,” said Trout, who had three hits Thursday in his 2016 Cactus League debut, an 8-2 Angels

win over the Oakland A’s. “I’m going to be aggressive, put it that way. If that’s swinging at the first pitch,

I don’t know. But I’m going to be more aggressive for sure.”

Trout said he wants to swing at first pitches when he’s going good – which is most of the time, obviously

– but the problem is sometimes he feels that alters his approach for the rest of the at-bat.

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“Sometimes when I get up there trying to hit the first pitch, I get too antsy,” he said. “I start getting a

little jumpy and anxious at the plate.”

Angels Notes: Yunel Escobar gets a shot at the leadoff spot By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER TEMPE, Ariz. – With his second lineup of the spring, Mike Scioscia began giving more clues as to what he

will use during the season.

Yunel Escobar was in the leadoff spot, followed by Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout, for the Angels game on

Thursday afternoon.

While Scioscia warned, as usual, not to read too much into a spring training lineup, he did say he likes

Escobar hitting leadoff.

“We definitely want to see if Yunel can get comfortable in the No. 1 hole,” Scioscia said. “He’s hit there

before.”

The appeal of Escobar in the leadoff spot is his career .350 on-base percentage. Last year Angels leadoff

hitters combined for a .280 on-base percentage, the worst in the league.

Scioscia is also committed to Trout batting third, but not so much to Calhoun hitting second. He said it’s

possible Calhoun could hit fifth, behind Albert Pujols. If that happens, presumably Daniel Nava would hit

second.

SIMMONS SLOWED

Andrelton Simmons has missed the first two Angels games of the spring because his arm “is a little

behind right now,” according to Scioscia.

Scioscia said Simmons should be able to play as the DH on Friday and play shortstop on Saturday.

“It’s just spring training,” he said. “It’s nothing we’re concerned about. We’re going to err on the side of

caution the first week of spring training.”

Simmons threw during infield drills on Thursday morning.

WILSON’S RETURN

C.J. Wilson will rejoin the Angels on Friday after being in Southern California for a few days for the birth

of his daughter. Wilson had been sidelined by shoulder tendinitis, so he is behind schedule.

March 4, 2016 Page 9 of 17

Final: Angels 8, A's 2 By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER THE GAME: Mike Trout had three hits, including an RBI double, and made a sprawling catch on the first

play of the game to help the Angels to an 8-2 victory over the Oakland A’s on Thursday at Tempe Diablo

Stadium.

PITCHING REPORT: Garrett Richards gave up one run in two innings. After a perfect first inning, he

allowed the first three batters of the second to reach. “My delivery today was a little bit inconsistent,

but I think that’s part of spring training,” Richards said, “ironing out those little things, getting a feel for

all your pitches.” Richards also said he concentrated on his two-seam fastball, which he didn’t throw as

much last year as in 2014. ... Mike Morin worked a perfect inning and particularly impressed Manager

Mike Scioscia. ... Lucas Luetge, who is competing for a job as a lefty specialist, struck out three in a

scoreless inning.

HITTING REPORT: Kole Calhoun had three hits. ... Yunel Escobar reached base in two of three trips, with

a single and a walk. ... Geovany Soto was hit in the head by a pitch, but stayed in the game. ... The Angels

scored two runs in the fourth inning against A’s lefty R.J. Alvarez, a former Angels prospect who was

traded to San Diego for Huston Street.

DEFENSE REPORT: SS Rey Navarro made a bad throw on what would have been a double play. ... 3B

Kaleb Cowart made a leaping grab of a line drive. Cowart later misplayed a hard bouncer, although it

was ruled a hit. ... SS Roberto Baldoquin made a diving stop while playing on the right side of the bag in

a shift. ... LF Todd Cunningham broke the wrong way on a ball and then came up just short on a diving

attempt.

UP NEXT: Angels (Jered Weaver) at Cubs (Pierce Johnson), Friday, 12 p.m. PT, Sloan Park.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Trout excels in first game action of spring By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 3rd, 2016

March 4, 2016 Page 10 of 17

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Mike Trout didn't waste any time. The Angels' superstar center fielder made a sprawling

catch to start Thursday's game and finished his Cactus League debut 3-for-3, setting an early tone in the

Angels' 8-2 victory over the division-rival A's at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

"Last year he led off the spring with a homer," Angels starter Garrett Richards said. "Guys who have

been around here a little bit just kind of laugh about it, because when he does things like this it's just

kind of like, 'There he goes again.'"

Trout and Kole Calhoun, batting in front of him in the No. 2 spot, combined for six hits and scored three

of the Angels' runs in the home debut.

The Angels took a 3-2 lead in the third on RBI singles by catcher Geovany Soto and left fielder Daniel

Nava. They then added a couple more runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Trout and a bases-loaded

walk by Ji-Man Choi, who's competing for a spot off the bench.

Richards -- working mostly on re-establishing his two-seam fastball -- ran into some trouble in his second

and final inning of work, giving up a couple of runs on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Andrew Lambo.

Lambo, competing for an outfield spot, finished with two hits. First baseman Yonder Alonso singled,

drew a walk and scored a run. The A's started non-roster pitcher Eric Surkamp, who was charged with a

run on four hits and a walk in two innings. Ryan Doolittle (the younger brother of closer Sean Doolittle)

and R.J. Alvarez (formerly of the Angels) each gave up two runs in their lone innings of work.

Trout made a sprawling catch to his right in the top of the first, robbing Billy Burns to start the game,

then hit a bloop single to right field in the bottom half. The 24-year-old then lined a single up the middle

in the third and laced a run-scoring double to left field in the fourth.

Trout is now batting .392/.469/.716 in 256 career Spring Training plate appearances, which is pretty

much what you would expect.

"Trout's Trout," Alonso said. "He's going to do what he's going to do. Hopefully you can contain him.

That's all you can try to do. Coming over from a different league, I'm looking forward to facing guys like

that. They have a good squad. So do we."

A's Up Next: The A's will engage in split-squad action Friday, featuring their first home game of the

Cactus League campaign. Oakland's top pitching prospect, Sean Manaea, gets the start in that game, a

12:05 p.m. PT matchup with the Rockies at Hohokam Stadium. Left-hander Felix Doubront will be on the

mound at 12:10 for a road start against Zack Greinke and the D-backs at Salt River Fields.

Angels Up Next: Jered Weaver makes his spring debut when the Angels travel to Mesa to face the Cubs

on Friday, with first pitch at Sloan Park set for 12:05 p.m. PT. Andrelton Simmons is expected to play in

his first game, but he will probably start at designated hitter due to arm soreness.

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Wash expects improved 'D' out of Giavotella

A's coach worked with Angels second baseman during offseason

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 3rd, 2016

TEMPE, Ariz. -- November came quickly, and by the time Johnny Giavotella met Ron Washington on the

field for an entire offseason of defensive work, the rumors were already swirling. The Angels were said

to be scouring the market for help at second base, and Giavotella was hurt by that. He thought he had a

good year, felt he had finally established himself in the Major Leagues and began to lament how unfair it

all seemed.

Washington -- the longtime Rangers manager, current A's third-base coach and noted fielding guru --

stopped him midsentence.

"Who [cares]?" Washington told him, with harsher words. "Do your thing. And when you go to camp,

keep your job. I don't give a [darn] who they get."

And so, with that, their work began.

From the start of November until the middle of February, Giavotella and Washington met three times a

week at the Urban Youth Academy in New Orleans to work on defense, the one element that had always

eluded Giavotella.

"We didn't miss, no matter what the weather was," Washington said from A's camp on Thursday

morning. "I was so proud of him, the way he put it together and the way he was able to maintain it."

Giavotella could always hit -- his Minor League slash line is a solid .305/.378/.438 -- but carried obvious

shortcomings defensively. And he knew it. Shortly after the 2014 season -- and before the Royals would

trade him to the Angels for a journeyman Minor League reliever -- Giavotella met Washington at a

banquet and sought his help.

"Listen, Wash, baseball means a lot to me," Giavotella recalled telling him. "I know that I'm capable of

playing big league baseball offensively, but defense is the only thing holding me back."

Washington's response: "If you're ready to work, I'll work with you."

The two only trained for about a month that offseason, just before Giavotella went to Venezuela to play

winter ball. The ensuing spring, Giavotella won a job as the Angels' starting second baseman and,

outside of a five-week stint with fourth nerve palsy, never lost it.

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He batted a respectable .272/.318/.375, but defense remained a hindrance. FanGraphs' overall

defensive rating ranked Giavotella the second-worst second baseman in 2015, ahead of only the

Mariners' Robinson Cano.

Washington believes Giavotella "wasn't getting the maintenance he should've gotten," meaning he

wasn't policing himself diligently enough to apply concepts gained the prior winter.

This year, Washington said, "Things clicked a lot better." They spent more time together, learned more

about each other.

"What happened from the beginning of the offseason to when we finished is he got know-how,"

Washington said. "In other words, he can police himself. When you work with someone, that's where

you want to get him -- where they can police themselves."

Giavotella first struck Washington as someone with "hard hands," who was constantly "jabbing at the

ball" with his glove and often fielded grounders "flat-footed."

"Now you won't see him flat-footed," Washington said. "Now he's got some rhythm going."

The two worked on everything together, their training centered on intense, non-stop, 45-minute drills

aimed to incorporate as much technique as stamina. They covered receiving feeds from a shortstop,

turning double plays, footwork around the bag, angles on slow rollers and the fundamentals behind

"receiving" ground balls.

"Everything," Washington said. "Everything that you can cover during the course of a game, we

covered."

Giavotella called Washington's instruction "priceless."

"I didn't realize how important it is to get to that last hop and use your feet to get you in the proper

position to get that good hop," Giavotella said. "I would just kind of run right after the ball and hope I

got a good hop, as opposed to reading the ground ball, letting my feet dictate where I'm going to catch

the ball and adjust appropriately. I'd kind of get lazy and let the ball get up on me as opposed to going

out and being aggressive and getting that last hop."

Washington quickly gravitated toward Giavotella, not just because of their New Orleans connection.

He loved his attitude.

"Kid's a gamer, man," Washington said. "He wants to whoop your [butt]. I like that. … We all have

deficiencies, but he can play in my foxhole."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia declared second base "an open competition" on the first day of camp, but

it's clear that Giavotella will be the guy, barring an unforeseen acquisition from the outside. He is out of

options, is coming off a full season as the starter and none of the other competitors -- mainly Rey

Navarro and Gregorio Petit -- seem to pose much of a threat.

March 4, 2016 Page 13 of 17

The Angels' hope is that the spark Giavotella provides offensively can overcome any ways he might limit

them on defense.

"I think I'm constantly making strides, I'm constantly working every day to get a little bit better,"

Giavotella said. "Those little adjustments go a long way."

Washington is steadfast in his belief that Giavotella "can be a very solid second baseman" this season.

"He'll make all the routine plays," Washington said, "and he's going to surprise you this year with some

of the plays he's going to make that's outside of the routine."

Richards getting 2-seamer back to 2014 form

Angels right-hander wasn't comfortable throwing the pitch as much last year

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | @Alden_Gonzalez | March 3rd, 2016

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The challenge of facing Angels right-hander Garrett Richards didn't merely boil down to

catching up to a blistering fastball or adjusting to a devastating breaking ball. It was reacting to two

upper-90s fastballs that moved in two completely different directions -- a four-seam fastball that cut

away from righties and a two-seam fastball that sunk inside.

Richards lost the latter weapon last year, and now he's focused on getting it back.

The 27-year-old spent most of the offseason working on re-establishing his two-seam fastball, and he

went to it frequently in Thursday's spring debut against the A's at Tempe Diablo Stadium, one in which

he gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in two innings in a game the Angels would win, 8-2.

"I threw some really good ones, started to get that feel back from 2014 of throwing it out in front and

having it sink versus arm-side run," Richards said. "I feel comfortable with it right now. I think it's only

going to get better from here."

The dynamic between the four-seamer and the two-seamer was a major weapon for Richards while

going 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 2014 before rupturing his left patellar tendon. But Richards' two-seam-

fastball usage dropped from 28 percent to 13 percent in '15, which he finished with a 15-12 record and a

3.65 ERA.

Knee surgery affected Richards' landing leg, which made his delivery feel "a little bit off throughout the

whole year."

"There were games where I felt better than others, but it was just kind of a constant fight," Richards

said. "It kind of [disabled] me from sinking the ball. The two-seamer would just kind of arm-side run."

March 4, 2016 Page 14 of 17

In other words, Richards' two-seamer was tailing up and in to right-handed hitters as opposed to

shooting downward. So Richards mostly went away from it, leaving him with basically only one fastball

he could trust.

Getting the proper movement back on that two-seamer could be key to getting his numbers back to

where they were two years ago.

"A hundred percent," Richards said. "When a hitter has to go up there and look for two different

fastballs, I think it helps you out. I'm going to continue to throw it, continue to develop it. I'm

comfortable with where it's at right now; I'm starting to get a good grasp of how to throw it and be

consistent with it. It's come along."

Worth noting

• Andrelton Simmons is expected to start at designated hitter on Friday and would presumably play

shortstop on Saturday. Simmons didn't appear in the first two Cactus League games due to arm

soreness, but he took part in all of the pregame defensive drills on Thursday morning. The Angels

wanted to be cautious because it's early.

• C.J. Wilson is expected to rejoin the Angels on Friday, after spending the past few days wife his wife,

Lisalla Montenegro, as she gave birth to the couple's first child, a girl. Wilson hasn't thrown off a mound

since experiencing shoulder tendinitis in a bullpen session on Feb. 20. Manager Mike Scioscia said "it's

going to take him a little while to catch up."

• Richards got a first-hand look at Geovany Soto's odd technique throwing a baseball back to the

pitcher. The veteran catcher falls to his knees upon lobbing the ball back to the mound, then swipes the

dirt with his hand. Said Richards: "It's a little bit different, but he gets it back to me. That's the important

part."

Angels give big bats a helping hand

Halos set out to give Trout, Pujols more run-producing opportunities

By Tracy Ringolsby / MLB.com | @TracyRingolsby | March 3rd, 2016

TEMPE, Ariz. -- With Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, the Angels have two of the best run producers in

baseball.

The challenge is creating enough situations for Trout and Pujols to produce runs. Manager Mike Scioscia

gets it.

March 4, 2016 Page 15 of 17

"Mike is a scary guy," said Scioscia. "You want to set the table for him. You want to create as many

chances as you can for him."

Scioscia bounced Trout between the Nos. 2 and 3 slots in the batting order last season. Not that it made

much difference. In 82 games hitting second, he produced 77 runs. In 77 games hitting third, Trout

produced 76 runs.

It wasn't unlike Whitey Herzog in the late 1970s, occasionally hitting George Brett first and Hal McRae

second. With the DH in the American League, he would then have Freddie Patek, who had the

basestealing ability you wanted at the top of the lineup but was a bit of a free swinger, hitting ninth in

what Herzog called his double leadoff role.

Herzog, however, also had Al Cowens, John Mayberry and Amos Otis to hit third, fourth and fifth behind

Brett and McRae, which was a pretty dangerous array of bats.

Not many teams have that kind of depth. The Angels certainly don't.

That's why Scioscia seems intent on settling on a lineup punch of Trout and Pujols at No. 3 and 4. And

that's why he wants to find someone this spring who can consistently get on base from the No. 2 slot,

and someone who can produce runs to hit fifth.

Good as they are, Trout and Pujols can't do it all themselves.

Oh, they can try. Last year, alone, Trout had a 1.201 OPS with runners in scoring position, the best in

baseball. Freddie Freeman of the Braves was No. 2 in the Majors at 1.157, and Miguel Cabrera of the

Tigers was No. 2 in the AL at 1.147.

Trout's .352 average with runners in scoring position was third best in the AL behind Cabrera of the

Tigers (.365) and Josh Donaldson of the Blue Jays (.353).

Trout, however, didn't have anything close to the opportunities to drive in runs that Cabrera and

Donaldson did.

There were 129 players with more plate appearances with a runner in scoring position last year than

Trout's 126, which was tied for 130th in the Majors. The fact that he tied for 24th in the big leagues with

90 RBIs might not be eye-popping, but what is eye-opening is Trout only had 88 at-bats with a runner in

scoring position, which tied him for 200th -- that's right, 200th -- in the Majors.

Don't blame Trout. He started 159 of 162 games for the Angels. It was an area of concern for the Halos

overall. They were 20th with 661 runs scored, and ranked 30th in at-bats with runners in scoring

position with 1,127. That's 273 fewer at-bats than the D-backs, who led the Majors, and 253 fewer than

the A's, who led the AL.

Get the picture? To take advantage of run-producing bats, there need to be runners on base to produce.

March 4, 2016 Page 16 of 17

One thing new general manager Billy Eppler focused on during the offseason was trying to find players

better suited to hit at the top of the order. The Angels picked up third baseman Yunel Escobar and his

career .350 on-base percentage from the Nationals with the hope he can hit leadoff. And that's why

they brought in the potential left-field platoon of left-handed-hitting Daniel Nava, who has a .358 career

OBP, and right-handed-hitting Craig Gentry, whose OBP in the five years prior to last year's injury-

marred season, was .349.

That's why this year Scioscia thinks Trout will be able to reside in the No. 3 spot, Pujols in the No. 4, and

if all breaks right, Kole Calhoun, who hit 26 home runs last year, and C.J. Cron can line up behind Trout

and Pujols to provide protection.

Now Trout might get a few more at-bats hitting second than third, but what Scioscia is looking for is

getting him more at-bats with a runner in scoring position early in a game, rather than late, when

opposing managers can manipulate a bullpen to get matchups they want.

"I want to try and get those chances earlier in the game, when the pitcher is facing the hitters for the

second, third time," said Scioscia.

And this spring, Scioscia is looking for the pieces to the puzzle that will allow him to create that

opportunity.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trout Gets 3 Hits in LA Angels' 8-2 Victory Over Oakland A's

TEMPE, Ariz. — Mike Trout went 3 for 3 and made an impressive first-inning catch, leading the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

The star center fielder stretched and sprawled to rob Billy Burns on the first play of the game.

"Guys who have been around here a little bit just laugh about it," Angels starter Garrett Richards said. "When he does things like that, it's just like, 'Here he goes again.'"

Trout added two singles and a double in the first four innings of the Angels' spring training home opener at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Kole Calhoun also had three hits and scored two runs for the Angels, and newcomers Geovany Soto and Daniel Nava added RBI singles. Los Angeles relievers combined for seven scoreless innings of six-hit ball.

"We had a good day," manager Mike Scioscia said. "There were some things we didn't get done, but we looked good pressuring them offensively."

Andrew Lambo had an RBI single among his two hits for Oakland.

March 4, 2016 Page 17 of 17

Los Angeles scored twice off A's reliever Ryan Doolittle, the younger brother of Oakland closer Sean Doolittle.

STARTING TIME

Athletics: Non-roster lefty Eric Surkamp gave up four hits and one run in two innings.

Angels: Richards yielded two runs and two hits over two innings, getting into a bit of trouble in the second. Los Angeles' presumptive ace felt some inconsistency in his delivery. "It was good to get back out there and compete again and have a player from another team in the box, get that visual in the game atmosphere," Richards said. "The body feels good, arm feels good, leg feels good. Just working out those early kinks."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: New shortstop Andrelton Simmons is expected to play Friday, but might be the designated hitter because of arm soreness.

UP NEXT

Athletics: Top prospect Sean Manaea pitches at home against Colorado, while the other half of the split squad visits Zack Greinke and the Diamondbacks.

Angels: Jered Weaver makes his first appearance in the final season of his contract when the Angels visit the Cubs.