Trends with Trout

By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer -

Mike Trout is awesome.

All of us are aware of his capability, especially at such a young age. It is almost unprecedented in baseball history.

For a while now I have been toying with the idea of a “periodic article series”  focusing solely on Mike Trout and his past and hopefully, many, future accomplishments.

I wanted to make the series witty, fun, and, most importantly, informative about Trout’s current and potential achievements on the field. If I go 1 for 3, in this endeavor, I’ll be happy (and more importantly hitting for average).

As with all monumental and miniscule ideas (your choice) I had to put the electrons that are firing across my brain onto paper or, in this case, electrons firing across the Internet.

The real problem became what to name the series? I like Mike Trout a lot as I am sure many of you do as well. It is possible that Mike will read this article and I want him to be impressed.

In fact I want him to be so impressed that he says, “That Robert sure is a good guy…. I wonder if he would be my friend?” I’m sure Mike needs a good friend in his life and I certainly feel, like all of you, that I am well qualified and will successfully meet his friend criteria.

I mean just look at what we already have in common! We both are, currently, in the state of California, we both are adored by our fans (right tdawg!.... tdawg?), and we both gained weight during the offseason!

So I thought, “Self, why don’t you just go ahead and assume that Mike Trout will want to be your friend!” I quickly began brainstorming article titles and came up with some real gems like “I want to be liked by Mike” and the illustrious and clever “Friends with Trout”.

As time (quickly) passed I began to realize how presumptuous it was of me to assume that Mr. Trout would have the time or energy to invest in our future friendship. I quickly realized that being friends with Trout will probably never happen (or could it? Mike? Please!.... Wait, does that sound desperate?).

I quickly shelved those efforts and decided to refocus on the periodic series that will highlight Mike Trout fun facts and possible milestones that number 27 could potentially break from a historical perspective.

Recently Mike hit 3 triples over a seven game span. The fact that Mike is leading the league in triples intrigued me enough to look at how many doubles, triples, and home runs he has for the season so far and, if he continues at this pace, what totals will he finish with at the end of the season.

First of all Mr. Trout (or would you just prefer Mike?) has made 237 Plate Appearances (PA’s) this season and currently has 14 doubles, 6 triples, and 10 home runs over 54 games played.

At Mikey’s current pace (4.61 PA’s/Game) he will eclipse 700 PA’s by the end of the season assuming he plays in all of the remaining games (Scioscia may sit him a game or two but I doubt it).

If he maintains that pace in both PA’s and extra-base hits, Mike would end up with over 40 doubles, 17 triples, and 30 home runs! Fantastic production!

So, the next questions that popped into my little brain were: How does this compare to other players, who are 22 years or younger, throughout the hallowed ages of baseball? Are there any other players who accomplished this trifecta in previous seasons?

To FanGraphs we go!

To help narrow the list down I began with the always hard to hit triple. Since 1871 there have only been 33 separate player seasons, age 22 or younger, where a player has hit 17 or more triples in one season.

Only one player, Mr. “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, had more than one season (two, to be exact, in 1911 and 1912) above the 17 triple mark. The rest of the list is dotted with familiar names such as Cobb, Musial, Vaughan, Crawford (Carl and Sam), Hornsby, Reyes, et. al.

Next I took that list of 33 players and identified those that also hit 30 or more HR’s and….. Whoa! Stop and take a deep breath!

Since 1871 there has NEVER been a player, 22 years or younger, who has hit 17 or more triples AND 30 or more home runs! In fact there has never been a player, 22 years or younger, who has hit 17 or more triples AND 20 or more home runs!

The uniqueness of this potential accomplishment made me temporarily expand the search to see how many players, no matter what their age, have actually accomplished a 17+ Triple/30+ Home Run season.

As it turns out, there are precious few: Willie Mays (20/35) in 1957, Jim Bottomley (20/31) in 1928, Jimmy Rollins (20/30) in 2007, Stan Musial (18/39) in 1948, and the legendary Lou Gehrig (18/47 and 17/41) who had two seasons, in 1927 and 1930, at that level.

That’s it! Only five players have ever accomplished a season where they hit 17 or more triples along with 30 or more home runs!

This just shows how rare it is to find a true power/speed combination in baseball. Many players are hyped (and some rightfully so) with this tag but when you look at the names above you can better appreciate what true talent really is.

So, with that little interesting sidebar analyzed, I will now return to our regularly scheduled discussion.

At the ripe age of 22, Mike Trout has another chance to make a unique mark on baseball history. His current pace of a 40/17/30 double, triple, home run season has never been seen in the annals of baseball history by someone so young.

Oh and let’s not forget about the doubles comparison. Compared to the five players who have accomplished a 17+/30+ Triple/HR season how does Trout’s doubles pace compare to those players?

Mays had a 26/20/35 2B, 3B, HR season. Bottomley had a 42/20/31 season. Rollins went  38/20/30 in his lone season. Musial had a 46/18/39 season. Finally, Gehrig had a 52/18/47 and a 42/17/41, season, respectively.

Clearly Trout is on a similar doubles pace as the group he is chasing. Mike has the chance, once again, to join some elite company in the history of baseball. If he can continue at this pace he will become only one of six players to ever finish a season with such an abundance of extra base hits.

Also, let me point out one last thing. Only two of those players, Mays and Rollins had more than a dozen stolen bases. Willie had 38 and Rollins had 41 in their respective seasons. Trout is currently on pace for 35 stolen bases, which just heightens the potential greatness that this season can bring.

I’m sure Trout will inspire me to write another “Trends with Trout” article in the near future, but until then continue to enjoy the young man who is playing baseball the way it was meant to be played and cheer him on to another potentially history-making season! Go Angels!

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 31st, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor -

MAY 31, 2002

GAME 51 - ANGELS

MINNEAPOLIS -- Many pitchers would not have survived the inning Angels starter Jarrod Washburn encountered Friday night against the Minnesota Twins.

Washburn got the three outs he needed to get out of the second inning, but he should have had three others. As it was, he allowed only one run in the inning and the Angels offense took it from there in an 11-3 victory before 17,101 at the Metrodome. 

Bengie Molina had four hits and Scott Spiezio had three to lead a 16-hit attack in beating Angels nemesis Eric Milton, who entered the game with a 5-0 career mark against them.

But it was Washburn's ability to maintain his composure and escape the second that was the difference in the game.

The three outs that weren't came when shortstop Benji Gil lost a pop fly in the Metrodome roof for a leadoff double by Doug Mientkiewicz. Two batters later, Mientkiewicz scored after A.J. Pierzynski hit a comebacker to Washburn. The throw to first tailed on Washburn and Pierzynski knocked the ball out of Spiezio's glove at first, allowing him to reach and the other baserunners to advance.

Washburn lost yet another out when the next batter, Denny Hocking, grounded to second baseman Adam Kennedy. Kennedy threw home when it appeared that Dustan Mohr was breaking from third. Instead, Mohr returned to third and Hocking reached to load the bases.

Washburn, though, got out of it by retiring the next two hitters and keeping the game tied at 1.

``The defining moment was the second inning,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We give them six outs and he holds 'em to one run. That was huge. It gave us a chance to go after Milton. You're not going to give a club like that six outs and give up only one run very often.''

Washburn said he never got rattled despite the circumstances.

``There's nothing you can do about it,'' he said. ``I've pitched in this stadium before. Things like (losing the ball in the roof) happen. I used to come to games here as a kid and it happened then too.''

Washburn made so many pitches in that inning (27) that it cut short his outing to six innings. But he gave up only two runs and four hits to win his fifth decision in a row, improving to 5-2.

``He's amazing,'' Spiezio said of Washburn. ``He's a very aggressive individual, both on and off the field. He's one of those guys that if you tell him to do something, he'll do the opposite. He's stubborn, but in a good way.

``He'll listen to the old guys like (Aaron) Sele and (Kevin) Appier and the pitching coach, (Bud Black) but he's not giving in to anything.''

The Angels' big inning offensively came in the fourth when they scored five runs on five hits and knocked Milton out of the game. Besides having a 5-0 career mark against the Angels, Milton took in a 1.38 ERA against them as well as his no hitter in 1999.

``He's one of the premier pitchers in the league,'' Scioscia said. ''The guys got some balls to hit and didn't miss 'em.''

The Angels again spread the wealth offensively, as everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit. And it came one night after their disappointing loss on Thursday night, when they blew a 5-0 lead to lose, 7-6.

``That's what successful teams do,'' Washburn said. ``You can't let one loss get you down. (Thursday) night was one that got away, one we should have won. But we came out the next day and played well.''

NOTEBOOK

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the early All-Star balloting, only one Angel is even in the top five at their position (third baseman Troy Glaus is fourth). Not one Angel outfielder is in the top 15 of the voting.

Because the fans vote for the starters and it's the fans' game, most of the Angels don't mind. But left fielder Garret Anderson felt snubbed last season when he wasn't picked as a reserve. He was hitting .279 with 15 homers and 62 RBIs at the break last year.

``There's politics involved, and that takes the fun out of it,'' Anderson said. ``I thought I had a case last year but I didn't get picked. There were a lot of guys like that, I wasn't the only one. The coaches take care of their own, and it kind of takes the luster out of it.''

Anderson said it would be ``cool'' to make an All-Star team some time during his career, but he doesn't dwell on it.

``I'm more proud of playing well over the course of a whole season, not just half the season,'' he said. ``But if I do good enough and make it one year, so be it.''

The fans voting has been criticized over the years because of ballot-box stuffing, and now it's possible to vote on internet.

``People vote for whoever they want to vote for,'' Anderson said. ``I think it's cool they pick the starting lineup, although there are glitches. Fans vote who they like instead of who deserves to be there.''

*

The Angels pitchers have started hitting soft toss and will begin taking live batting practice when the club returns to Anaheim next week. But it's not for the reasons one might think.

``They're not swinging so they can hit, they're swinging so they won't hurt themselves,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``They're swinging to get their torsos in shape. Some of these guys haven't hit since the minor leagues or college.''

Two years ago pitcher Scott Schoeneweis wound up on the disabled list because he pulled a muscle in his ribcage while batting in an interleague game.

The best-hitting pitcher on the team is Jarrod Washburn, who has a .400 (4 for 10) career average.

*

Second baseman Adam Kennedy got the start at second base Friday even though there was a left-hander (Eric Milton) starting for the Twins. Kennedy went into the game hitting just .226 against lefties this season, but has been swinging well lately. He had four hits in Thursday's game, including one against a lefty.

``Adam's been swinging the bat as well as he has all season,'' Scioscia said. ``We'd like to see him keep the rhythm.''

*

The Angels will make up their rainout from May 16 at Detroit on Aug. 5. The Angels will play Aug. 4 at home against the Yankees, travel to Detroit to play Aug. 5 against the Tigers, then travel to Chicago to begin a series against the White Sox on Aug. 6.

The Angels were also rained out in Texas on April 7. The makeup date for that game is June 24, when they will play a doubleheader.

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 30th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com - 

MAY 30, 2002

GAME 50 - ANGELS AT TWINS

MINNEAPOLIS -- Their game against the Minnesota Twins Thursday night won't end up on the club's season-highlight package, but the Angels might have trouble erasing it from their memory banks.

The Angels seemed to get a break when Twins starter Brad Radke aggrevated a groin injury and had to leave two batters into the game. They built a 5-0 lead and seemed in position continue their roll against American League Central teams.

But the Twins rallied to tie the game in the eighth and won it, 7-6, in the 10th inning on Cristian Guzman's sacrifice fly off Lou Pote before 14,521 at the Metrodome. On the play, the Angels had only two outfielders, having moved center fielder Darin Erstad to first base to form a five-man infield.

It's something Angels manager Mike Scioscia has used before in similar situations and nearly worked on Thursday. The Twins had runners on first and third with one out when Erstad was brought in, and the next batter up, Denny Hocking, grounded out to Erstad at first.

With one out, the Twins had runners on second and third, but Scioscia decided against walking Guzman intentionally to load the bases and create a force at any base.

``It was pick your poison,'' Scioscia said, noting that Doug Mientkiewicz was on deck. ``The matchups behind Guzman were just as tough. You load the bases and it puts pressure on Lou. You pitch to Guzman and it gives Lou the freedom to make some pitches.''

Guzman, though, swung and hit the first pitch, sending the Angels to their second loss in three games on the trip.

The game included a foul ball by Tim Salmon that hit a speaker high above the Angels dugout. But pitcher Eddie Guardado alertly spotted the ball and made a diving catch in foul territory to record the out.

``We've had it happen to us here before, and it won't be the last time,'' Scioscia said. ``The ball Mo (Vaughn) hit a couple years ago would still be going. But it hit a speaker and fell in for a single.''

There were also balls that should have been caught that weren't, like the one Angels center fielder Darin Erstad overran in the fourth inning. Instead of making the catch for the third out, Erstad missed Brian Buchanan's jam shot to shallow center and it became a two-run triple.

``I just missed it,'' Erstad said, noting that the Twins remind him alot of the Angels. ``They scratch and claw and never give up. They have a great bunch of players over there. They battle like we do. That's why it's always a dogfight when we play these guys.''

Things went well for the Angels early, as they built a 5-0 lead by the third inning. In the first, Erstad hit his fourth homer of the year, a 427-foot solo blast to the upper deck in right field.

In the second inning, Adam Kennedy led off with a double, the first of his four hits in the game. He went to third on Jorge Fabregas' grounder to first and scored on a grounder to short by Jose Nieves.

The Angels opened it up in the third with three runs. Salmon and Kennedy each drove in one with a single and Fabregas plated the third with a grounder to first base.

Meanwhile, Schoeneweis was pitching his game. He allowed three hits through three innings, but no runs. He escaped a jam in the third inning after the Twins put runners on second and third with one out.

But in the fourth Angels starter Scott Schoeneweis created his own trouble by walking leadoff batter Tom Prince. By the time the inning was over, the Twins scored four to cut the Angels' lead to 5-4.

They eventually caught the Angels at 6 in the eighth inning after Scioscia brought in closer Troy Percival with two on and two out. Guzman's single off Percival tied it, but Anderson threw out A.J. Pierzynski at the plate.

``You win some, you lose some, but these are the in-between ones you need to win,'' Erstad said. ``We felt like we let that one slip away. Yeah, it stinks, but when you get your butt kicked 15-0, it stinks too. I guess I never met a loss that didn't stink.''

NOTEBOOK

MINNEAPOLIS -- Designated hitter Brad Fullmer's contract is up after this season, but where he plays next year is still up to the Angels. Fullmer, who will be eligible for arbitration, will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2004 season.

Fullmer signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Blue Jays before the 2001 season and is making $4 million this year. He said when he was acquired by the Angels in a trade with the Blue Jays for pitcher Brian Cooper that Anaheim was a perfect fit for him, and he hasn't changed his mind.

``I like it here,'' said Fullmer, who is hitting .276 with four homers and 18 RBIs. ``But I don't have any say, it's up to them. Obviously, I think we have a good team. There's a lot of season left, but we're good. And there's a lot of guys like me here, blue-collar guys that get after it.''

Fullmer is a native of Chatsworth and went to Montclair Prep High, but he lives in Henderson, Nev. during the winter and rents a place in Newport Beach during the season.

*

Utility infielder Benji Gil rejoined the team Thursday after being out since April 5 with a sprained left ankle. Gil was injured while playing first base and colliding with the Rangers Rusty Greer.

``I thought it would be a week,'' Gil said. ``The weird thing is, the day after it happened it didn't feel that bad. When they told me it would be four-to-six weeks, I thought they were crazy.''

It turned out to be nearly eight weeks, but Gil finally made it back and will start tonight's game at either second base or shortstop.

``He's ready, he's done everything he needs to do over there (for Triple-A Salt Lake during a rehab assignment),'' manager Mike Scioscia said.

*

Shortstop David Eckstein is still not quite ready to play defense, his sprained left knee affecting his lateral movement. Eckstein can hit and run the bases, but defensively ``he's not at the level he needs to be,'' Scioscia said.

There's a chance Eckstein, who hurt the knee trying to avoid a tag at first base on May 20, will return to his shortstop position this weekend. He's likely to start at DH tonight.

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 29th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 29, 2002

GAME 49 - ANGELS AT ROYALS

KANSAS CITY -- Tim Salmon had four hits, including a three-run homer, in the Angels' 12-2 win over the Kansas City Royals Wednesday night before 13,662 at Kauffman Stadium. But it wasn't the hits that had Salmon almost giddy after the game.

It was the two stolen bases, a career best, that had Salmon smiling.

``I'm not a big basestealer,'' said Salmon, who doubled his season total to four and now has 42 in his 10-year career.

Salmon stole third after hitting a double in the second inning, and stole second on the back end of a double steal in the fifth.

``I don't steal very often,'' he said. ``And I don't steal third. It might be the only time in the majors. ... How about that? Two bags. It's a career high for me.''

The Angels stole six bases in all, one shy of the club record of seven set in 1981, and no Angel baserunner was caught stealing. They had 17 hits, including a three-run homer by Troy Glaus and four hits by shortstop Alfredo Amezaga.

Amezaga, who was called up earlier in the week to give the club some infield depth while regular shortstop David Eckstein recovered from a sprained knee, was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after the game to make room for utility infielder Benji Gil.

Gil, out since April 5 with a sprained ankle, will rejoin the team today in Minnesota. Amezaga heads back to the minors hitting .500 (5 for 10) during his brief major league stay.

``I knew that was coming down,'' Amezaga said of his return to the minors. ``Still, it's frustrating. Of course nobody wants to get sent down. When I came here, they said just have fun. I'm not here to have fun. I'm here to win games. It's serious to me.''

The Angels had at least one runner on base in every inning but the seventh, applying pressure to Royals starter Jeremy Affeldt (1-2) and four relievers. And while the Angels said the homers by Glaus and Salmon were big, they consider themselves more a team that manufactures runs.

``We walk, steal a base, hit-and-run, bunt 'em over, get 'em over,'' Salmon said. ``The mentality and makeup of this lineup is made for that.''

The Angels didn't get their offense going until the fifth Wednesday when the game was tied at 1. Amezaga led off with a single and went to second on a walk by Eckstein. Darin Erstad singled home Amezaga and Glaus followed with a three-run homer.

The Angels added a fifth run in the fifth inning, and four more in the sixth, three on Salmon's homer.

``Our offense is not built around the home run,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We have to stay as aggressive as we can on the bases. If there are openings, we have to keep applying pressure.

``Tonight we had little ball sandwiched around the home runs. These guys did a great job. The home runs are nice but the tone of this game was set with aggressive baserunning.''

While the offense was busy scoring runs, Angels starter Ramon Ortiz returned to the form he showed earlier in the season.

Ortiz (5-5) was coming off two consecutive losses in which he gave up 11 runs and seven homers in 13 1/3 innings. Wednesday he gave up a solo homer to Mark Quinn, but that was the only mistake he made. He went eight innings, allowing two runs and seven hits.

``I felt better tonight,'' Ortiz said. ``More strikes, better location, slider down. Only one mistake tonight.''

Despite the win, the Angels (29-20) remain three games out in the A.L. West behind Seattle, who also won on Wednesday.

NOTEBOOK

KANSAS CITY -- Catcher Bengie Molina and manager Mike Scioscia disagree on why it's happening, but the fact is, it's happening.

Molina threw out 24 percent (19 of 79) of the baserunners trying to steal last season, but has improved this season so far to 55 percent (18 of 33), best among all catchers in the majors.

``It's simple,'' Scioscia said. ``His mechanics are much more consistent on a daily basis. He's thrown the ball well the last two years, but right now it's as good as I've seen him.''

Scioscia went as far as to say Molina is comparable to the Rangers' Ivan Rodriguez.

``Pudge is still the top of the class,'' Scioscia said. ``His arm strength, accuracy and glove-to-glove times are incredible. Bengie's not far behind that. He can be almost as effective as Pudge and I think his stats are bearing that out.''

Molina said the one reason he's better this year is health.

``I think nobody realized last year I had a sore (right) knee most of the time,'' Molina said. ``To throw guys out, you need that and I didn't have it last year, period. And a took a couple foul balls off my shoulder. Instead of getting stronger I was getting weaker. The only thing I felt was pain.''

Molina also credits the pitchers for being quicker to the plate this season. Starters Kevin Appier and Aaron Sele, in their first season with the Angels, are the best at being quick to the plate while still executing their pitches.

``For me to throw guys out, they have to be quick to the plate,'' Molina said. 

``They've been good so far.''

*

At age 90, former Negro League star Buck O'Neil works for the Royals in community relations. O'Neil, who is one of the founders of the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame in Kansas City, played for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1938-55, winning a batting crown in 1946 when he hit .353.

On Wednesday, O'Neil attended a couple of school graduations, one in the afternoon and one at night. He said the question he's asked most by children is: ``What was it like?''

``It was outstanding,'' O'Neil said. ``It was segregated but we still had some of the best athletes in the world.''

O'Neil said his most memorable day came in 1943 on opening day in Memphis, Tenn. He hit for the cycle that day, and that night met a woman, Ora Lee, who became his wife for 51 years.

*

Results of the early balloting for the American League All-Star voting were released Wednesday, but only one Angel was even listed among the leaders. Third baseman Troy Glaus was listed fourth among third basemen, behind Boston's Shea Hillenbrand, the Yankees' Robin Ventura and the A's Eric Chavez.

The results released included the top five from each position except outfield, where the top 15 were listed.

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 28th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 28, 2002

GAME 48 - ANGELS AT ROYALS

KANSAS CITY -- It's official. The Angels have come back to earth.

After winning 21 of 24 games and making the rest of the league take notice, the Angels have now lost three of their past four games, including a 7-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night before 11,773 at Kauffman Stadium.

It also was the Angels' second consecutive loss, something they haven't done since losing to Seattle back-to-back nights on April 22-23. They missed a chance to gain a game on the first-place Mariners, who lost, and remain three games out in the American League West.

The Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead three batters in to the game when Darin Erstad hit a two-run homer and Troy Glaus followed with a solo homer. But Royals starter Paul Byrd (8-2) stifled the Angels bats after that. He didn't allow another Angel to reach second base until Garret Anderson homered with two out in the eighth.

By that time, Angels starter Aaron Sele had blown the lead and put the Angels in a hole. Sele (4-3) gave up seven runs and a season-high 11 hits in five-plus innings. The big inning was the fourth, when Sele gave up five runs and six hits.

``He didn't make that many bad pitches that inning,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``But he didn't hit spots in key times. He wasn't able to change speeds like he had early in the game. Obviously, it affected him.''

Sele's ERA rose to 5.31 and he failed to pitch seven innings for the ninth time in his 10 starts this season. Still, Sele has a winning record, which is more a relection of the offensive support he's received. The Angels have averaged 6.0 runs per game in Sele's starts.

``I don't think I've pitched overly well,'' said Sele, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract before the season. ``At the same time, it doesn't matter because we've been winning games. I've pitched innings and given the team a chance to win. I take it a game at a time and try to get better in between starts.''

Angels catcher Bengie Molina said he has been ``frustrated'' by trying to catch Sele, who throws a fastball, curveball, changeup, slider and cutter.

``For me to catch that guy, it's kind of hard,'' Molina said. ``He can throw any pitch at any time. I try to read his mind but sometimes I get frustrated when he shakes me off, just because I want to be with him.''

Sele had pitched better lately: Going into Tuesday's game, he was 4-0 in his previous five starts. He got through the first three innings Tuesday before the game changed in the fourth.

Sele had been getting ahead in the count with first-pitch fastballs, but in the fourth the Royals adjusted and started swinging early in the count.

Mike Sweeney, Joe Randa and Michael Tucker singled to begin the inning, Sweeney scoring on Tucker's single. After a sacrifice bunt by Mark Quinn, Luis Alicea doubled in two to tie the game at 3.

One out later, Niefi Perez singled home Alicea and Carlos Febles tripled to score Perez for a 5-3 Kansas City lead. The Royals added two more runs in the sixth and knocked Sele out of the game.

``I don't think we're seeing Aaron at his best, or even average production from Aaron Sele,'' Scioscia said. ``This guy is a horse, he will pitch deep into games and do it on a consistent basis. ... The important thing is to pitch ahead in the count and put hitters away. That's where he's had trouble.''

NOTEBOOK

KANSAS CITY -- Pitchers Ramon Ortiz and Scott Schoeneweis flip-flopped their spots in the rotation, with Ortiz scheduled to start tonight's game against the Royals and Schoeneweis to start Thursday in Minnesota against the Twins.

Upon hearing of the switch, Ortiz sought out Angels spanish radio broadcaster Ivan Lara, asking Lara to interview him.

Lara said Ortiz occasionally will ask to be interviewed the day before his start for superstitious reasons. In 1999, Ortiz was interviewed by Lara the day before his major league debut, and Ortiz allowed one run and four hits in eight innings for a victory against the White Sox.

Ever since then, when Ortiz is struggling, he goes to Lara to get himself on the right track. Ortiz has struggled in his past two starts, allowing 11 runs in 13 1/3 innings and giving up seven home runs.

Ortiz, however, refused to talk to reporters Tuesday.

*

Because of Monday's off-day, Ortiz will start tonight's game on his regular four days rest, something he prefers. But the primary reason for the switch had to do with Schoeneweis, who needed additional work between starts with pitching coach Bud Black.

Schoeneweis has struggled in his past two starts, and after his last one he said he was frustrated because he wasn't ``carrying his weight'' for the team.

``There's some mechanical things we've been trying to iron out,'' Black said. ``Throwing once in between starts sometimes isn't enough mound-time to accomplish what you want to accomplish.''

Schoeneweis threw off the mound in workouts Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, and Black said he believes the left-hander has worked through his problems.

``I sense he's in a better frame of mind,'' Black said. ``Obviously, he puts a lot of pressure on himself. All players do. But he wears it on his sleeves more than most. He's pitched a couple years in the big leagues and has higher expectations of what his performance should be.''

*

Shortstop David Eckstein was not in the starting lineup for the sixth consecutive game Tuesday because of a sprained left knee. Eckstein is running and swinging the bat fine, but still needs an extra day or two to make sure the knee is not a problem for him when moving laterally while playing defense.

Eckstein likely will be the designated hitter tonight and likely will rejoin the starting lineup Thursday or Friday in Minnesota.

``You do whatever it takes to be out there but you don't want to take a risk,'' Eckstein said. ``You do what you need to do to make sure it's not a problem the rest of the season.''

*

Utility infielder Benji Gil, recovering from a sprained ankle suffered April 5, is hitting .412 (7 for 17) with two homers in his rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake. Gil might rejoin the team this weekend in Minnesota.

Shawn Wooten, out all season after tearing a ligament in his thumb in spring training, began his rehab assignment for Salt Lake on Tuesday. Wooten will need 1-2 weeks before being activated.

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Update On Last Month Or So In The MLB Fan Cave

By Danny Farris, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

Halo fans! It's May 26th. We have won eight straight. We've got Weaver coming back this week. Our next three series are against the Dodgers, Astros, and Cubs. I literally just ate pizza. Things are going well right now.

I apologize for not keeping everybody up to date on the Fan Cave shenanigans. It's been an incredibly busy and amazing month and a half and it would be impossible for me to break everything down. So instead, I'm going to give you guys my most memorable, disappointing, and surprising moment so far.

Most Memorable:

This one is nearly impossible for me to name. Every player that comes to visit is awesome. They're all engaging and interested and tell funny stories. Every time we have a player visit, we say "alright that was the best one." However, gun to my head and have to pick one, it would be when the Mariners came to the Cave. It was Furbush, Wilhelmsen, Luetge, and Maurer. From the second they walked through the door, they were crazy, loud, joking around, and just in awe of what we do here. After the tour, we invited a bunch of fans in off the street and they got to hang out in here while the four Mariners made them frozen lemonade drinks.

Most Disappointing:

This one is easy. It's when the Rangers sent us their famous ballpark food. The food was amazing. It was an incredibly awesome gesture by them. Mina Park, the Rangers fan, wrote a blog about the food and the next thing we knew, two chefs were here serving us two foot long hot dogs and two pound hamburgers. The disappointing part was when I actually liked the Rangers for like half an hour. I was so upset with myself. I was in food heaven and wasn't thinking clearly. So while I look back on it and remember it as an extremely nice gesture and unbelievable food, it is definitely the most disappointed I've been in the Cave.

Most Surprising:

One of the coolest things about this experience is seeing the "other side" of players. Some players are pretty musically talented and the two that really stuck out were AJ Griffin and Jake Peavy. AJ sang us a song that he literally wrote himself. It was awesome. Jake Peavy is incredibly passionate about music and brought some of his country music buddies to come put on a mini show for us. Peavy can handle a guitar pretty well too. It's just awesome to learn more about just the players on the field.

So that's it for the first six or seven weeks of the Fan Cave. Of course, there has been a ton more and everything has been awesome. Just a couple days ago, Cano came and surprised one of his biggest fans, Nick, a 13 year old with leukemia, while we were all playing stickball in the street. All the videos are on MLBFanCave.com. I will try to update you guys more often. Like every week or every other week or something. Some weeks go by and nothing happens and some weeks go by and we have something everyday. So until the next blog...GO ANGELS!!

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 26th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 26, 2002

GAME 47 - TWINS AT ANGELS

ANAHEIM – The Minnesota Twins banged out 14 hits off four Angels pitchers and came away with a 5-2 victory  before 22,854 at Edison Field.

The Angels had eight hits in the game, but could not come up with the clutch hit, going 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

Angels starter Kevin Appier gave up three runs (two earned) and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings to get the loss, falling to 5-2 this season. Garret Anderson hit his eighth home run of the season for the Angels.

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R.J. Alvarez Interview with AngelsWin.com

Interview Conducted by David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

Alvarez went 9-7 with a 5.17 ERA as a starter in his first two seasons at Florida Atlantic, but shined in the Cape Cod League as a reliever and the Angels were watching as they started R.J.'s professional career in the Orem Owlz bullpen where he posted a 0.53 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Opposing hitters have to face Alvarez's high effort delivery which causes deception to go along with a 95-97 MPH fastball, clocked as high as 100 MPH. Alvarez slider is a true knockout punch to go along with his heater. Alvarez has a changeup, but he didn't use it with the Owlz and may never since he's expected to remain in the bullpen. Alvarez throws across his body and at times it can affects his command.

The Angels sent Alvarez to the Inland Empire 66ers in an effort to move him quickly. So far he's rewarded them with a 3.12 ERA, striking out 24 over 17 1/3 innings, while limiting opposing hitters to a .190 BAA. 

Check out our recent chat with R.J. Alvarez

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 25th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 25, 2002

GAME 46 - TWINS AT ANGELS

ANAHEIM – Tim Salmon’s lead-off home run in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins before 31,820 at Edison Field.

It was supposed to be a day off for Salmon, as Orlando Palmeiro got the start in right field. But Salmon entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh, and ultimately won it in the 13th with his home run on the first pitch of the inning by Twins reliever Jack Cressend.

Angels reliever Al Levine pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings to get the victory. Darin Erstad, Adam Kennedy and Jose Nieves each had two hits for the Angels, who improved to 17-4 in the month of May.

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AngelsWin.com Internet Podcast - Ask The "Experts"

By Geoff Stoddart, AngelsWin.com Director of Social Media

Where do you go when you have a question?  You ask an expert!

Angels fans have lots of questions about this team right now:  "Are they still in it?"  "What should we expect from Weaver upon his return?"  "Is Mike Trout going to beat out Miggy for MVP this year?"   "Am I the only one who wants to jump off a cliff when they hear "Buttercup?"  

These are all valid questions, and they deserve answers!  So we worked to assemble a sophisticated group of experts to answers all your Halo related inquiries.

Unfortunately, our efforts to assemble such a group fell a little short.  So in the absence of actual experts, AngelsWin.com Podcast hosts, Adam Dodge & Geoff Stoddart, along with AngelsWin.com founder, Chuck Richter, said they'd step up and take on the challenge.

On this Sunday's podcast, the boys will be talking Angels baseball and answering your questions.  You can Tweet your questions using the hashtag #AskAWExperts, post a question on our Facebook page or post a question on our board's Fan Forum.  No question is too tough for them to take head on, so ask away!

AngelsWin.com, Ask The "Experts."  Because if we don't know the answer … you can bet we'll make one up!

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 24th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 24, 2002

GAME 45 - TWINS AT ANGELS

ANAHEIM -- Location, location, location.

Angels pitcher Ramon Ortiz can be as dominating as any pitcher in the majors when he is on his game. That means mixing his fastball with his slider and changeup and putting it in the right spot.

Ortiz, though, had trouble hitting those spots on Friday, and the result was three more home runs allowed and a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins before 27,494 at Edison Field.

It snapped the Angels four-game winning streak and marked only their fourth loss since April 23, a stretch of 25 games. It also ended the Angels' eight-game home winning streak.

Ortiz was on the mound for the Angels' last loss, a 10-4 setback to the Chicago White Sox last Saturday. He gave up four homers in that one, meaning he's allowed seven in his past two games for a major league-high 16 homers allowed this season.

Like he did last Saturday, Ortiz got the ball up to the wrong hitters at the wrong time, and it cost him. Even though he allowed only seven hits in 7 1/3 innings Friday, the home runs did enough damage to send the Angels to just their second loss in 14 games.

``He made too many mistakes early in the game,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``He did adjust, and that was a good sign. Every pitcher has periods when his command is not as locked in. Right now he's in a stretch where he's not able to get the ball in good locations early in the game and get his feet on the ground. He's paid the price for it.''

On Ortiz's first pitch of the game, the Twins' Jacque Jones ripped a 90-mph fastball into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead.

``I was trying to throw the ball down and away, but it went over the middle,'' said Ortiz (4-5). ``I didn't think he'd be swinging at the first pitch.''

In the third inning, Jones led off with a single and went to second on a single by Cristian Guzman. Ortiz looked like he might get out of it by getting the next two hitters on flyouts. But on his first pitch to the next batter, Torii Hunter crushed an 84-mph slider to center field for a three-run homer and a 4-0 Twins lead.

``A solo shot, it's OK,'' Ortiz said. ``With people on base, that's no good.''

In the fourth inning, it was A.J. Pierzynski's turn, homering to right field for a 5-0 lead. It was Pierzynski's first homer of the season.

``I'm human,'' Ortiz said. ``Everybody's human. Everybody makes mistakes.''

Ortiz, though, would have had to have been nearly perfect for the Angels to win this one, the way Twins starter Rick Reed pitched. Reed (5-2) baffled the Angels hitters all night, allowing only three hits on his way to a complete game. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Like Ortiz, Reed has had trouble keeping the ball in the park at times. Reed went into the game having allowed 12 homers this season, which ranked behind only Ortiz and Kansas City's Jeff Suppan in the American League.

But Reed kept the Angels hitters off balance all night. Darin Erstad singled in the first inning, but the Angels didn't get another hit until the fifth. That's when Brad Fullmer led off with a home run, his fourth of the season.

The Angels didn't get their third hit until Bengie Molina singled with two out in the eighth.

``He had great control, great command, nothing overpowering,'' Erstad said. ``He just picks you apart.''

Dealing with a loss is not something the Angels have had to do much lately, so Erstad said it will easy to forget about Friday.

``You expect to win every night, regardless of who you're playing,'' Erstad said. ``When we leave here, it's over. Tomorrow's a new day and you turn the page.''

NOTEBOOK

ANAHEIM -- Shortstop Alfredo Amezaga was playing for Salt Lake, the Angels' Triple-A team, in Nashville Thursday night, and in the 10th inning, he got hit by a pitch and went to third on a single.

That's when Stingers manager Mike Brumley, who was coaching third, told Amezaga he was going to Anaheim.

``I started crying on third,'' said Amezaga, who started Friday at shortstop for the Angels in place of the injured David Eckstein. ``When I went out to shortstop the next inning I was still crying. I was hoping no one would hit a ground ball to me because there were tears in my eyes and I couldn't see.''

Amezaga's stay might be short-lived. Eckstein has a sprained left knee and has now missed three games, but he took ground balls Friday for the first time since the injury. He'll probably sit out tonight and Sunday, then get more rest with Monday's off day before returning to the lineup on Tuesday in Kansas City.

``If I get sent down again, who cares?'' Amezaga said. ``But I'm going to enjoy this now. I'll try to be ready if they need me later this season or next season. I wasn't thinking about being here. I was just trying to do my job.''

Amezaga is known for his slick fielding and his speed, not his offense. He's a switch-hitter but only started hitting left handed in 2000. At Salt Lake, he was hitting .235.

``I like it (switch-hitting), but it's a little frustrating,'' he said. ``Sometimes I try to do too much. I'm trying to use my speed and hit the ball the other way. It's not easy, but I'll keep on working.''

If Amezaga can start hitting, he could become the Angels' regular shortstop as early as next season.

``He's a guy we've been talking about for a couple years,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We have a need in the middle (infield). Until we get Eck back, we need some depth.''

Left-handed reliever Mark Lukasiewicz, 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 games, was optioned to Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Amezaga. Even without Lukasiewicz, the Angels have 11 pitchers on the roster.

*

Utility infielder Benji Gil began a rehab assignment at Salt Lake Friday. Gil, out since April 5 with a sprained ankle, will need at least a week and possibly as long as two weeks before he'll be ready to join the big league club.

First baseman/DH Shawn Wooten continues to work out at the club's minor league camp in Mesa, Ariz. but will not begin a rehab assignment until next week. Wooten has been out all season after having surgery on his thumb in March.

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 23rd, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 23, 2002

OFF DAY - NOTEBOOK

ANAHEIM -- Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis enjoyed watching his teammates come back from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Royals, 7-6, on Wednesday night. But there was an element of disappointment, because it was Schoeneweis that put the team in a 5-0 hole.

``We're playing so well as a team, and we're pitching so well as starters,'' Schoeneweis said. ``Pretty much I'm the guy that's not. That's frustrating. I'm not carrying my weight right now.''

Schoeneweis may be right, but he has a tendency to be too hard on himself. While he has had some rough starts, he's also had some good ones. He's given up five runs or more in three of his nine starts. But he's given up three earned runs or fewer in five starts.

Right now, it seems Schoeneweis is looking at the bad ones.

``I don't know ... there are things I need to work on,'' he said. ``I'm really disappointed in my control and command. I'm not making pitches. I turn a 1-2-3 inning into a four-run inning.''

Schoeneweis was referring to the third inning Wednesday. He got the first two batters of the inning, but eventually gave up four in the inning.

``I'm about as frustrated as someone can be with my performance,'' he said. 

``Hopefully I'll have a lot more starts this year. Hopefully, sooner or later I'll figure it out.''

At 3-4, Schoeneweis is the only Angels starter with losing record, and his 5.43 ERA is the worst among the starters.

*

After rallying for their 7-6 victory on Wednesday, there was no blaring music in the Angels' clubhouse. Only minutes after the victory, closer Troy Percival marveled at his teammates' demeanor.

``This team is different than any team I've been on,'' he said. ``Even in '95, we were riding the highs and lows. You come in here now five minutes after the game, and guys are in the weight room and focusing on the next game. I've never seen anything like it.

``You don't see guys getting over-excited about anything. It's just the professionalism (manager Mike) Scioscia brings to it. When we were 6-14, some of us might have been wondering what was happening. But he was the same guy. We still had fun in the clubhouse. The whole time he stayed with us.''

*

The Angels are averaging 22,822 fans per home game this season, down from 23,359 per game at this time last season.

``The big thing is to win,'' Scioscia said. ``If we keep on the course we're on and hopefully get to the playoffs and be perennial contenders, the fan base will be what we want.''

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 22nd, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 22, 2002

GAME 44 - ROYALS AT ANGELS

ANAHEIM – It would have been completely understandable had the Angels lost Wednesday night's game to the Kansas City Royals. After all, a team can't win every night. 

And besides, they had fallen behind 5-0 to the best pitcher no one's heard of in Royals starter Paul Byrd, who entered the game tied for the American League-lead with seven victories.

But Byrd eventually tired and the Angels started scoring. And scoring.

Tim Salmon's two-run homer in the seventh got the Angels going, before a five-run eighth inning pushed the Angels past the Royals for a 7-6 victory before 16,163 at Edison Field.

The big hits in the fateful eighth were Darin Erstad's two-run double, which tied the game at 5, and Garret Anderson's two-run double, which gave the Angels the lead.

Troy Percival pitched the ninth and gave up a run but got his eighth save and the Angels' torrid stretch continued. The win was the Angels' fourth in a row, their 12th in 13 games and their 21st in 24.

Meanwhile in Seattle, the Mariners lost and the Angels moved to within 1 1/2 games of the top spot in the A.L. West, the closest they've been since April 8.

Asked if there was a belief among the players that anything is possible, Percival said: ``If there wasn't before, there is now. ... We've had heart in the past, but this is different. It doesn't matter what inning it is, just give us a chance.''

The Angels got the chance when they started a rally with two out and nobody on in the seventh inning, down 5-0 and seemingly ready to write this one off. Byrd had thoroughly controlled the Angels hitters all night, allowing only two hits when Brad Fullmer came to the plate.

Fullmer got the Angels' third hit of the night with a double to right-center, and Salmon followed with a two-run homer to left field, just inside the foul pole.

``We started to see some light at the end of the tunnel,'' manager Mike Scioscia said of Salmon's homer.

Byrd managed to get the last out in the seventh, but after giving up a single to Jorge Fabregas and a walk to pinch hitter Orlando Palmeiro to start the eighth, Byrd was finished.

The Angels then teed off on Royals reliever Darrell May. May, a lefty, was brought in to face the Angels' left-handed hitters due up, but retired only one of the four he faced.

First, it was Adam Kennedy, who doubled home one run to make it 5-3. Erstad followed with a double into the right-field corner, scoring both Palmeiro and Kennedy to tie the game at 5.

After an intentional walk to Troy Glaus, Anderson followed with another double to the right-field corner, scoring Erstad and Glaus for a 7-5 lead.

``These guys never think they're out of a game,'' Scioscia said. ``They keep grinding to the last out. That element has to be in place for a championship-caliber club.''

While it might have seemed a mere formality that Percival would close it out once the Angels had the lead, the Angels had a noticeably different look on defense in the top of the ninth because Scioscia had sent Palmeiro up to hit for shortstop Jose Nieves.

Because regular shortstop David Eckstein is out with a sprained knee, Scioscia moved Glaus from third base to shortstop. Glaus played shortstop in college at UCLA.

Scioscia also moved first baseman Scott Spiezio to third and Erstad from center field to first base. Erstad wound up making a nice catch on a line drive by Michael Tucker. 

It proved to be a big out because Percival had already given up a double to Luis Alicea and later gave up an RBI single to Raul Ibanez.

``That was incredible,'' Percival said of Erstad's play. ``The guy hasn't played first base all year and he makes that play.''

Percival struck out Neifi Perez and Carlos Febles to end it. Angels reliever Ben Weber, who pitched a perfect eighth inning, got the win.

Angels starter Scott Schoeneweis managed to get through seven innings, but not before giving up the five runs. He gave up only seven hits, but hurt himself by walking five. The big inning was the third, when the Royals put together a four-run rally.

NOTEBOOK

ANAHEIM -- Upon his recent retirement, Jose Canseco estimated that 85 percent of the players in the major leagues have used steroids, a figure at which the Angels' resident fitness expert scoffs.

Angels designated hitter Brad Fullmer takes body-building seriously, so much so that he's appeared in Muscle & Fitness magazine. While he wouldn't deny the possibility that steroid use in the majors exists, he said it was ridiculous that Canseco even guessed.

''I have no idea (what percentage of major leaguers have used steroids),'' Fullmer said. ''I think it's inappropriate for him to speculate. There's certainly no evidence (of Canseco's claims). If he has a beef with teams and the league, I don't know why he's taking it out on the players.''

Major League Baseball does not test for steroids, but as far as Fullmer is concerned, he isn't interested in knowing who's using and who isn't.

''I just mind my own business,'' he said. ''I don't ask and I don't care what other people do.''

*

Shortstop David Eckstein was not in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game Wednesday because of sprained left knee. Eckstein had an MRI exam performed Wednesday, which confirmed the sprain and showed no further damage.

''There was a lot of relief,'' Eckstein said of the MRI results. ''With a knee, you never know. Whenever there's an MRI, you think the worst.''

Eckstein hurt his knee Monday night sliding into first base feet-first while trying to avoid a tag.

''It bugs me that I went in feet-first,'' Eckstein said.

Eckstein started all of the club's first 41 games before missing Tuesday's game.

''I want to do that one of these years,'' Eckstein said of playing in all 162 games. ''There's no way I'd ask of a day off.''

For the second night in a row, Jose Nieves started at shortstop, and second baseman Adam Kennedy took leadoff spot.

*

Utility infielder Benji Gil played seven innings at shortstop during a minor league camp game in Mesa, Ariz. on Wednesday. Gil, out since April 5 with a sprained ankle, is expected to begin a rehab assignment for Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 21st, 2002

Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 21, 2002

GAME 43 - ROYALS AT ANGELS

ANAHEIM – Garret Anderson’s three-run home run in the seventh inning broke open a tight game and led the Angels to a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals before 15,593 at Edison Field.

Anderson’s homer, his seventh of the season, followed an RBI single by Troy Glaus, which snapped a 1-1 tie.

Angels starter Aaron Sele gave up one run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, but got a no-decision. Dennis Cook earned the win in relief for the Angels, who won for the 11^th time in 12 games and moved to within 2 ½ games of first place in the A.L. West.

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Angels Classic Rewind | Dateline: May 20th, 2002

By Joe Haakenson, AngelsWin.com Contributor - 

MAY 20, 2002

GAME 42 - ROYALS AT ANGELS

ANAHEIM – Eight different players had at least one hit and five had at least one RBI as the Angels spread it around and beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, before 14,035 at Edison Field.

Angels starter Kevin Appier threw a serviceable 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits to get the win and improve to 5-1. Four relievers combined to close it out, finishing with Troy Percival, who threw a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Troy Glaus and Scott Spiezio each had two hits as the Angels improved to 25-17 and closed their deficit in the A.L. West to 3 ½ games, the closest they’ve been to the division top spot since April 11.

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Randal Grichuk Tops This Week's AngelsWin.com Prospect Hotlist (May 19, 2013)

By Scott Stedman, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter - 

1. Randal Grichuk, OF, Arkansas Travelers 

Past 10 Games: 13/39 (.333), 5 Doubles, 0 Triples, 3 HRs, 9 Runs, 9 RBIs, 0 SB

Overall: .228/.281/.463 with 6 HRs and 1 SB

What’s Up:  Randal Grichuk is single-handedly proving that the pitcher-friendly Double-A does not always damper power hitter's numbers.  Though it took Grichuk a month or so before the average started to climb, his power remained consistent, leading the team in extra-base hits with 19.  His 1.042 OPS in the last 10 games shows that this extraordinary power does not displays signs of slowing anytime soon.  Grichuk continues to draw parallels to Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur - tremendous power, a plus-plus arm and above average defense, with both of their downfalls being plate discipline.  However, Grichuk's walk rate has increased 1.6% from last season and has much more time to improve as Grichuk is still only 21-years-old.  Of note:  Grichuk's 69 total bases are good for 10th in the Texas League, a testament to his power-speed combination.  The 6'1" outfielder definitely has a chance at getting a look on the Angels in September if he can keep this play up.

2. Zach Borenstein, OF, Inland Empire 66ers

Past 10 Games: 17/39 (.436), 4 Doubles, 1 Triples, 2 HRs, 6 Runs, 6 RBIs, 0 SB

Overall: .345/.380/.690 with 12 HRs and 4 SB

What’s Up: Zach Borenstein just will not cool down.  This is Borenstein's 3rd consecutive week on the AngelsWin prospect hotlist - and for good reason.  This week, the 22-year-old's OPS was 1.207, bringing his total OPS to 1.070; incredible.  Borenstein leads the California League in home runs, total bases, slugging percentage, among others.  When he is going right, Borenstein has quick hands from the left side and drives the ball with authority to all fields, similar to that of Kole Calhoun.  On the bases and in the outfield, Borenstein is average to slightly above average, but his potential with the bat makes up for any shortcomings he may have.  Breaking from the Angels' norms, Borenstein actually thrives with runners in scoring position - hitting .410.  That is a true breath of fresh air.  However, only 2 home runs in the past 5 games? Unacceptable.  

3. Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Arkansas Travelers

Past 10 Games: 12/36 (.333), 2 Doubles, 0 Triples, 3 HRs, 6 Runs, 6 RBIs, 0 SB

Overall: .236/.292/.414 with 6 HRs and 2 SB

What’s Up: Raise your hand if you thought Taylor Lindsey would be leading the Arkansas Travelers in home runs in mid-May.  And not only is Lindsey showing some serious power, his walk rate has increased by over 3%.  The 21-year-old second baseman has an unorthodox coil/spring-like swing but he encompasses some of the best hand-eye coordination in the organization.  Former Angels Scouting Director Eddie Bane goes so far as to say that Lindsey is the best hitter in the Angels minor leagues - above Cowart and Cron.  Defensively, Lindsey has some question marks, just as Howie Kendrick did coming up through the system, but he figures to get better as he gets more playing time under his belt.  Lindsey is also in that group of players who may get some playing time with the Angels in September if his numbers with the Travs' continue to improve. 

4. Michael Snyder, 1B/3B, Inland Empire 66ers

Past 10 Games: 11/37 (.297), 1 Double, 1 Triple, 4 HR, 8 Runs, 7 RBIs, 0 SB

Overall: .276/.327/.506 with 8 HR and 0 SB

What’s Up:  Borenstein and Snyder have proved to be a helluva 4-5 punch in the 66ers lineup this season.  Snyder, a big-bodied former third-baseman was selected by the Halos in the 23rd round of the 2012 draft and immediately had a solid season with the Orem Owlz which earned him the 22nd spot on AngelsWin's prospect list.  Snyder's most impressive tool is his power which could potentially be as high as a 60-65 on the 20-80 scouting scale as seen by his 10 doubles and 8 home runs already this season.  Snyder is very quiet at the plate and has a natural gap to gap stroke.  Defensively, Snyder is currently below average at first and profiles to be a future DH.  With his bat, though, Snyder could be attractive to many teams if he can't find his way passed the glut of first basemen on the Angels.

5. Abel Baker, C, Inland Empire 66ers 

Past 10 Games: 14/34 (.412), 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 HR, 4 Runs, 5 RBIs, 0 SB

Overall: .316/.359/.491 with 1 HR and 0 SB

What’s Up:  Abel Baker just continues to hit.  He came into the year as simply the backup catcher to Zach Wright, but because of his stick, Baker has thrust himself into the lineup on a regular basis.  Coming into the year, defense was supposed to be the 22-year-old's strong suit, and it still is, but the emergence of the bat is exciting to say the least.  Personally, I have had Baker at a 1.81 pop time, which is very advanced.  He also moves freely behind the plate and is quick on his feet.  He is definitely the type of catcher that Mike Scioscia prefers.  Although Baker does not produce much power at the plate, he is patient as could one day be a .270-.280 hitter in the big leagues. 

Affiliate Reports:

Salt Lake Bees:  The Bees went 4-2 this week staying in 3rd place in their division.  Veteran Brad Hawpe continues to swing a very hot bat, getting on base about 41% of the time.  Efren Navarro is also having a great season, with an OPS well above .900.  Of note: Kole Calhoun was activated off the DL on Sunday, going 2-5 in his first game back.  Reliever Ty Kelley is joining the squad after an impressive season with the 66ers thus far.  

Arkansas Travelers:  Arkansas had an incredible week, going 6-1 and catapulting them into first place.  This is due in the large part to the big hitters, Grichuk, Lindsey, Cron, etc. starting to actually hit.  Nick Maronde has a 2.70 ERA in his last 10 games with 23 strikeouts.  Catcher Jett Bandy was swinging an extremely hot bat before going on the DL with a bruised elbow.  

Inland Empire 66ers: Just like the Bees, the 66ers went 4-2 this week.  They currently lead their division by a game and a half.  Reliever Mike Morin is stupid good.  29 Ks/2BBs with a 1.80 ERA and WHIP well below 1.  I highly doubt he is in IE much longer.  Mark Sappington continues to plug away, with his ERA hovering around 2 and K/9 around 9.  

Burlington Bees: Burlington endured a tough week with a 3-5 record and playing a doubleheader, falling to the cellar in the division at 15-24. Eduard Santon, a 23-year-old pitcher has 32 Ks in just 26 innings.  1B/3B Michael Bolaski is hitting .371 in his past 10 games.  He is just 21-years-old and has the potential to be a breakout prospect.  

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