April 7, 2017
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Clips
(April 7, 2017)
April 7, 2017
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Today’s Clips Contents
FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels fall to Oakland Athletics, 5-1, but Tyler Skaggs is encouraged by his start

Outfielder Ben Revere, a presence in Angels' clubhouse, gets a hit in his first start
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 5)

Angels player Yunel Escobar leases Newport Coast house for $14,000 a month

One rough inning dooms Tyler Skaggs in Angels' loss to A’s

Angels Notes: Garrett Richards to be evaluated on Friday
FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 9)

Richards undergoing MRI on right bicep

Angels drop finale in Skaggs' first start

Skaggs takes positives from rough outing

Chavez opens season in Halos’ home opener

Ramirez utilizing curveball in expanded role
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 14)
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Angels hope to boost home record, starting in opener vs M's

Angels face Mariners in home opener
FROM THE DAILY JOURNAL (Page 17)

Mike Trout officially ‘big screen’ star
April 7, 2017
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FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
Angels fall to Oakland Athletics, 5-1, but Tyler Skaggs is encouraged by his start
By Pedro Moura
Always a top prospect, Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs reached the major leagues one month after he
turned 21. Starting a major league game is not new to him.
Yet since he underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2014, it has become anything but
routine. On Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum, Skaggs made only his 11th start in the last 33 months. It
was an imperfect effort in the Angels’ 5-1 loss to the Athletics, but one that encouraged him.
“It was fun,” Skaggs said. “Besides the third inning, everything was really good.”
Skaggs alternated notching strikeouts and doling out walks to the first four batters he faced, then
induced a flyout from Ryon Healy to escape the first inning. He retired the side in order in the second
before the troublesome third, which coincided with the day’s heaviest rain.
Adam Rosales jumped a first-pitch fastball and singled to right-center. After Rajai Davis popped out in
foul ground, Marcus Semien slapped a single to center, and the ball scooted along the wet grass past
Mike Trout’s glove. Semien scampered to third base and scored on a sacrifice fly. With a runner on first
base after a walk, Healy approached the plate.
Skaggs’ first pitch to the Encino Crespi High graduate was a ball. Healy whacked the second pitch, a
fastball, some 430 feet to left field for a two-run home run.
“I wanted it outside,” Skaggs said. “It was right down the middle.”
At that point, Skaggs said, he instructed himself to channel the anger that he felt into his pitching. He
retired seven consecutive Athletics.
“It’s one of those things where I’ve gotta pitch frustrated, I’ve gotta pitch mad,” he said.
Skaggs continued into the sixth, in which a Khris Davis double and a run-scoring single by Trevor
Plouffe brought his removal. Skaggs exited after 89 pitches, having struck out five, walked three, and
allowed five runs.
“There were definitely some highlights and some things that got away from him,” manager Mike
Scioscia said. “All in all, the stuff looked good. He lost some counts and the walks didn’t help, but the
stuff is there.”
The Angels faced Oakland right-hander Andrew Triggs, a 28-year-old with a USC business degree, a funky
delivery and a penchant for throwing low sinkers. He walked two more men than he struck out, but
limited hard contact.
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With two outs in the second inning, Andrelton Simmons poked a single into right-center field. He has
appeared especially determined on the basepaths in this season’s first week, and he took off at a brisk
pace Thursday. When Oakland right fielder Mark Canha bobbled the baseball, Simmons tried for second
and reached it safely, sliding headfirst.
Triggs then walked Cliff Pennington, who was making his first start of the season at second base in place
of Danny Espinosa. Catcher Carlos Perez, also making his first start, flied out to end the inning.
The Angels put up their lone run in the next inning, when Yunel Escobar singled and took second on a
Rajai Davis error, third on a Kole Calhoun groundout, and home on an Albert Pujols groundout.
The Angels generated only five hits, none for extra bases. But through the four games they split with
Oakland, the bigger concern is the starting rotation. The Angels’ top pitchers all failed to finish six
innings after an offseason in which Scioscia said the key to the season was to find more quality starts.
They have not located them yet.
“We’ve got confidence in our rotation,” Scioscia said, “but they’re going to have to do a better job to get
a little deeper into games.”
Outfielder Ben Revere, a presence in Angels' clubhouse, gets a hit in his first start
By Pedro Moura
As the rain came down before Thursday’s game at the Oakland Coliseum, Angels outfielder Ben
Revere emerged from the visitors’ dugout, hopped up the steps to the field, and walked toward the
batting cages beyond the outfield.
“Day 1, baby,” Revere said. “Day 1.”
It was not opening day, but it was his first start of the season, and that was cause for his good mood.
Revere pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth inning on opening day, as the potential tying run. He
grounded out.
On Thursday, he singled once in four at-bats in the Angels’ 5-1 loss to the Athletics.
Though it’s unclear how often Revere will play behind left fielder and fellow offseason
acquisition Cameron Maybin, his presence looms large in the clubhouse, belying his 5-foot-9 frame.
Already, he has proved to be vocal and inclusive, regularly singing along to the pop songs that fill the
airspace in modern baseball clubhouses. He shows his teammates funny videos he finds on his phone.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said all spring that he would find ways to pencil Revere into his lineup.
“If you look at where Ben’s gonna get starts, he’s gonna get his share,” Scioscia said Thursday. “Today’s
a good day to just get him in there and get him some at-bats.”
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Scioscia said Oakland starter Andrew Triggs’ split-finger pitches favored left-handed hitters, but that was
not the sole reason he elected to start Revere.
”The configuration of our bench is different than it’s been in the last couple years,” Scioscia said. “We
have guys who could be playing every day and need to play some. We’re going to use them accordingly,
to keep some guys fresher in our lineup and also keep the guys on the bench fresh to where they can
contribute.”
Richards to undergo MRI
Right-hander Garrett Richards will undergo an MRI examination Friday in Southern California after he
exited his 2017 debut Wednesday with what was diagnosed as a right biceps cramp.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler said the exam is for precautionary purposes. Scioscia had said after
Wednesday’s game that there were no plans for Richards to undergo an MRI.
A year ago, Richards was diagnosed with dehydration after prematurely exiting a start in Texas. Four
days later, the team revealed he had a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.
Richards opted to repair the tear with a stem-cell injection rather than ligament replacement surgery,
and Wednesday marked his regular-season return from the treatment.
“They’re confident this is not connected to his other situation last year,” Scioscia said Thursday.
Richards’ next scheduled start is on Tuesday at Angel Stadium against Texas.
Short hops
The Angels expect first baseman Luis Valbuena to begin running on the field next week. Valbuena
suffered a hamstring injury in March and is expected back until around the end of this month. … Righthander JC Ramirez was not available out of the bullpen Thursday after he logged eight outs in relief the
night before. “If a guy is pitching into a third inning and needs two days of rest, that’s still a plus,”
Scioscia said. “You’re saving two guys from pitching in that game.”
FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
.
Angels player Yunel Escobar leases Newport Coast house for $14,000 a month
By Marilyn Kalfus
Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar has leased a four-bedroom house in Newport Coast at $14,000 a
month.
Built in 2000, the upgraded, Tuscan style house is set in a guard-gated community and entered through
a private courtyard.
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The two-story house, with 4,258 square feet of living space, includes a gourmet kitchen equipped with
Viking appliances and a butler's pantry. The home has a library, and the roomy master suite boasts a
fireplace, walk-in cedar closet and a terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In addition, there's a
detached casita.
Interior touches include Venetian plaster walls, handcrafted molding and stone details, according to
the listing by Vince Nguyen of Vince International Properties.
In the backyard are a travertine, saltwater pool and spa, along with a custom waterfall, wood-burning
fireplace and a Viking barbecue.
Mark Handler of Rodeo Realty represented Escobar, according to the Multiple Listing Service.
Escobar, 34, began his pro baseball career in 2005, and reached the majors in 2007. In addition to the
Angels, he has played with the Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington
Nationals.
In 2004, Escobar underwent a harrowing trip in a 32-foot boat to defect from Cuba. Last month, he
traveled to Miami to take a citizenship test, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said at the time.
“Especially with his background of how he got to this country, he feels connected with it and wants to
become a U.S. citizen,” Scioscia said
One rough inning dooms Tyler Skaggs in Angels' loss to A's
By Jeff Fletcher
OAKLAND — Tyler Skaggs’ first start of 2017 was a little like Tyler Skaggs’ major league career.
At times, Skaggs was dominant, showing all the reasons the Angels think he could be a top-of-therotation starter.
At times, he wasn’t, showing all the reasons he remains one of the rotation’s enigmas.
In the end, Skaggs gave up five runs — four in one inning — in the Angels’ 5-1 loss to the Oakland A’s
on Thursday afternoon.
“There were definitely some highlights and some things that got away from him,” Manager Mike
Scioscia said. “All in all, the stuff looked good. He lost some counts and the walks didn’t help, but the
stuff is there.”
That is a fair description of Skaggs’ entire 42-start body of the work in the majors. This is a guy who can
at times dominate, like the eye-opening game he pitched last summer in Kansas City in his first big
league outing after missing nearly two years because of Tommy John surgery. He tossed seven
scoreless innings, allowing just three hits.
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In Skaggs’ first two starts last year, he didn’t give up any runs. In the next four, he had a 9.68 ERA. In
the last four, he had a 1.83 ERA.
On Thursday afternoon, Skaggs began the day with two scoreless innings. Although he walked two in
the first inning, he also struck out two. Then he tacked on a brisk, perfect second.
In the third, as rain began to fall at the Coliseum, he gave up a first-pitch single to Adam Rosales.
“Then I was rushing a little bit out of the stretch, and I let some pitches get away from me,” Skaggs
said.
The one that cost him the most was a fastball to Ryon Healy, who crushed it 430 feet, beyond the leftfield fence for a two-run homer that put the A’s up, 4-1. On a day the Angels couldn’t do anything with
A’s righty Andrew Triggs, that was the ballgame.
“I wanted it outside, but it was right down the middle,” Skaggs said.
The good news, though, was that Skaggs got angry with himself after that pitch and, he said, it made
him pitch much better. He retired the next seven hitters and still lasted 5-1/3 innings on 89 pitches.
“I’ve got to pitch mad,” he said. “I was attacking the hitters. I think I was trying to be a little too fine in
the third inning, especially after the guy got on. I need to pitch to my strengths and not to their
strengths.”
Perhaps, then, the silver lining out of this cloudy day in Oakland is that Skaggs, still just 25 and looking
for his first full season in the majors, learned another lesson in the quest for consistency.
That he was able to collect himself well enough to get into the sixth was significant, because the Angels
starters have left plenty of work for the bullpen through the first four games of the season.
No Angel starter has finished six innings yet, which is obviously not a trend that can continue if the
team hopes to be successful.
“We’ve got confidence in our rotation, but they’re going to have to do a better job to get a little deeper
into games,” Scioscia said. “Once we can get there, that’ll help get our bullpen where we need to be on
a nightly basis.”
Angels Notes: Garrett Richards to be evaluated on Friday
By Jeff Fletcher
OAKLAND — A day after Garrett Richards gave the Angels a scare when he came out of a game with
cramping in his biceps, he was scheduled for a precautionary MRI on Friday in Southern California.
Although such tests are sometimes ominous, the Angels are still hoping that Richards does not have
any serious injury.
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“Our medical staff is going to look into things,” Manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday morning. “They
are confident this isn’t connected to his other situation last year. We’ll wait for guidance. (Friday) he’ll
be evaluated and have some tests done to see what’s going on.”
Richards tore his ulnar collateral ligament last year, following a start in which he was initially diagnosed
with dehydration. He had stem-cell therapy and appeared to bounce back to full strength this spring.
He had not allowed a run when he came out of Wednesday night’s game in the fifth inning.
Richards’ next turn in the rotation would be Tuesday. Because the Angels are off Monday, they could
skip him and push him back, perhaps all the way to next Saturday.
“We’re going to wait and see what the medical staff decides as far as where he is,” Scioscia said. “At
least you want him to throw a power (bullpen) to make sure he’s good.”
Richards said after Wednesday’s game that he’s not concerned. Scioscia said he actually wanted to stay
in the game.
READY TO GO
Jesse Chavez will be making his first regular-season start in an Angels uniform on Friday, and he'll do so
amid the pageantry of the home opener. For Chavez, an Inland Empire native, he's particularly excited
for the assignment.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “It’ll be great.”
Chavez said he’s never started an opener or any other game with that type of pregame hoopla, but he
figures if he simply starts his routine about five or 10 minutes later than usual, he’ll be fine.
ALSO
Ben Revere, Cliff Pennington and Carlos Perez all got their first starts of the young season in Thursday
afternoon’s game. Scioscia said he will try to get regular starts for his bench players, since some of
them — specifically Revere — are used to playing every day. “We have guys who can play every day
and need to play some,” Scioscia said. “We’re going to use them accordingly to keep some guys fresher
in our lineup, and keep the guys on the bench fresh to where they can contribute.” ...
J.C. Ramirez bailed out the bullpen by working through eight outs late in Wednesday’s game. “One of
the important features of our bullpen is the multi-inning look,” Scioscia said before Thursday’s game.
“The last three nights we got 17 outs from Ricky (Nolasco), 15 from (Matt) Shoemaker and 14 from
Garrett. That could really decimate a ’pen if it wasn’t for what J.C. did yesterday.” Yusmeiro Petit
performed a similar service on Thursday, with two perfect innings of relief. ...
Blake Parker struck out both batters he faced on Thursday. Parker has five strikeouts in two innings so
far this season, after striking out 24 in 12-1/3 innings in the spring. ...
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Mike Trout made an error when a ball scooted past him in the outfield on Thursday. Scioscia said the
outfield grass was wet from the rain, and that probably contributed. A’s outfielders made two errors
when they had trouble picking up balls after they hit the ground. ...
The Angels’ first replay challenge of the season didn’t go their way, despite the fact that from the
angles shown on television they seemed to be correct. Revere was called out on a force at second to
end the sixth inning. Had the Angels won their challenge, they would have had the bases loaded and
the potential tying run at the plate. ...
Luis Valbuena, who is out with a strained hamstring, has been running on an Ultra G treadmill and
hitting in the cage, Scioscia said. He is expected to be able to run on the field next week. Valbuena is
not expected to be back in the lineup until late April or early May.
FROM ANGELS.COM
.
Richards undergoing MRI on right bicep
Angels starter exited Wednesday's start with cramping
By Maria Guardado / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- Angels right-hander Garrett Richards will undergo a precautionary MRI on Friday in
Anaheim, general manager Billy Eppler said after Thursday's 5-1 loss to the A's.
Richards departed his start against the A's on Wednesday after experiencing right biceps cramping in the
fifth inning. Richards, who had tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings, later said he wasn't concerned about the
issue.
Richards was making his first Major League start since May 1, 2016. The 28-year-old ace missed nearly
all of last season after suffering a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, though he opted for a stem-cell
injection, rather than Tommy John surgery, to attempt to heal his damaged right elbow.
Manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday that the Angels will wait for Richards to be examined by team
doctors before deciding whether he'll make his next start Tuesday against the Rangers.
"I think our medical staff is going to look into things," Scioscia said. "They're confident this isn't
connected to his other situation last year, so we'll wait for guidance. Tomorrow, he'll be evaluated and
probably have some tests done to see what's going on. But Garrett is comfortable when he talks about
it, so hopefully this is just a little bump in the road.”
Angels drop finale in Skaggs' first start
By Maria Guardado and Alex Espinosa / MLB.com
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OAKLAND -- Ryon Healy crushed a two-run home run off Tyler Skaggs to cap a four-run outburst in the
third inning, leading the A's to a 5-1 victory over the Angels in Thursday afternoon's finale at the
Oakland Coliseum, which salvaged a split of the season-opening four-game series.
With light rain drizzling on the field, Adam Rosales hit a leadoff single to ignite the big inning, and he
later scored from first when Mike Trout misplayed Marcus Semien's single to center field. Semien raced
to third on the play and then came home on Khris Davis' sacrifice fly to put the A's ahead, 2-1. Healy
subsequently delivered the biggest blow of the inning, blasting a 1-0 fastball from Skaggs halfway up the
left-field bleachers for his second home run of the season.
Healy's shot had an exit velocity of 107 mph and traveled an estimated 430 feet, according to Statcast™.
"The ball does make a little bit different sound off his bat," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "You watch
him on a day-to-day basis and you see him take batting practice and how seriously he takes his work,
pre and leading up to the game, it gives him confidence."
Oakland extended its lead to 5-1 in the sixth after Davis doubled and scored on Trevor Plouffe's RBI
single to center.
The A's offense backed a solid effort from starter Andrew Triggs, who allowed one run (unearned) on
four hits with three walks and one strikeout over 5 2/3 innings in his season debut.
"It was about getting my fastball command a little bit more honed in as things got along going there,"
Triggs said. "That inning by us was absolutely huge, with Healy really breaking it open."
The Angels scored their lone run in the third with the help of an error by center fielder Rajai Davis, who
fumbled a leadoff single from Yunel Escobar, allowing the Angels' third baseman to take second
base. Albert Pujols later plated Escobar with a run-scoring groundout to second, briefly giving the Halos
a 1-0 lead.
Skaggs was uneven in his first regular-season outing for the Angels, giving up five runs on five hits in 5
1/3 innings. The 25-year-old southpaw, who dealt with shoulder fatigue during Spring Training but was
cleared to open the season in the rotation, issued three walks and struck out five in the 89-pitch outing.
The Angels have yet to have a starter get through six innings in their first four games of the season.
"We've got confidence in our rotation, but they're going to do a little better job to get deeper into
games," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "Once we can get there, that will help to get our
bullpen where we need to be on a nightly basis. But I think there's some things that we know have to
develop as we move forward to the season. The first four games, I think some guys are settling, and
hopefully getting into their game. I think we'll start to see some improvements in those areas."
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Shutdown inning: In recent years, the A's have had trouble closing the door on opponents after posting
a big inning. Triggs had no such problems Thursday. After Oakland broke the game open with four runs
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in the third, Triggs came out in the top of the fourth and delivered a 1-2-3 inning, part of a stretch where
he retired 10 straight Angels.
"It was big," Triggs said of his nine-pitch frame. "Obviously, putting up the zero. But also, doing it in
reasonably efficient fashion, after having thrown quite a few pitches in the first, second and third. That
was a nice boost on my end to keep the pitch count down."
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Thursday's game was the first in MLB history to feature two pitchers -- Skaggs and Triggs -- with a last
name ending in "ggs," according to an Angels spokesman.
REPLAY REVIEW
Angels manager Mike Scioscia unsuccessfully challenged a call in the top of the sixth inning, after Ben
Revere was thrown out at second base on a close play to end the frame. With two outs and two
on, Andrelton Simmons grounded a ball to shortstop Semien, who flipped it to second for a quick force
out. After reviewing the bang-bang play, crew chief Ted Barrett confirmed the out call. Instead of having
the bases loaded, the Angels had to take the field for the bottom of the inning.
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: The Angels return to Southern California to host the Mariners in their home opener Friday night
at Angel Stadium. Right-hander Jesse Chavez, a free-agent addition who earned a spot in the Halos'
rotation after posting a 3.06 ERA this spring, will make his season debut. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07
p.m. PT.
Athletics: The A's will hit the road for their first time this season, starting a three-game series in Texas
on Friday (5:05 p.m. PT) before heading to Kansas City. Young right-hander Raul Alcantara is set to make
his season debut after securing the No. 5 spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. Alcantara went 1-1
with a 4.63 ERA in two starts against the Rangers last September.
Skaggs takes positives from rough outing
Angels lefty allows five runs in first start of season
By Maria Guardado / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- There were some positives to take away from Tyler Skaggs' first start of the regular season,
but the Angels left-hander was doomed by a four-run third inning in a 5-1 loss to the A's in Thursday's
series finale at Oakland Coliseum.
Skaggs took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings, striking out
five.
"I think there were definitely some highlights in there, and some things that got away from him, but all
in all, stuff looked good," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He lost some counts and obviously the walks
didn't help, but the stuff was there."
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Skaggs blanked the A's through the first two innings before running into trouble in the third. Adam
Rosales led off the inning with a first-pitch single to right field, setting the table for the A's offensive
eruption.
"After that, I was rushing a little bit out of the stretch and I let some pitches get away from me," Skaggs
said.
Following Rosales' single, Skaggs surrendered a single, a walk and a sacrifice fly. But the biggest blow
came when the 25-year-old southpaw threw a 1-0 fastball to Ryon Healy, who pummeled it into the leftfield bleachers for a two-run homer, putting Oakland ahead, 4-1. Skaggs said he wanted to throw the
pitch outside, but he ended up leaving it over the middle of the plate.
"I wish I had [it] back, but it's part of the game," Skaggs said.
After allowing Healy's homer, Skaggs settled in and retired seven in a row, until he gave up a leadoff
double to Khris Davis in the sixth. Skaggs was then lifted after allowing a one-out RBI single to Trevor
Plouffe.
"It was just one of those things where I have to pitch frustrated," Skaggs said. "I have to pitch mad. I was
attacking the hitters. I think I was trying to be a little too fine in the third inning, especially after a guy
got on. And I just need to pitch to my strengths and not their strengths."
Chavez opens season in Halos’ home opener
By Maria Guardado
The Angels will open their 2017 home slate Friday night when they host the Mariners for the first
regular-season game at Angel Stadium.
Jesse Chavez will take the mound for the Halos in their home opener opposite Seattle's Yovani Gallardo.
Both right-handers will be making their season debut.
Prior to the game, the U.S. Army Color Guard will be introduced, and it will unfurl a 300-foot American
flag in the outfield. The U.S. Air Force is also expected to fly over the stadium with a C-17 aircraft. Angels
Hall of Fame pitcher Chuck Finley will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Halos athletic trainer Rick
Smith.
Chavez, 33, signed a one-year, $5.75 million deal with the Angels in the offseason, then earned a spot in
their rotation after posting a 3.06 ERA with 14 strikeouts and no walks over five Spring Training starts.
He spent the 2016 season working out of the bullpen for the Blue Jays and Dodgers, logging a 4.43 ERA
over 67 innings. Chavez has not been in a starting rotation since 2015, when he started 26 games for the
A's.
Chavez is winless in 17 career games (seven starts) against the Mariners, going 0-6 with a 5.84 ERA.
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Gallardo is entering his first season with Seattle after being acquired from the Orioles in exchange for
outfielder Seth Smith in January. The 31-year-old veteran recorded a 5.42 ERA over 118 innings in an
injury-shortened season for Baltimore last year. He also endured a rough spring, posting a 7.47 ERA over
five exhibition starts.
Gallardo has a 7.00 ERA in two career starts against the Angels, allowing seven runs over nine innings.
Three things to know about this game
• One trend to watch with Gallardo is his velocity, which declined across the board with Baltimore last
year, when his ERA climbed by two runs. Each of Gallardo's five pitches lost velocity, including his twoseam fastball (91.3 mph to 90.7 mph) and four-seam fastball (91.4 mph to 91.1 mph). His opponents'
average exit velocity also rose from 88.6 to 89.6 mph, according to Statcast.
• Mariners sluggers Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz have tormented Chavez in the past. Cano is batting
.455 (10-for-22) with two doubles and four RBIs, while Cruz is hitting .429 (6-for-14) with three homers
and seven RBIs against the Angels right-hander.
• Angels first baseman Albert Pujols has given Gallardo trouble, owning a .438 (14-for-32) career batting
average against Gallardo, with four home runs and 12 RBIs.
Ramirez utilizing curveball in expanded role
Angels reliever notched win in relief Wednesday
By Maria Guardado
OAKLAND -- It was overshadowed by Garrett Richards' injury scare, but JC Ramirez's relief performance
was one of the bright spots of the Angels' 5-0 win over the A's on Wednesday at Oakland Coliseum.
After Richards exited the game in the fifth inning with biceps cramping, Ramirez later entered in the
sixth and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings to protect a five-run lead, sparing the Halos from using much of
their bullpen.
The Angels tried Ramirez as a starter this spring, but they had no room for him in their rotation. He
opened the regular season in the bullpen, where he is expected to work as a multi-inning reliever.
Given the workload restrictions that some of their top starters will be facing this year, the Halos stocked
their relief corps with several pitchers who are capable of pitching more than one inning, including
Ramirez, Bud Norris, Blake Parker and Yusmeiro Petit.
"I think one of the important features of our bullpen is the multi-inning look," manager Mike Scioscia
said. "The other side is these guys need a little more time to recover when they're going two-plus
innings. But it certainly gives you an opportunity to maybe use one less pitcher on a given night. The last
three nights, if you look at it, we got 17 outs from Ricky [Nolasco] and 15 from [Matt Shoemaker] and 14
from Garrett. That could really decimate a 'pen if it wasn't for what JC did yesterday."
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Ramirez added a curveball to his arsenal this spring to help him transition to starting, and Scioscia said
he still expects the 28-year-old right-hander to deploy the pitch during relief outings in conjunction with
his fastball and slider.
"It's a different depth pitch than his slider," Scioscia said. "I think the change of velocity is important.
He's used it and been successful with it. I think when you combine the three, I think it gives him a lot of
different things he can do on the mound, as far as changing depth and velocity."
Ramirez was unavailable for Thursday's series finale against the A's after throwing 38 pitches
Wednesday. Scioscia said he isn't sure if Ramirez will be able to recover from multi-inning outings on
one day of rest.
"We'll see," Scioscia said. "If it takes two days, it takes two days. If a guy is pitching into a third inning
and needs two days' rest, it's still a plus. He's still saving two guys from pitching in that game. We'll see
when he can bounce back."
Worth noting
• Scioscia said Richards is still scheduled to be evaluated by the Angels' medical staff when they return
to Anaheim, following the conclusion of their series with the A's. The Halos will wait to see the results of
the examination before deciding whether Richards will make his next start against the Rangers on
Tuesday.
• Luis Valbuena (strained right hamstring) has started running on an anti-gravity treadmill and has been
hitting in the batting cage. The Angels expect him to start running on the field this weekend.
• Catcher Carlos Perez, infielder Cliff Pennington and outfielder Ben Revere all made their season debut
Thursday against the A's.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Angels hope to boost home record, starting in opener vs M's
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Arte Moreno confirmed during spring training that his Los Angeles Angels will
call their current stadium home for at least the next 13 seasons.
Now it's time to see whether the owner's team can regain its home-field advantage at Angel Stadium.
The Angels open their home schedule on Friday night against the AL West rival Seattle Mariners, kicking
off a six-game homestand. Los Angeles split a four-game series at Oakland to open the season.
Moreno said he doesn't think it's possible to build a new stadium before at least 2030, when the
billionaire would be well into his mid-80s. The Angels are sticking with the majors' fourth-oldest
ballpark, which has been well-maintained in its advanced age.
April 7, 2017
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Fans keep coming to the Big A, including 3 million of them last year for the 14th consecutive season. The
Angels have the second-longest active streak of 3 million fans in the game, behind only the Yankees' 18year streak.
Los Angeles has done it despite Moreno's geographical franchise name change and despite the Angels'
profound struggles last season. They finished 74-88 for the worst record of manager Mike Scioscia's 17
seasons.
The Angels went just 40-41 at home last season, the fourth-worst mark in the AL and a stark decline
from the previous two seasons. The Angels won 49 games at home in 2015 and a majors-best 52 in
2014, when they finished with the best overall record in baseball.
Angel Stadium is a famously pitcher-friendly ballpark, and the Angels' starting pitching was their greatest
weakness last season. Thanks to innumerable injuries, including three season-ending elbow ligament
tears, the Angels used an AL-high 15 starting pitchers in 2016 — and that doesn't include C.J. Wilson,
who made $20 million in base salary and didn't throw a pitch in a game because of injury.
Despite those problems, the Angels' pitching staff actually hung in admirably for most of the season:
With injury issues extending to the bullpen, the club allowed only 10 more runs than it scored.
While the Angels wait warily for the results of a precautionary MRI on right-hander Garrett Richards ,
Jesse Chavez will make his Angels debut on Friday night against the Mariners. The 33-year-old righthander has been a reliever for all but two seasons of his peripatetic career, but the Angels have given
him a starting turn and a chance to solidify the back of their rotation.
Chavez was the only free agent pitcher signed in the offseason by general manager Billy Eppler, who
used much of his available cap space to shore up the two biggest problem areas in the Angels' lineup:
second base and left field.
Danny Espinosa also is expected to make his Anaheim debut with the Angels. The second baseman grew
up down the road in Santa Ana and attended countless games with his father, an Angels season-ticket
holder.
Angels face Mariners in home opener
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels will open their home schedule Friday night against the Seattle
Mariners; but, before they take the field, they likely will be holding their collective breath throughout
the day.
That's because Garrett Richards, their best starting pitcher, will undergo a "precautionary" MRI on his
right biceps on Friday morning. Richards left Wednesday's game against Oakland after 4 2/3 scoreless
innings because of what was initially diagnosed as biceps cramping.
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It was Richards' first start since May 1 of last year, when he left the game in Texas and later was found
to have a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Richards opted against Tommy John
surgery and underwent stem cell therapy instead.
The treatment seemed to work, and Richards was able to return to the mound in spring training instead
of having the typical 18-month recovery period expected after Tommy John surgery.
Richards and the Angels are hoping for good news with Friday's tests.
"Our medical staff is going to look into things," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com. "They're
confident this isn't connected to his other situation last year, so we'll wait for guidance. He'll be
evaluated and probably have some tests done to see what's going on. But Garrett is comfortable when
he talks about it, so hopefully this is just a little bump in the road."
The Mariners have ace issues of their own, with right-hander Felix Hernandez being forced out of his
Opening Day start Monday after five innings because of a tight groin. Mariners manager Scott Servais
said Hernandez will make his next scheduled start, Saturday against the Angels.
"He's in a pretty good rhythm right now," Servais told MLB.com. "He feels good about his delivery and
he wants to stay with that."
In the meantime, the Angels will send Jesse Chavez to the mound to face a Mariners team that lost three
of four to Houston to open the season. It'll be Chavez's first major league start since he made 26 starts
for Oakland in 2015.
Last year, Chavez pitched in 62 games as a reliever with the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chavez has not pitched well against Seattle, going 0-6 with a 5.84 ERA in 17 games (seven starts).
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano has been particularly successful against Chavez, hitting .455
(10-for-22) against him.
Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will make his debut for the Mariners after going 6-8 with a 5.42 ERA in 23
starts for Baltimore last year. Gallardo has pitched just twice against the Angels, going 0-0 with a 7.00
ERA.
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons got off to a good start as the Angels split their season-opening four-game
series against Oakland. He hit .400 (6-for-15) and scored three runs.
Center fielder Mike Trout hit .313 (5-for-16) in the series, and four of his five hits (two doubles, a triple
and a homer) went for extra bases. Designated hitter Albert Pujols is off to a slow start; he went 1-for-16
against Oakland.
The Mariners are off to a bumpy start offensively, as only one player is hitting above .200. Shortstop
Jean Segura went 6-for-20 (.300) in the four games against Houston.
April 7, 2017
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FROM THE DAILY JOURNAL
Mike Trout officially ‘big screen’ star
By Joseph P. Smith
MILLVILLE - Mike Trout first made it to the Big Show. Now, he's made it to the big screen.
And, yeah, it's another home run for the Los Angeles Angels outfielder that one teammate calls
"America's face."
The Levoy Theatre, another marquee institution here, opened for a free doubleheader showing
Thursday night of the new documentary “Mike Trout: Millville to MVP.”sm
The audience, including the Millville High School baseball team, went home feeling great about one of
their own, and their city.
“The film was unbelievable,” said Brendan Kavanagh after the 45-minute film ended. “What a tribute to
Millville. What a tribute to Mike’s family. And I’ll tell you. It was amazing to watch all the young people
in this theater. All the baseball players from Millville High School and even younger than that. I watched
a lot of these kids grow up and took a lot of them to Cooperstown about five years ago. And it’s great to
see them here emulating Mike. And hopefully he’s going to have another great, amazing, MVP season.”
The documentary was filled with shots of Millville and its environs: Jim’s Lunch, which feeds Trout’s
legendary appetite for cheeseburgers with special sauce; Razor’s Edge, a barbershop with a seat always
open for him; and, of course, Millville Senior High School and its baseball team.
The MLB Network documentary probably is its first to focus on an individual player, according to
Producer James Potocki.
“Mike Trout’s not only the best player in the game but he’s a generational talent,” Potocki said. “So we
always wanted to do a show on Mike. We wanted to do it here. He was available in the off-season. … We
knew he was local. Our office is in Secaucus. So we set up something here.
“And then, once we interviewed him, from the time he sat down to the time he left, we knew the story
had to be about here and about his relationship with Millville and this area,” Potocki said.
Potocki said the documentary has been before the public only on the West Coast, where it screened for
Anaheim fans.
“So, that was the first official screening,” he laughed. “So, this is the East Coast premiere.”
A lot of the filming and interviewing was done inside Jim’s Lunch, and the references to the family
owned restaurant drew knowing laughs from the audience.
Jim’s Lunch daughter-and-mother owners, Nichole and Rochelle Maul, were at the 7 p.m. showing and
having a good time.
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Nikki Maul said, yes, Trout’s powerful physique owes a lot to Jim’s burgers. He doesn’t eat as many now
as the six-per-seating mentioned in the documentary, she said.
“He’s down to two doubles with sauce,” she said.
The attention to Trout also bathed the Levoy in a warming light.
“What was the best part I liked?” Levoy Chairman Phil Van Emden said, while manning a concession
stand. “Besides seeing the picture of the Levoy marquee? I enjoyed seeing the progression that Mike
went though. He works harder and harder. What he accomplished, all he ever does he wants to keep
accomplishing. That’s really a work ethic. I appreciate that.”
Millville baseball Coach Roy Hallenbeck and two assistant coaches, Ken Williams and Mike Edwards,
were there with what looked like every baseball player in the city.
“Oh, my God,” Hallenbeck said. “It was unbelievable. Really emotional. I didn’t expect it to be that
emotional. And it was amazing to relive some of those moments again.”
Hallenbeck was struck by the importance Trout and other players place on their high school days, even
years later.
“And we have a lot of kids who come back and spent time with us and come to home games and keep in
touch,” he said. “But for him to do it, as busy as he is and as big as he is, it just means a lot to us that it
still means a lot to him.”
“Pretty neat stuff,” Edwards said. “It’s a little surreal.”
“It’s nice tribute to everything he’s accomplished and it’s great for the town,” Williams said.
The coaches said Trout is held up as an example of what player “intangibles” are important, such as
work ethic.
Millville baseball player Ryan McIsaac said he felt honored.
“I mean, he came to school,” McIsaac said. “He’s a celebrity to us. But I mean, he gives back to us and
everything, which is great.”
“It gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that where he came from is the same place
where we came from,” teammate Tyler Ramos said.
“I thought it was a great documentary, said Dalton Hughes, a catcher for Millville.
In the film, one scene touches on a surprise gift from Trout to the team of boxes and boxes of cleats and
turf shoes. Hughes wore his to the premiere.
Teammate Tristan Harris said the documentary was true to who Trout is. “He’s a Millville guy and we
love that about him,” he said.
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Hunter Sibley and another player went from “amazing” to "awesome” to “great” to describe the
documentary.
“It was just a great experience to watch it and know, like, this is my town,” Sibley said. “This where we
grew up. All of us here.”
Millville is an old city and still, despite about 28,000 residents, a small town where almost everyone
crosses paths with each other and many families are tied together.
Steve Neder, the city’s retired judge, called the documentary terrific.
“We know the Trout family,” Neder said. “I know his grandfather. My son Jeff played for Mike’s father,
Jeff. I almost went into business with Jeff at one time with a batting cage. So, we know the Trout’s very
well.:
He added: “But it’s a testimony to Millville, too. A testament to Millville.”
The documentary will air on MLB Network on Sunday, April 9 at 8 p.m. and is expected to be replayed at
different times throughout the season.