Angels take a page out of the spring training playbook to shore up defense.

It looked like spring training in August.

The Angels gathered on the Angel Stadium infield for a short team meeting around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. When that was done, players broke off to their separate positions and proceeded to perform a Cactus League staple: Pitchers’ fielding practice (PFP) drills. For the next half-hour, each pitcher peeled off from the pack standing along the third-base line, jogged to the mound, and practiced pickoff throws to each base, fielded bunts, and covered first base on ground balls to the right side.

Kevin Jepsen said it was the first time he’d done PFP drills in August in five full seasons with the Angels.
Continue reading “Angels take a page out of the spring training playbook to shore up defense.” »

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Angels hold another team meeting, Mike Scioscia blasts pitchers.

In a season full of team meetings, Angels manager Mike Scioscia called another one following an 8-3 loss to the Texas Rangers.

In his comments to reporters afterwards, Scioscia singled out the team’s inability to hold runners on base. The Rangers stole six bases off Angels catcher Chris Iannetta in six attempts.

However, Scioscia refused to blame Iannetta.

“Chris is throwing the ball well,” Scioscia said. “This is about the inabilty of some of our pitchers to make the adjustments they need to make.”

“The reality of it is, if this is going to become an instructional league,” he continued, “we have to make some changes, because guys up here should be able to do a better job.”

More in tomorrow’s editions.

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Despite scoreless streak, Joe Blanton’s move to the bullpen isn’t permanent.

Joe Blanton

Joe Blanton has a 0.00 earned-run average out of the Angels’ bullpen this season. (Associated Press photo)

The Angels tried Joe Blanton as a starting pitcher when the season began. Can’t blame them — 228 of his 237 career appearances before this season came as a starter. He was even slotted third in the rotation.

That experiment ended after 20 starts. Blanton went 2-13, which remains the most losses in the American League. He allowed 24 home runs in those starts and opponents hit a collective .317/.356/.543 against him.

A funny thing happened when Blanton was bumped from the rotation last month: He started pitching really well. In six relief innings since, the right-hander has retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced. Unlike some relievers, Blanton wasn’t fazed by going seven days between appearances, pitching three perfect innings Monday night against the Texas Rangers.

Considering Blanton didn’t pitch a 1-2-3 inning in 2013 until May 2 — his sixth start of the season — that was no small feat. Blanton looks like he’s found his niche.

Not so fast, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Continue reading “Despite scoreless streak, Joe Blanton’s move to the bullpen isn’t permanent.” »

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Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick will avoid the disabled list for now.

An MRI on Howie Kendrick‘s left knee Tuesday revealed a bone bruise and no structural damage, and the Angels will try to wait until week’s end for him to recover before deciding whether to put him on the disabled list or not.

“We’ll give him about four or five days to see how it progresses,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Obviously he’s very, very sore and very stiff, but we’ll give it a couple days to play out.”

The Angels recalled Grant Green from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday. He is starting at second base against the Texas Rangers and batting eighth. Chris Nelson and Tommy Field can also play the position, and those will be the only options until a decision is rendered on Kendrick.

Scioscia said that Kendrick will travel with the Angels on their seven-game road trip to Cleveland and New York starting Friday.

Kendrick hyperextended his left knee colliding with Collin Cowgill (above) in Monday night’s 5-2 loss to the Rangers.

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