Angels pitcher Ryan Madson threw long toss from 120 feet Monday, which the rehabbing right-hander declared a “good day.”
Still, Madson said he experienced pain in his surgically repaired right elbow when he pushed himself to about 80 percent effort.
“I don’t know what it is,” he said, “whether it’s the PRP injection or the strain.”
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There was a voice noticeably missing from the Angels’ team meeting Monday following a series sweep by the cellar-dwelling Astros.
Though he is busy hitting over .300 in Detroit, Torii Hunter’s was the first name mentioned by Mark Trumbo, who said several players and coaches spoke during the closed-door meeting.
“The obvious would be that Torii isn’t here,” Trumbo said. “Nobody’s going to replace Torii. Obviously he was a true class act and a great leader. We have quite a few guys that stepped in and filled the void as best they can in their own way. We could go around the room but I think there’s some obvious choices in Albert (Pujols), Josh (Hamilton), Jered (Weaver), C.J. (Wilson) and Scott Downs, guys who have been around a while.”
Here they are. Mike Trout leads all outfielders:
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Memorial services for Angels team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum were revealed Thursday on the website of the Kerlan Jobe Clinic.
Services will be held at American Martyrs Church, 624 15th Street in Manhattan Beach on June 22 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the Yocum family requests donations be sent to: Saint Sebastien Sports Project ~ P.O. Box 1711 ~ Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
Yocum died last Saturday due to complications from liver cancer.
Did the blown call at first base in yesterday’s game matter?
It’s a valid enough question to be debating it today. Albert Pujols, who had three hits in the game, was on deck. He’s batted four times in his career against Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen and has one hit, a home run.
If the Angels indeed go on another winning streak today, and this stands as the only defeat in a stretch of wins, the play will loom large. A one-run loss decided by a blown call in the eighth inning? Not too much to hang your head about there.
Some more bullet points for a Tuesday morning:
Angels team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum has died, the team announced. Yocum had been battling cancer. He was 65.
Yocum was a protege of Dr. Frank Jobe, who invented the Tommy John surgery that has saved numerous players’ careers since it was first performed in 1974. The Angels named their training room after Yocum in May.
The Angels issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon:
The Angels family and Major League Baseball have lost one of baseball’s finest gentlemen and truly outstanding professionals with the passing of Dr. Lewis Yocum earlier this weekend. His talents extended the careers of countless professional athletes, and provided extended quality of life for so many others he advised, treated and operated on during his distinguished career, including 36 years with the Angels. His contributions and impact in the medical field will long be remembered across the country. He represents the standard for others in his profession to attain. He was a loving husband to his wife Beth and proud father of children Donald and Laura. MLB and the Angels organization sends its deepest sympathies to the Yocum family at this difficult time.
If you’ve flown between John Wayne airport and Salt Lake City at any point this season, your odds of bumping into an Angels player are pretty high. The Angels have been busy burning a path from Anaheim to their Triple-A affiliate, having used 36 batters and 20 pitchers this season — both tied for second in the league.
Sunday might have been the busiest day of them all.
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Jered Weaver threw a simulated game Friday, his first since going on the disabled list April 8. (Associated Press)
Jered Weaver couldn’t sleep last night. He had a big game today.
It was a simulated game with no fans, and only a few players and media and coaches, in attendance. But Weaver was psyched up.
“That’s how excited I was,” he said. “I haven’t been able to do it (pitch) in five weeks.”
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Billy Buckner is a good story, beyond his name.
When the Angels added him to their 40-man roster and flew him in from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, it was Buckner’s first major-league opportunity in three years. The last go-around didn’t end well – he pitched four innings and allowed seven runs in each of his final two games with the Kansas City Royals in May 2010 – and it’s been a long road back. The Angels are his fourth organization since then.
Just a year ago, he was a free agent coming off surgery to remove bone spurs in his right (pitching elbow). He signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox and began the season with Double-A Portland (Maine) of the Eastern League.
“They gave me a chance to come back and pitch,” Buckner said.
The Angels’ unfortunate reality — a pitcher who just last year was in Double-A is being counted on to stabilize the pitching staff — is Buckner’s great fortune. As is his collection of Bill Buckner swag.
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