Mike Trout wins fourth consecutive Silver Slugger Award

Mike Trout

Mike Trout/:Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Angels

 

Angels center fielder Mike Trout on Thursday became just the second player in history to win the Silver Slugger Award his first four full big-league seasons. Mike Piazza is the other.

The award, given out annually since 1980, represents the best offensive player at each position in the American and National leagues.

Trout in 2015 batted .299 with 41 home runs, 90 RBIs, 104 runs, 32 doubles and six triples. He set career highs in home runs, slugging percentage (.590) and OPS (.991), leading the American League in the latter two categories.

 

 

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email

Former Angels star pitcher Dean Chance has died at age 74

Photo of Dean Chance

 

 

 

Dean Chance/Photo courtesy of BaseballReference.com

 

Dean Chance, who pitched for the Angels from 1961-66, has died at age 74, according to an Associated Press story. Details of Chance’s demise were not immediately available.

Chance won the Cy Young Award at age 23 in 1964 while going 20-9 with an ERA of 1.65 for the Angels. Chance began a three-year stint with the Minnesota Twins in 1967 and pitched a no-hitter for them on Aug. 25 of that year.

Chance also pitched for the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets and Detroit Tigers and finished his 11-year career with a record of 128-115 and ERA of 2.92.

Chance earlier this season was on hand at Angel Stadium when he and others were inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.

Chance was only 30 in 1971, his final season.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email

Chris Iannetta says finish proves the importance of every game

 

Chris Iannetta

Chris Iannetta/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Angels

 

Angels catcher Chris Iannetta had a very good observation Monday while cleaning out his locker in the Angels’ clubhouse. It came a day after the Angels lost 9-2 at Texas. They needed a victory in that game to force a one-game playoff with Houston for the right to play in the American League wild-card game Tuesday at New York.

“It was definitely an exciting finish, but it obviously didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to,” Iannetta said. “That’s why every game through the course of a season is important – whether it’s the first game or the last game. At least we had the opportunity to write our own destiny at the end. We just fell a little bit short.”

The Angels won nine of their last 12 games to put themselves in position to make the postseason, but it didn’t happen.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email

Owner Arte Moreno suggested Billy Eppler have a glass of wine

Mike Scioscia, left, and new general manager Billy Eppler at Monday’s news conference announcing the hiring of Eppler as general manager/Photo by Nick Ut, Associated Press

 

Owner Arte Moreno on Monday was helping play host to the news conference formally announcing the hiring of Billy Eppler as the team’s 12th general manager. Moreno was talking about the process and mentioned a moment when he, Eppler and other Angels executives were having dinner recently to discuss the job.

“He (Eppler) was a little nervous and he said, ‘I’ll just drink water.’ ” I said, ‘You better have a glass of wine,’ ” Moreno said, drawing lots of laughs from reporters and family members of Eppler.

 

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email