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LA ANGELS ( WEAVER )
OAKLAND ( GRAY ) |
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| 927 | LA ANGELS | +135 | Ov 7,-120 | +135 | Ov 7.5,-105 | | 928 | OAKLAND | -145 | Un 7,+100 | -145 | Un 7.5,-115 |
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| All Games | 9-10 | -3 | 9-8 | 3.9 | 0.227 | 0.290 | 0.355 | 0.645 | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.308 | 0.386 | 0.693 | | Road Games | 5-4 | +0.9 | 3-4 | 3.9 | 0.227 | 0.285 | 0.368 | 0.653 | 3.4 | 0.219 | 0.281 | 0.382 | 0.663 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 5-8 | -4.7 | 8-4 | 3.7 | 0.217 | 0.281 | 0.330 | 0.612 | 4.6 | 0.277 | 0.336 | 0.440 | 0.776 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -0.2 | 4-3 | 4.6 | 0.241 | 0.318 | 0.349 | 0.667 | 3.4 | 0.243 | 0.319 | 0.337 | 0.656 | | Grass Games | 9-10 | -3 | 9-8 | 3.9 | 0.227 | 0.290 | 0.355 | 0.645 | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.308 | 0.386 | 0.693 | | Night Games | 7-6 | -0.1 | 6-5 | 4.1 | 0.227 | 0.292 | 0.355 | 0.647 | 3.8 | 0.242 | 0.304 | 0.378 | 0.682 | | Division | 9-7 | +0.8 | 7-7 | 4.2 | 0.234 | 0.299 | 0.360 | 0.659 | 3.4 | 0.230 | 0.298 | 0.362 | 0.660 |
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| All Games | 3.9 | 0.227 | 0.290 | 19 | 626 | 142 | 27 | 1 | 17 | 0.355 | 70 | 56 | 141 | 6 | 114 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 18 | | Road Games | 3.9 | 0.227 | 0.285 | 9 | 299 | 68 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 0.368 | 34 | 24 | 68 | 3 | 53 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | | Righty Starters | 3.7 | 0.217 | 0.281 | 13 | 424 | 92 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 0.330 | 46 | 38 | 89 | 4 | 74 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 15 |
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| All Games | 3.25 | 1.148 | 61 | 23 | 22 | 52 | 7 | 18 | 58 | 2-2 | 7 | 2 | 77.8% | | Road Games | 3.09 | 1.114 | 23.3 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 1-0 | 4 | 1 | 80% |
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| All Games | 8-12 | -6.2 | 14-6 | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.325 | 0.403 | 0.728 | 4.2 | 0.225 | 0.286 | 0.351 | 0.638 | | Home Games | 3-7 | -6.5 | 9-1 | 5.6 | 0.273 | 0.335 | 0.399 | 0.734 | 4.7 | 0.214 | 0.272 | 0.341 | 0.612 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 7-8 | -2.5 | 10-5 | 5.0 | 0.272 | 0.325 | 0.425 | 0.750 | 3.8 | 0.213 | 0.273 | 0.341 | 0.614 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -3.6 | 6-1 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.309 | 0.358 | 0.667 | 6.0 | 0.234 | 0.318 | 0.361 | 0.678 | | Grass Games | 8-12 | -6.2 | 14-6 | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.325 | 0.403 | 0.728 | 4.2 | 0.225 | 0.286 | 0.351 | 0.638 | | Night Games | 8-5 | +2.5 | 9-4 | 5.6 | 0.279 | 0.330 | 0.449 | 0.779 | 3.1 | 0.218 | 0.281 | 0.308 | 0.588 | | Division | 7-10 | -5.2 | 13-4 | 5.0 | 0.272 | 0.328 | 0.404 | 0.732 | 4.4 | 0.212 | 0.278 | 0.345 | 0.624 |
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| All Games | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.325 | 20 | 704 | 188 | 37 | 7 | 15 | 0.403 | 91 | 60 | 134 | 11 | 137 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 10 | | Home Games | 5.6 | 0.273 | 0.335 | 10 | 363 | 99 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 0.399 | 52 | 34 | 63 | 0 | 71 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 5 | | Righty Starters | 5.0 | 0.272 | 0.325 | 15 | 522 | 142 | 29 | 6 | 13 | 0.425 | 71 | 41 | 101 | 9 | 97 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 8 |
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| All Games | 4.43 | 1.286 | 63 | 35 | 31 | 57 | 9 | 24 | 61 | 1-6 | 2 | 3 | 40% | | Home Games | 4.24 | 1.265 | 34 | 19 | 16 | 29 | 6 | 14 | 31 | 0-4 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
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| 4/14/2015 | RUCINSKI(R) | @ TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | 2-8 | L | -115 | 9 ov | O | 7 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 1 | | 4/15/2015 | SANTIAGO(L) | @ TEXAS | RANAUDO(R) | 10-2 | W | -125 | 9 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | WEAVER(R) | @ HOUSTON | HERNANDEZ(R) | 6-3 | W | -115 | 9 ov | P | 6 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | WILSON(L) | @ HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | 0-4 | L | 105 | 8.5 ov | U | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | | 4/19/2015 | RICHARDS(R) | @ HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 3-4 | L | -115 | 8.5 un | U | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | SHOEMAKER(R) | OAKLAND | GRAVEMAN(R) | 3-6 | L | -155 | 7.5 ev | O | 5 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 2 | | 4/21/2015 | SANTIAGO(L) | OAKLAND | POMERANZ(L) | 14-1 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | O | 15 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 3 | | 4/22/2015 | WEAVER(R) | OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 2-9 | L | -105 | 7.5 un | O | 4 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | TROPEANO(R) | OAKLAND | CHAVEZ(R) | 2-0 | W | -115 | 8 un | U | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 | | 4/24/2015 | RICHARDS(R) | TEXAS | RODRIGUEZ(L) | 3-2 | W | -170 | 8 un | U | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | WILSON(L) | TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 4-1 | W | -145 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | SANTIAGO(L) | TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | 4-5 | L | -155 | 8 ov | O | 15 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 1 | | 4/28/2015 | WEAVER(R) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | SHOEMAKER(R) | @ OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | RICHARDS(R) | @ OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | | | 5/1/2015 | WILSON(L) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | | | 5/2/2015 | SANTIAGO(L) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | | | 5/3/2015 | WEAVER(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | LINCECUM(R) | | | 5/4/2015 | SHOEMAKER(R) | SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | | | 5/5/2015 | | SEATTLE | | |
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| 4/14/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | @ HOUSTON | PEACOCK(R) | 4-0 | W | 100 | 9 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ HOUSTON | MCHUGH(R) | 1-6 | L | -105 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 4-6 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 5-0 | W | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | 2-4 | L | -110 | 7 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | @ LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 6-3 | W | 145 | 7.5 ev | O | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 1-14 | L | 110 | 7.5 un | O | 5 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 9-2 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | O | 18 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | @ LA ANGELS | TROPEANO(R) | 0-2 | L | 105 | 8 un | U | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | 4-5 | L | -130 | 7 un | O | 8 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 3-9 | L | -110 | 8.5 un | O | 6 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | HOUSTON | WOJCIECHOWSKI(R) | 6-7 | L | -160 | 8 un | O | 7 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | GRAY(R) | LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | HAHN(R) | LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | | | 5/1/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | @ TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | | | 5/2/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 5/3/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | | | 5/4/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 5/5/2015 | | @ MINNESOTA | | |
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| |  | LA ANGELS: ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The Los Angeles Angels had the majors' best record last year, and they return this season with baseball's best player at the center of largely the same roster.
Yet the Angels accomplished none of their biggest goals last year when they were swept out of the division series, and their sky-high payroll makes those unmet expectations even more painful.
So are the Angels a legitimate power or an unbalanced, aging team with a rapidly closing window? Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and manager Mike Scioscia can only figure it out by going back to work to find the right combination to contend again.
The Angels are difficult to evaluate because everything depends on the window from which they're viewed.
They have an enormous payroll topped by some of baseball's highest-paid players at their positions - Pujols, Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson and Trout, the reigning AL MVP. For all that money, consistent winning and championship contention is expected, which means the Angels' inability to win a single playoff game in five seasons is a disaster.
Yet the Angels still won 98 games last season despite losing budding ace Garrett Richards to a knee injury in August, and general manager Jerry Dipoto has restocked his roster while breathing life into what was considered the majors' worst farm system in recent years. From the bullpen to the heart of the order, Los Angeles has an undeniably solid complement of talent around Trout, the best player in baseball at 23 years old.
But just when the Angels look sharp, new worries arise. The biggest problem in 2015 is the fate of Hamilton, who is likely to be hit by a lengthy suspension for an apparent drug relapse before opening day. His recovery from shoulder surgery would have kept him out anyway.
Hamilton still has three years left on his $125 million contract, but at least his absence is cushioned by the grim fact that he has made no significant, consistent impact on the Angels' offense in two expensive seasons. Los Angeles acquired veteran Matt Joyce from Tampa Bay in the offseason, and returning outfielder Collin Cowgill also can fill in capably.
Some other things to watch when the Angels embark on their 55th season:
WHAT'S ON SECOND: The Angels' biggest problem is at second base, where Howie Kendrick leaves a gaping hole after nearly a decade entrenched in the job. With just a year left on Kendrick's contract, Dipoto traded him to the Dodgers to get promising young starter Andrew Heaney. But the lineup that led the AL in runs has lost its top hit producer - yes, Kendrick had even more than Trout - with no real plan to replace him. Josh Rutledge, Grant Green and Johnny Giavotella are among the light-hitting infielders getting a look in the spring, but none is likely to replace Kendrick's big bat.
RICH MAN: After leading the AL in RBIs and runs last season while winning the MVP trophy, Trout already has accomplished more than pretty much any 23-year-old in baseball history - and he's about to get paid for it. The outfielder's six-year, $144.5 million contract begins this year, albeit at a modest $5.25 million salary for 2015 before the deal skyrockets. Yet Trout hasn't shown any signs of complacency in the offseason, and he is working aggressively with hitting coach Don Baylor on limiting his strikeouts, which jumped to an AL-worst 184 last year.
WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH: After years of ineptitude, the Angels are confident their bullpen will again be among the majors' tops this season. Closer Huston Street and setup man Joe Smith are among the best in the business, while Mike Morin is expected to move into a bigger role with Kevin Jepsen's departure. Fernando Salas, Vinny Pestano and newcomer Cesar Ramos - Jered Weaver's college teammate - all are angling for innings, likely making the bullpen into a source of comfort for Scioscia.
GOTTA PITCH: The Angels' rotation has a high ceiling and a low floor - just like the rest of this team. Weaver and Wilson are on top of the rotation, but many believe both 30-something veterans took a step backward last season. Richards faces an uncertain mid-April return from a long rehabilitation, while Matt Shoemaker must prove he can replicate his shocking 16-victory performance that made him second on AL Rookie of the Year voting. Scioscia also must pick a fifth starter among Heaney, Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano. | | OAKLAND: OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics topped even their most trade-happy of days by making nine swaps involving 27 players in a wild offseason for Billy Beane and his front-office mates.
As far as Beane is concerned, the A's wouldn't have even had a chance to close the gap on the reigning AL West champion Los Angeles Angels without a major offseason overhaul.
Even if that meant shipping out a trio of All-Stars in third baseman Josh Donaldson, first baseman Brandon Moss and catcher Derek Norris.
''Our expectations don't change, not with the guys we brought in,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ''You look at it early on and you're thinking, `What are we doing here?' Then we see the last few moves ... and it all came together at the end as far as what this team would look like going into spring. ... We feel real good about this group.''
There were so many changes that Melvin had to search for names on the backs of jerseys during February's FanFest.
Billy Butler is the new designated hitter, and two-time All-Star infielder Ben Zobrist can play just about anywhere for Melvin, who is always one to mix and match his lineups based on matchups and who's playing well. Ike Davis came in a November trade from the Pirates to play first base, while third baseman Brett Lawrie came from the Blue Jays in the swap that sent Donaldson to Toronto.
''It's unique. I don't think many teams have taken turnover like this,'' reliever Dan Otero said. ''Who are we to judge? Everybody's here for a reason, so it's going to be great.''
Still, all the change took some getting used to this spring for an Oakland clubhouse known for its easygoing nature.
You first must know your teammates' names.
''Team chemistry's a little funky. You have to spend time with people and get to know people for team chemistry to fully come,'' center fielder Coco Crisp said. ''You can't expect it just to happen. We'll be fine. We have a good group of core guys, guys that talk and mingle.''
Here are some things to know as the A's chase a fourth straight playoff berth:
BUTLER'S BIG MOVE: Butler makes the first move of his career and is coming off a down season with the Royals, who lost in a seven-game World Series to San Francisco. He batted .271 with nine home runs and 66 RBIs in 151 games last year, 108 of those as a DH. ''Everybody's awesome to be around,'' Butler said. ''I couldn't be happier to get ready for another year with them. There are a lot of talented major league guys in this room.''
FILLING THE VOIDS: Lawrie batted .247 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 70 games for Toronto last season and takes pride in his defense to back up a talented rotation led by Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir. ''We have a lot of ability out there and that's a plus for the pitching staff,'' Lawrie said. ''All they have to do is take care of business.''
GRIFFIN AND PARKER: Both right-handers are recovering from elbow ligament reconstructive surgery that sidelined them all of 2014. Parker hopes to return shortly after the season begins, while June has long been the target goal for these two. ''There's no reason to start ripping the slider,'' Parker said. ''I'm going to focus on command.''
SPEEDY OUTFIELD: Despite the losses around the diamond, Melvin likes the look of his speedy outfield with Crisp, Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry. ''They can cover a lot of ground,'' Melvin said. ''In the case of Gentry and Fuld, they throw very well, too. Especially in our outfield at home, the field can play big and you need to cover a lot of ground out there. It's a comfort to have, and I know our pitchers feel good about it, too, that on a cold night in Oakland, you can stay. It's tough to go opposite field and know that when a ball's hit in the air and stays in the ballpark it's probably going to get caught.''
ZITO'S COMEBACK: Back in his original uniform two years removed from the end of a $126 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco, lefty Barry Zito looks to be a factor for the A's out of the bullpen - or even to start when needed. After a year off, Zito arrived in Arizona motivated to show he could still pitch at the highest level. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (LA ANGELS-OAKLAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(UPDATES with Hamilton trade)
*Angels-Athletics Preview* ==========================
By KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
Los Angeles (9-10) at Oakland (8-12), 10:05 p.m. EDT
Jered Weaver is winless through the first four starts of a season for the first time in part because Sonny Gray bettered him less than a week ago.
For Gray, it was an extension of an impressive start to his second full season, while Weaver limited damage but continued getting hit at a clip he's not quite used to.
The right-handers square off again as the Oakland Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night to open a three-game series, with some additional buzz surrounding the Angels after the departure of Josh Hamilton in a trade with Texas.
Gray (2-0, 1.91 ERA) held Los Angeles to a run and two hits while striking out seven in seven innings of Wednesday's 9-2 Athletics victory at Anaheim.
"For the most part, he's basically pitched the same game every time this year," manager Bob Melvin said. "He gets a strikeout when he needs one, gets the ball on the ground when he needs it, and his competitiveness shows up every time. He kicks it into another gear."
Gray moved to 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in seven career games against the Angels (9-10). Of his six starts, two have come against Weaver and Gray has won both.
Albert Pujols' 1-for-16 mark highlights the Angels' offensive shortcomings against him, while Kole Calhoun (2 for 18 with seven strikeouts), Matt Joyce (2 for 11) and Chris Iannetta (0 for 7) have also struggled. Mike Trout is 4 for 16 with two home runs and seven strikeouts.
Weaver (0-2, 5.25) allowed a run and eight hits in six innings of the last matchup before the bullpen let things get out of hand. He didn't surrender a home run for the first time this season, but hasn't lasted more than six innings in any of his four starts.
"I've just got to prove to (manager Mike Scioscia) that I can get deeper in games," Weaver said. "I'm still trying to find my way, and it's getting better each and every time."
Limited offense has also been a factor, as Los Angeles has supplied Weaver with 2.42 runs of support per game.
Weaver has gone 7-2 with a 1.79 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Athletics (8-12), though he hit a rough patch in Oakland last season, going 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two starts.
The clubs split four games last week. Oakland dropped the series finale and has lost four in a row after being swept by Houston at home over the weekend.
The A's longest skid last year was five games and they're four under .500 for the first time since July 1, 2012, but they aren't panicking.
Oakland's off day Monday - just its second - provided a tired bullpen with some rest. The relievers have posted a 7.91 ERA in six games and have pitched 25 1-3 innings in the past seven - among the most in baseball in that span.
"With the state of our bullpen right now, we need a day off," manager Bob Melvin said. "We're one of the few teams that's only had one, if not the only one. We did a lot of good things right today, but we're doing just enough to lose games right now."
Los Angeles has been more concerned with its lineup after entering Sunday's matchup with Texas with a .219 average. Despite a 15-hit day, the Angels fell 5-4 to snap their three-game win streak.
Pujols bumped his average to .200 with two hits while Calhoun had three and is 12 for 25 over six games. C.J. Cron entered the series batting .154 but went 8 for 12.
Hamilton will no longer be a part of that lineup, though he hadn't made an appearance for Los Angeles this year anyway. The talented but troubled slugger was returned to the Rangers on Monday for a player to be named or cash.
Hamilton endured two troublesome seasons with the Angels on a $125 million, five-year contract, suffering a relapse of alcohol and cocaine abuse this past offseason and spending all of this season on the disabled list after shoulder surgery. However, he was an All-Star each year for the Rangers from 2008-12 and was the 2010 AL MVP.
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| | Last Updated: 4/23/2024 11:38:13 AM EST. |
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