Los Angeles Angels: News and Injury Updates
By Ryan W Krol
April 19, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Sean Burnett (24) pitches in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Below are news updates from the Los Angeles Angels on roster moves, injuries, a false alarm, and a nice gesture to an all-time great.
Angels Claim Brooks Raley From Twins
The Angels have claimed left-handed reliever Brooks Raley off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Raley, 25, was designated for assignment earlier in the week. He was later placed on waivers, and was claimed by Los Angeles this morning.
For the Twins’ AAA affiliate, Raley posted a 3.68 ERA, a 11.7 K/9, and a 6.8 BB/9 in 14 2/3 innings. Raley has mostly been a starter, but was converted to a reliever this season. However, he did make one start recently.
This is the second time in 2014 that Raley has been claimed; Minnesota acquired him from the Cubs back in February.
Angels Designate Buddy Boshers For Assignment
In a corresponding move with the Raley claim, to make space on the 40-man roster, the Halos have designated lefty Buddy Boshers for assignment. Boshers is also 25, and has a 4.70 ERA, 7.6 K/9, and a 4.7 BB/9 in 15 1/3 relief innings in the Majors. All of Boshers’ innings came last season in relief.
At AAA, through 13 innings, Boshers has a 6.23 ERA with 8.3 K/9, and a 9.0 BB/9.
Josh Hamilton Expects To Be Back By The End Of May
Josh Hamilton hit on the field on Wednesday for the first time since tearing a ligament in his thumb in early April. He has been swinging the bat with one hand, taking side and front tosses from interim hitting coach Paul Sorrento.
After that, Hamilton will begin hitting off a tee with both hands in Arizona.
Live batting practice will likely commence for Hamilton on May 15. He is slating his return to the starting lineup for the May 23-25 home series against the Royals. That would mark the six and a half week point since his injury.
Despite leading the Majors in homeruns, extra base hits, and slugging percentage until recently, the Angels are 14th in the Majors in OPS from the cleanup spot. So Hamilton’s return will be huge for the offense.
Kole Calhoun To Join Hamilton In Arizona
Kole Calhoun is running close to full intensity, and will join Hamilton in Arizona this weekend. This Tuesday is the four week mark of his recovery, and on that day Kole will begin his rehab assignment. Calhoun is bouncing back from a sprained right ankle he suffered in mid April.
The Sean Burnett, Dane De La Rosa Update
De La Rosa has thrown two scoreless outings for AAA Salt Lake in the last three days. His velocity is still down, but is better than it was when he first came off the disabled list in April, from a right forearm strain. He was at 88 MPH then, but was clocked recently at 90-93.
The 31-year-old right-hander will need at least one more rehab outing. But he could rejoin the Angels this Friday, just in time for their for their six-game road trip through Toronto and Philadelphia.
De La Rosa is recovering from irritation in his right s/c joint.
Burnett completed his extended spring training outings in Arizona, and will then start a rehab assignment. Burnett is still recovering from surgery on his left elbow, which he had last August.
Burnett’s return is vital to improving a bullpen that has had it’s share of problems in the ninth inning. A Burnett-Smith combination would give the Angels a much needed boost late in games to help them finally pull away from .500.
Angels Give Jeter A Nice Send Off
Just before Derek Jeter played his final career regular-season game at Angel Stadium, the Angels played a video tribute to Jeter on the JumboTron, set to “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z. Too add to the gesture, Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, Jered Weaver and Howie Kendrick presented the future Hall of Fame shortstop with a pinstriped paddleboard.
Jeter was moved by the gift and later expressed his memories of playing tough games against the Angels throughout his career.
During the season, opposing teams most likely will give Jeter a send off with gifts, much the same as Mariano Rivera last season when the Angels gave Rivera a life-sized painting.
Fans were also given a commemorative ticket to cherish the memory.
In his final game at Angels Stadium, Jeter went 2-for-5 with his first home run of the season in the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Angels.
False Alarm On Joe Smith!
Joe Smith is doing much better after feeling tightness in his lower right side on Monday. Smith has been unavailable since then, but will have him go through pregame workouts before determining his availability. If he’s feeling loose again, he’ll be ready for Friday’s game in Toronto.
Smith was also vomiting in the bullpen that night, but it had nothing to do with his tightness. That was from an energy bar that just didn’t go down well.
Nick Maronde Sent Down
After another abysmal outing during the Angels’ 9-2 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday, left-hander Nick Maronde was optioned to Triple-A. Maronde’s ERA was very low coming into the game, but that has been due to coming into games with inherited runners charged to the previous pitcher.
Maronde, who was lights out when he was first called up late in 2012, has struggled with his command ever since. Maronde’s towering walk rate and 2.84 WHIP finally caught up to his ERA, which ballooned to 5.68 in 11 appearances.
The corresponding move will be announced on Friday. Most likely, it will be a position player to return to having 13 position players and 12 pitchers.