And today, the Angels play baseball.
After a 152-day break following a thoroughly disappointing 78-win season in 2013, Mike Scioscia’s squad returns to competitive ballgames this afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.
It’s spring training, of course, but the lineup the Angels are trotting out at Tempe Diablo Stadium should look very similar to the lineup that starts opening day on March 31.
The lone exception might be in left field, where Josh Hamilton will sit with a left calf strain and J.B. Shuck starts in his place. Other than that, it looks a lot like it’s supposed to look.
Albert Pujols is playing first base for the first time since July 10 against these same Cubs. Jered Weaver is on the mound, likely attempting to finish three innings.
Several relievers are scheduled to pitch behind him, including new right-hander Fernando Salas. Closer Ernesto Frieri was also slotted to pitch but left the team to be with his wife for the expected birth of their second child Friday.
Here are the lineups for the 12:05 p.m. PT start on Fox Sports West, with Cubs left-hander Chris Rusin opposing Weaver. 2013 No. 2 overall draft pick Kris Bryant, a top young slugger, is not starting for Chicago but is scheduled to appear as a substitute:
Angels
Calhoun RF
Trout CF
Pujols 1B
Freese 3B
Kendrick 2B
Ibanez DH
Iannetta C
Aybar SS
Shuck LF
Cubs
Coghlan DH
Barney 2B
Sweeney CF
Schierholtz RF
Murphy 3B
Wells LF
Baez SS
Kottaras C
Valaika 1B
