TEMPE, Ariz. – Six pitchers will start games on the Angels’ Cactus League schedule, which begins Friday at noon against the Chicago Cubs at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
One of those starters – likely veteran right-hander Joe Blanton – won’t make the opening day rotation. But that doesn’t mean Blanton is a lock to be a long reliever.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia indicated Thursday the team might not have the luxury of keeping a long reliever on its 25-man roster. He theorized a situation in which relievers would be called upon in the sixth inning two or three times a week, necessitating seven arms capable of pitching several times a week and on back-to-back days.
“It’s tough to pinpoint one guy to be a long man,” Scioscia said, noting he wasn’t singling out Blanton, who struggled in 2013. “Obviously you’d love to have a guy with length, but we’re looking for a guy who’s going to hold leads and help us win games. … If we have really good arms that are getting guys out and don’t have much length, I don’t think that will keep them from our ’pen.”
Ace Jered Weaver will start today. He’ll go at least two innings and potentially a third as the Angels begin their slate of 32 exhibition games before opening day March 31.
Among those scheduled to pitch behind Weaver are closer Ernesto Frieri and fellow right-handed relievers Fernando Salas and Cory Rasmus.
Scioscia declined to reveal his batting order but said all projected starters, save for the injured Josh Hamilton, will be available.
From left to right, that means an infield of David Freese, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick and Albert Pujols, and an outfield of J.B. Shuck, Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun.
Scioscia said he’s expecting most of his players “to struggle a little bit” in the spring opener.
“You want to see how your basic fundamentals will react, make sure that there aren’t a lot of things slipping through the cracks,” Scioscia said. “We’ll get some times on guys running, get a baseline of where they are, and along the way hopefully win a game. That’s what you want to build toward.”
HAMILTON POSITIVE
Hamilton ambled into the Angels clubhouse at Temple Diablo Stadium without crutches, but it was only a temporary reprieve.
The left fielder will need them for a while longer as he recovers from a left calf strain suffered Tuesday. He said he was feeling a little better.
“The spasms are starting to break a little bit, and once that happens, the rehab part of it will be able to ramp up a little bit,” Hamilton said.
Told Scioscia predicted he’d miss at least two weeks, Hamilton didn’t disagree, but indicated he doesn’t expect to miss more than that.
“Well, they’re not going to rush me back,” he said. “There’s no need to. Honestly, I’m very happy it happened now instead of three weeks from now. I don’t feel like it’s going to prevent me from playing in spring training.”
Hamilton hurt the calf while taking off from first base during baserunning drills. He said he’d ideally like to get 50-60 at-bats before opening day, but he did get some extra preparation during live batting practice in the week before his injury.
MORAN’S CHANCE
One dark horse candidate to make the opening day bullpen is left-hander Brian Moran, whom the Angels acquired in December via the Rule 5 draft.
He spent the past five seasons in the Seattle Mariners system but stagnated at Triple-A Tacoma. When Seattle left him unprotected, Toronto took him in the annual draft, and the Angels sent the Blue Jays international slot money for his rights, giving him a chance to compete for a left-handed specialist role in big league camp.
“This is different than last year, where I was going into it just for the experience, getting my feet wet,” said Moran, 25. “This year, there’s a real chance, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and see how it goes.”
Moran held Triple-A left-handers to a .272 on-base percentage in 2013.
NOTES
Left-hander C.J. Wilson is scheduled to start Saturday against the Mariners in Peoria. Right-hander Garrett Richards could start Sunday against Oakland at Tempe Diablo Stadium. …
Pitching prospect Mark Sappington organized a team-wide toy drive, raising $5,000, which many Angels prospects took to Toys R Us to buy dozens of toys to give to underprivileged children in the Phoenix area.
Contact the writer: pmoura@ocregister.com
