SlushyBOB
03-05-2003, 05:31 PM
DANG! HE'S GOING TO BE GOOD...He has got some nasty stuff.
http://anaheim.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ana/news/ana_news.jsp?ymd=20030304&content_id=210199&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp
Rodriguez would like more work
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
MESA, Ariz. -- Francisco Rodriguez's reputation seems to be doing a lot of the pitching for him this spring.
In two exhibition outings, the 21-year-old reliever who looked electrifying at times in the 2002 playoffs has thrown a total of 17 pitches -- 12 in a scoreless inning against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and five in a scoreless frame against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
He said he'd like to try out his changeup but he's not getting the chance to work that far into a count.
"Guys are being aggressive against me," he said. "They're swinging at the first pitch a lot. I'm trying to go after them and they're swinging."
In Tuesday's fifth inning at Hohokam Park, Rodriguez got Bobby Hill on a groundout to second, he struck out Corey Patterson, who took second base on a wild pitch that got away from catcher Bengie Molina, and then got Nic Jackson to hit into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
"They don't take pitches," he said.
Pitching coach Bud Black said there might be a logical explanation for Rodriguez's predicament -- the fact that Rodriguez is aggressive and is often in the strike zone.
"I'd want to hit as early as I could against Frankie," Black said. "Hitters are looking for strikes and are ready to swing."
Rodriguez, who won five posteason games after pitching a total of five big-league innings in 2002, reiterated to reporters that he's not taking anything for granted this spring.
"I'm not sure I'm making the team, so I'm working hard," he said. "I told you guys that what I did is in the past."
Fish almost ready: Tim Salmon will take at-bats any way he can get them at this time of year. That's why it won't be surprising if he shows up at the Angels' minor-league camp in Mesa soon. Or in the cages at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Or anywhere, for that matter.
"I'm just waiting for them to tell me when it's time to play," Salmon said.
Salmon, the Angels' right fielder, is recovering from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and has not appeared in any Spring Training games yet. That will change soon, according to manager Mike Scioscia.
"He's made constant progress," Scioscia said. "He'll be in there by the end of this week or this weekend."
Salmon has been running the bases and played in a simulated game Tuesday. He said his knee feels about "75 or 80 percent, probably good enough to get my work in." Salmon is likely to make his 2003 debut as a designated hitter and work slowly into the outfield.
Poster child: Scott Spiezio, the Angels' first baseman and the lead singer for his Illinois garage metal band, Sandfrog, proudly displayed a pullout poster from the April issue of Metal Edge magazine. It featured a photo of the band Korn on one side and a photo of "the Sandfrog all-star band" on the other side.
The poster depicted Spiezio standing alongside established rock stars Mike Inez of Alice In Chains, Johnny Tempesta of Rob Zombie's band, and Zak Wylde of the Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne's band. Spiezio sang his song "Stigmata" with these three musicians shortly after the World Series on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period."
Spiezio said the real Sandfrog, which includes his brother-in-law, Andy Anderson, plus buddies Jeremy Sparta, Chuck Butts and Steve Underwood, is "getting closer" to signing a record deal, but that it "might be a while."
Halo handbook: Angels ace Jarrod Washburn said he felt "a little better" Tuesday morning after suffering a mild sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder Monday during a fielding mishap. Scioscia said Washburn will be evaluated on a daily basis and that it's still likely his ace will be ready to start Opening Day as planned. ... Center fielder Darin Erstad will probably be back in the lineup "by the end of the week," Scioscia said, and will have a protective pad on his right hand, which is recovering from offseason surgery. ... Pitcher Jason Hill (sore shoulder) and catchers Dallas McPherson and Jared Abruzzo were assigned to the Angels' minor-league camp in Mesa. ... Scioscia said pitcher Derrick Turnbow will make his spring debut in a split-squad game March 6 and that closer Troy Percival might be seen that day as well. ... Pitcher Matt Wise, who is battling for the fifth spot in the Angels' starting rotation, gave up a long two-run homer to David Kelton in Tuesday's sixth inning. ... The fight for the fifth outfielder job heated up Tuesday. Jeff DaVanon continued his hot hitting with a double to deep center, and two batters later Robb Quinlan hit his first home run of the spring, a game-tying three-run job to left.
Scioscia speaks: The Angels' manager, on Sandfrog's potentially impending good fortune: "They finally have six songs. They're getting there."
Coming up: The Angels host the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium and will see right-hander Jamey Wright for the second time in a week. The Angels will counter with right-hander Chris Bootcheck in the 1:05 p.m. MT start.
Weather report: The clouds hung up in the sky on a somewhat pleasant Tuesday at Hohokam Park, but it remained a bit chilly for this time of year at 64 degrees. Expect more of the same Wednesday after what's supposed to be a cold, rainy night.
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://anaheim.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ana/news/ana_news.jsp?ymd=20030304&content_id=210199&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp
Rodriguez would like more work
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
MESA, Ariz. -- Francisco Rodriguez's reputation seems to be doing a lot of the pitching for him this spring.
In two exhibition outings, the 21-year-old reliever who looked electrifying at times in the 2002 playoffs has thrown a total of 17 pitches -- 12 in a scoreless inning against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and five in a scoreless frame against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
He said he'd like to try out his changeup but he's not getting the chance to work that far into a count.
"Guys are being aggressive against me," he said. "They're swinging at the first pitch a lot. I'm trying to go after them and they're swinging."
In Tuesday's fifth inning at Hohokam Park, Rodriguez got Bobby Hill on a groundout to second, he struck out Corey Patterson, who took second base on a wild pitch that got away from catcher Bengie Molina, and then got Nic Jackson to hit into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
"They don't take pitches," he said.
Pitching coach Bud Black said there might be a logical explanation for Rodriguez's predicament -- the fact that Rodriguez is aggressive and is often in the strike zone.
"I'd want to hit as early as I could against Frankie," Black said. "Hitters are looking for strikes and are ready to swing."
Rodriguez, who won five posteason games after pitching a total of five big-league innings in 2002, reiterated to reporters that he's not taking anything for granted this spring.
"I'm not sure I'm making the team, so I'm working hard," he said. "I told you guys that what I did is in the past."
Fish almost ready: Tim Salmon will take at-bats any way he can get them at this time of year. That's why it won't be surprising if he shows up at the Angels' minor-league camp in Mesa soon. Or in the cages at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Or anywhere, for that matter.
"I'm just waiting for them to tell me when it's time to play," Salmon said.
Salmon, the Angels' right fielder, is recovering from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and has not appeared in any Spring Training games yet. That will change soon, according to manager Mike Scioscia.
"He's made constant progress," Scioscia said. "He'll be in there by the end of this week or this weekend."
Salmon has been running the bases and played in a simulated game Tuesday. He said his knee feels about "75 or 80 percent, probably good enough to get my work in." Salmon is likely to make his 2003 debut as a designated hitter and work slowly into the outfield.
Poster child: Scott Spiezio, the Angels' first baseman and the lead singer for his Illinois garage metal band, Sandfrog, proudly displayed a pullout poster from the April issue of Metal Edge magazine. It featured a photo of the band Korn on one side and a photo of "the Sandfrog all-star band" on the other side.
The poster depicted Spiezio standing alongside established rock stars Mike Inez of Alice In Chains, Johnny Tempesta of Rob Zombie's band, and Zak Wylde of the Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne's band. Spiezio sang his song "Stigmata" with these three musicians shortly after the World Series on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period."
Spiezio said the real Sandfrog, which includes his brother-in-law, Andy Anderson, plus buddies Jeremy Sparta, Chuck Butts and Steve Underwood, is "getting closer" to signing a record deal, but that it "might be a while."
Halo handbook: Angels ace Jarrod Washburn said he felt "a little better" Tuesday morning after suffering a mild sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder Monday during a fielding mishap. Scioscia said Washburn will be evaluated on a daily basis and that it's still likely his ace will be ready to start Opening Day as planned. ... Center fielder Darin Erstad will probably be back in the lineup "by the end of the week," Scioscia said, and will have a protective pad on his right hand, which is recovering from offseason surgery. ... Pitcher Jason Hill (sore shoulder) and catchers Dallas McPherson and Jared Abruzzo were assigned to the Angels' minor-league camp in Mesa. ... Scioscia said pitcher Derrick Turnbow will make his spring debut in a split-squad game March 6 and that closer Troy Percival might be seen that day as well. ... Pitcher Matt Wise, who is battling for the fifth spot in the Angels' starting rotation, gave up a long two-run homer to David Kelton in Tuesday's sixth inning. ... The fight for the fifth outfielder job heated up Tuesday. Jeff DaVanon continued his hot hitting with a double to deep center, and two batters later Robb Quinlan hit his first home run of the spring, a game-tying three-run job to left.
Scioscia speaks: The Angels' manager, on Sandfrog's potentially impending good fortune: "They finally have six songs. They're getting there."
Coming up: The Angels host the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium and will see right-hander Jamey Wright for the second time in a week. The Angels will counter with right-hander Chris Bootcheck in the 1:05 p.m. MT start.
Weather report: The clouds hung up in the sky on a somewhat pleasant Tuesday at Hohokam Park, but it remained a bit chilly for this time of year at 64 degrees. Expect more of the same Wednesday after what's supposed to be a cold, rainy night.
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.