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Clips

(July 17, 2015)

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Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels pitchers Jered Weaver, Huston Street move closer to returns

Angels are in good spot going into second half but have things to fix

Ex-Angels GM Jerry Dipoto not about to 'open closets, dig up bones'

Temporary home for NFL team would be 'very difficult' at Angel Stadium

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 7)

Buoyed by recent offensive surge, Angels believe they're ready to take charge in second half

Angels at the break: First-half review/second-half preview

Jered Weaver still at least a week away from return to Angels; Huston Street close

Rams won't play in Anaheim, even on temporary basis, but Coliseum is possible

On deck: Red Sox at Angels, Friday, 7 p.m. FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 13)

Weaver progressing with simulated game: Right-hander eyeing possible return vs. Texas next weekend

FROM BLEACHER REPORT (Page 15)

Angels Hitting Sustainable Peak Despite Front Office Civil War FROM LA DAILY NEWS (Page 18)

Angels midseason report: How far can they go this year? FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels pitchers Jered Weaver, Huston Street move closer to returns

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BY MIKE DIGIOVANNA Jered Weaver threw a three-inning, 50-pitch simulated game on Thursday, and the Angels right-hander, out for four weeks because of left hip inflammation, will repeat the workout next Monday or Tuesday before being activated off the disabled list. That means the Angels can put off for another week or so the difficult decision of who comes out of the rotation when Weaver returns. Manager Mike Scioscia said during Thursday’s workout that C.J. Wilson, Garrett Richards and Hector Santiago would start the first three games against the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday night. Andrew Heaney and Matt Shoemaker will pitch Monday and Tuesday, though not necessarily in that order. Weaver said he should be ready "five days after" throwing his next simulated game, so that would put him in line to pitch July 25 or 26 against the Texas Rangers. Scioscia seemed confident Thursday that Weaver would not need a minor league rehabilitation assignment before returning. Closer Huston Street, who has been out since suffering a right groin strain on July 8 at Colorado, threw off flat ground on Thursday but pushed a scheduled bullpen workout from Thursday to Friday. "If all goes well, I should be ready to go on Saturday," Street said. "Knock on wood." The Angels also announced that Keith Johnson, their former triple-A manager who has been serving this season as a roving infield instructor, will replace Rico Brogna as the team's player information coach starting Friday night. Brogna has been moved to a professional scouting role.

Angels are in good spot going into second half but have things to fix BY MIKE DIGIOVANNA

The Josh Hamilton saga began in late February and dragged on for two months, the Angels expressing "serious concerns" about the outfielder's "health, conduct and behavior" after his substance-abuse relapse and swallowing $60 million of his contract to trade him to the Texas Rangers on April 27. Then, on July 1, General Manager Jerry Dipoto abruptly resigned in the wake of renewed friction with Manager Mike Scioscia. In between, an underachieving offense — outside of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, that is — struggled so much to score that the Angels, despite strong pitching, were stuck at .500, the very definition of mediocrity, 18 times through June 26 and were five games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West on July 1.

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Now look at them: Winners of seven of nine games, the bats busting out for 65 runs and 107 hits — 37 for extra bases — on a recent nine-game trip. The Angels have a record of 48-40 and have a half-game lead over the Astros as they open second-half play against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. "Those were two things that could have definitely derailed some teams," reliever Joe Smith said of the Hamilton and Dipoto situations, "but fortunately, we didn't let either one become a distraction. "There is adversity every year, and it comes in different forms. Both scenarios were sad, but there's nothing we can do about it as players except to go out and play the game." The drawn-out Hamilton affair and sudden loss of their general manager, combined with the struggles of half their lineup, cast a cloud of negativity over the Angels for much of the first half. The Angels weren't expected to match their 98-64 record of 2014, but no one expected them to be 11-15, seven games back and already looking to the trade market to bolster the offense in early May. If there was a sense of panic, it stopped at the clubhouse door. "It's a long, long season, so just because April and May didn't go our way, you've got four months left to play good baseball," right fielder Kole Calhoun said. "And to be honest, you want to be playing your best baseball as you get further into the season. "There were times we struggled to score runs, but we still had confidence in ourselves. That's what we told you guys every day, that we believed in each other and in this team, and now we're here playing well and in first place at the break, just like we talked about." One hot streak can't mask the team's deficiencies, though. Designated hitter C.J. Cron finally found his timing, batting .459 (17 for 37) with four homers and 12 runs batted in since being recalled from triple A on June 29. But left fielder Matt Joyce (.190, five homers, 20 RBIs) and catcher Chris Iannetta (.191, five homers, 19 RBIs) are still struggling, and third baseman David Freese (.244, 10 homers, 39 RBIs) has been inconsistent. Interim General Manager Bill Stoneman's top priority before the July 31 trade deadline is to acquire a better-hitting outfielder, preferably one that bats left-handed, but improvement also needs to come from within. "If we get Joyce and Iannetta swinging like they can and Freese back on track, that need for a bat starts to dissipate," Scioscia said. "Bill is making contact with teams, putting together a list of guys who might help us, and we'll see where it goes." Dipoto was also looking for a leadoff man, but the emergence of second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who is hitting .291 with a .328 on-base percentage, six runs and six RBIs in 13 games since taking over the top spot on June 28, could mitigate that need. "He's growing into the role of table-setter," Scioscia said. "He gives you a good at-bat, and he's really been clutch for us. When you look at everything, he's definitely the best guy we have to set the table for Kole, Mike and Albert."

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Another problem looms, but it's a good problem to have. Jered Weaver threw a three-inning, 50-pitch simulated game Thursday and will repeat the workout Monday or Tuesday before returning from a left hip injury, most likely July 25 or 26. C.J. Wilson, Garrett Richards and Hector Santiago will start the first three games coming out of the break, with Andrew Heaney and Matt Shoemaker pitching Monday and Tuesday. At some point next week, the Angels must decide who comes out of the rotation when Weaver returns, but having six capable starters for five spots beats having three for five spots, like the Angels did last September after Richards and Shoemaker were injured. With closer Huston Street expected back from a right groin injury Saturday, and Trout and Pujols, who have combined for 52 homers and 111 RBIs, showing few signs of cooling, the Angels are in decent shape entering the second half. "There are a lot of professional people in here who have been through a lot, who know what it takes, and who know not to get too low or to press and be upset if we're behind," Iannetta said. "I think we believed and knew the whole time that we were a good team. Guys are starting to play more like themselves, and as a result, we've scored a lot of runs lately. We'll see how it all plays out." Up next Left-hander Wilson (7-7, 3.83 ERA) will oppose Boston left-hander Wade Miley (8-8, 4.80) at Angel Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. TV: FS West; Radio: 710, 830, 1220.

Ex-Angels GM Jerry Dipoto not about to 'open closets, dig up bones’ BY MIKE DIGIOVANNA

Jerry Dipoto, who abruptly resigned July 1 as Angels general manager in the wake of renewed friction with Manager Mike Scioscia, was a guest of Jim Bowden and Casey Stern on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio channel Thursday. Among the excerpts: Question: Can you say what happened with the Angels? Answer: To be fair to all parties involved, and to be as truthful as I can, this was for the best for me personally, for the Angels organization, for Mike [Scioscia] and the players in the clubhouse. Sometimes it requires difficult decisions for the greater good. I don’t want to sound holier than thou, but this one, for the greater good, made the most sense. There were just certain things we weren’t going to be able to get beyond. … There were certain things that weren’t going to work with the way they were set up. Without getting into opening closets and digging up bones, that’s the best way to keep it. Q: When was the writing on the wall for you, when did you know you were going to step down?

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A: Like in any business, there’s a certain degree of professional discomfort, but you can work through that. I’m not at all opposed to the small day-to-day conflict that happens in any business. But there also comes a time where it’s gone well beyond that, and that’s something that becomes inoperable. I probably knew that was the case three or four days before it became public knowledge, and not much before that. This wasn’t some long-range diabolical plan to get us into a position where we could compete for a division title and then magically walk away. These are really tough jobs to find, prestigious positions, and to walk away, there has to be something pretty significant to make that a viable outcome. For me, it was the right thing to do. Q: What do the Angels need to do before the July 31 trade deadline? A: One thing we were always looking to do was to find ways to get better on the margins, to get deeper. We were able to accomplish a lot of those goals on the pitching side, both in the rotation and bullpen. Some of that needs to occur now with the offense. The last two weeks, the team just exploded, they’re scoring a lot of runs, and God bless them, they have good offensive players. But clearly there’s a need for additional bodies, whether they be on the bench or in a platoon system. Any team can use a big bat this time of year, and the Angels are probably right there among the top teams that do. Q: What are your general thoughts on the trade deadline, what are you anticipating? A: In the end, it always winds up being a little more wild than we anticipated. I think there are enough teams that right now are on the edge of determining whether they’re in the market or out as a seller, and that should make for an interesting last seven days or so. Right now, it looks like it should be a seller’s market, but I don’t think a host of impact bats will be available. That means the prices will be a little higher. But at the end of the day, the price of doing business is what it is. Right now, there are few enough bats out there that can come in and create a shift in the tide that it’s going to cost a premium to get there. I think there will be a little more pitching available, but oddly enough, I don’t know that that’s the primary need of those in the buyers' aisle. Q: Did you communicate with interim GM Bill Stoneman, how did the transition work? Did you talk to him about the deals you were working on? A: I did inform all [the people in the front office] as to what was going on. We work in a pretty open shop. We had a very open and creative conversation internally about what we were doing, what we were talking about. Stoneman wasn’t naturally a part of a lot of that, but I did fill him in generally about where things were when I stepped aside, and I shared that information with [assistant GMs] Matt Klentak and Scott Servais and [pro scouting director Hal] Morris, who were all involved day to day. They got the notes on who we were talking to, what we discussed, and where the conversations were with various clubs, so I have every faith that they won’t miss a beat. They’re very sharp guys.

Temporary home for NFL team would be 'very difficult' at Angel Stadium

BY NATHAN FENNO The NFL’s options for a temporary home in the Los Angeles area could be shrinking again.

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Using Angel Stadium in such a capacity would be “very difficult” because of potential scheduling conflicts, a spokesman for the Angels said Thursday. The stadium is one of at least five local venues that the NFL asked to submit bids to host a team in the event one or more relocates to Los Angeles. But last week the Rose Bowl Operating Co. pulled out of the competition. The unanimous and unexpected decision removed a leading candidate from the NFL’s options. The Coliseum, operated by USC, is the only facility that has confirmed it will bid. But it can host only one team. If two relocate, another site will be needed. Dodger Stadium and the StubHub Center are other options. The Angels received an inquiry from the city of Anaheim about using Angel Stadium as a temporary NFL site, the team spokesman said. In a statement, the city left the decision to the Angels. “With Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the city defers to Angels Baseball on the management of activities within the stadium, in accordance with the city’s lease agreement,” the statement said. The NFL asked that proposals be submitted by Aug. 5.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Buoyed by recent offensive surge, Angels believe they're ready to take charge in second half BY JEFF FLETCHER ANAHEIM – The Angels are like the car you bring to the repair shop because of the noise it’s been making, only to have the noise stop once you get there. For the first three months of the season, the Angels were unquestionably a team in need of some offensive help, a team underachieving because of too many hitters who just weren’t performing. Then a funny thing happened a couple weeks ago. The Angels went on their most prolific offensive binge of the season, scoring 7.2 runs per game over their last nine games. They raised their scoring average from 3.8 to 4.2 runs per game, their batting average from .241 to .250, their on-base percentage from .304 to .312.

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Essentially, they went from being one of the worst offenses in the league to being an average one in the span of nine games. Oh, and the hot streak coincided with a six-game losing streak by the Houston Astros, which allowed the Angels to move into first place for the first time since mid-April. So the question now is this: Are the Angels fixed? Or did that rattling noise just stop temporarily? “You’ve just seen what we’re capable of doing,” catcher Chris Iannetta said. “If we continue doing that, we’ll be just fine. We don’t have to do what we’ve done the last week and a half. We can do something in between. I think that’s very feasible.” Manager Mike Scioscia said he’s feeling better about the offense being sufficient, without any additions between now and the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. “If you’re looking at the evolution of our offense, if we get Matt Joyce swinging like he can, Chris Iannetta doing what he can do, and David Freese back on track, that need for a bat starts to dissipate a little bit,” Scioscia said. Still, the Angels have room for offensive improvement if they are going to win their second straight division title. The recent hot streak brought them only to the middle of the pack. The pitching has been perhaps better than expected, so they could use some offensive help to provide a safety net in case the pitching falters. Bill Stoneman is in charge of scouring the market to see if that help is attainable. Stoneman, 71, took over as interim general manager after Jerry Dipoto resigned abruptly July 1. Although Stoneman had a history of standing pat at the trading deadline during his eight seasons as the general manager, he insisted last week he’s not philosophically opposed to being active. Stoneman will lean heavily on assistant general manager Matt Klentak, who will be involved in trade talks. If the Angels are to make a move for offense, their preference would be a left-handed hitter who can play left field. They could also get a first baseman/designated hitter, who could split time with Albert Pujols. The best, most attainable player might be Adam Lind of the Brewers. Lind has an .887 OPS and 15 homers. He’s also due just under $3 million for the rest of this season, with a team option for $8 million in 2016. The Angels also would likely be interested in Ben Revere of the Phillies, Gerardo Parra of the Brewers, Adam LaRoche of the White Sox or Jay Bruce of the Reds. Any deal would likely involve the Angels moving some of what has become a surplus of pitching. They certainly wouldn’t want to trade Andrew Heaney or Sean Newcomb, but could move pitchers such as Nick Tropeano, Chris Ellis or Nate Smith. While trade talk is certain to dominate among the fans and on social media over the next two weeks, in the Angels clubhouse they will simply try to keep doing what they have done over the last two weeks.

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“Some guys in this room could be who we have to trade to get someone else,” Iannetta said. “It’s a difficult scenario. One of our lives could change in a heartbeat. You try to focus on the task at hand.” At the moment, as the Angels prepare to open the second half with a 10-game homestand, they have the confidence that they have what they need. They are, after all, in first place, albeit by the narrowest of margins. “It’s good momentum,” Mike Trout said. “Now we’re seeing what this offense is capable of doing. We just have to take it into the second half.”

Angels at the break: First-half review/second-half preview BY JEFF FLETCHER ANGELS FIRST HALF-REVIEW KEY MOMENT: When Garrett Richards returned to the rotation April 19, and in his subsequent start established that he could be the same pitcher he was last year, the Angels had to feel good about having their ace. Richards hasn’t quite lived up to what he did last year, but he’s been plenty good enough to anchor the rotation. With Jered Weaver being inconsistent and hurt, Richards looks like a Game 1 starter if the Angels reach the postseason. MVP: Who else but Mike Trout? Certainly Albert Pujols, Hector Santiago, Huston Street and Richards have had great numbers in the first half, but Trout’s speed and defense and everyday presence make him the MVP. Besides, his numbers could end up being better than when he was the AL MVP last year, so he’s got to be the Angels MVP. BIGGEST SURPRISE: Santiago went into the spring fighting for a job in the rotation, and he ended up making the All-Star team. Santiago has been the Angels’ most consistent starter from the start of the season. He cleaned up his mechanics, and it’s made a dramatic improvement in his performance. BIGGEST DISAPOPINTMENT: Jered Weaver had been losing velocity for a few years, but he still had been able to pitch effectively until this season. Weaver had a bad April, then a very good May, and then a bad June that ended with him going on the disabled list. Weaver and the Angels are hoping that the time on the disabled list helped him get back on track. He is expected to return before the end of July. ANGELS SECOND-HALF PREVIEW KEY TO THE SECOND HALF: The pitching needs to continue to do what it has done all season. While there is some reason for optimism that the Angels offense can get better – either from better performances from the current players or new ones – they probably won’t get that much better. If the pitching gets worse, offense upgrades will be neutralized.

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TRADE POSSIBILITIES: The Angels were looking for a left-handed hitter or two, preferably one who could play a corner outfield spot and one who could be a DH or first baseman. Milwaukee’s Adam Lind is the best choice, because he’s having a good year, he’s affordable and the Brewers are clearly in sell mode. Milwaukee’s Gerardo Parra, the White Sox’s Adam LaRoche, Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce and Philadelphia’s Ben Revere are also possibilities. BIGGEST CONCERN: The Angels’ offense has been shaky because they don’t have the depth to replace the struggling players. If anyone gets hurt, the Angels will be in trouble. Their farm system just hasn’t produced replacements for the everyday lineup. SCHEDULE: The Angels open the second half with a 10-game homestand, and then a tough trip against the second-place Houston Astros and the Dodgers. The Angels also have two more three-city trips, one through Detroit, Cleveland and Oakand and one through Seattle, Minnesota and Houston.

Jered Weaver still at least a week away from return to Angels; Huston Street close BY JEFF FLETCHER ANAHEIM – Jered Weaver continued moving toward a return to the Angels rotation on Thursday, but the decision on who he will replace is still at least a week away. Meanwhile, Huston Street said he plans to throw a bullpen session on Friday, and be available to pitch on Saturday. Weaver, who has been out for nearly a month with left hip inflammation, said he felt good after a 50-pitch simulated game during the Angels optional workout at Angel Stadium. Weaver said he is expecting to throw one more simulated game, which will be Monday or Tuesday, and then be available to return to the Angels after four days rest. That means the soonest Weaver could return would be next weekend. Manager Mike Scioscia, speaking before Weaver’s workout, also said he is hoping that Weaver will not need a minor league rehab assignment. “You don’t want him wasting anything,” Scioscia said. In the meantime, the Angels have scheduled C.J. Wilson, Garrett Richards and Hector Santiago, in that order, to throw the three games this weekend against the Boston Red Sox. Andrew Heaney and Matt Shoemaker would then pitch on Monday and Tuesday, in an order to be determined.

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Street, who has been out for more than a week with a tight groin, was at first scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, but the Angels pushed that back a day. Street instead went thorugh his normal pregame routine of agility drills and catch on flat ground. Street expressed little concern about the injury keeping him out more than one more game. “I feel ready to go, knock on wood,” he said. “Just getting out the last little bit (of tightness).” ALSO Keith Johnson, the Angels roving infield instructorr, will take over as the player information coach. Rico Brogna, who was reassigned to scouting, held the job before Jerry Dipoto's resignation... Collin Cowgill, who is out with a sprained right wrist, was to have a splint removed on Thursday. On Friday he will begin some range of motion exercises.

Rams won't play in Anaheim, even on temporary basis, but Coliseum is possible BY SCOTT M. REID

The Rams might be returning to Southern California, but they won't be coming back to Anaheim even on a temporary basis. Angels officials said Thursday that scheduling conflicts between Major League Baseball games and NFL contests in September and October make it unlikely that they will submit a proposal to NFL for Angels Stadium as a temporary home to a relocating team. Angels Stadium, home to the Rams from 1980 to 1994 when they moved to St. Louis, is the second stadium to be taken off the table as a temporary venue for NFL in recent weeks, further complicating the potential relocation of two franchises to Southern California as early as 2016. Rose Bowl officials said earlier this month they would not submit a bid to the NFL. NFL officials have contacted several stadiums in California asking them to submit temporary host bids to the league by August 5. The Coliseum, Dodger Stadium and StubHub Center officials have also been contacted by the NFL. Where teams moving to Los Angeles would play during the 2016 and 2017 seasons will be among the primary topics at special NFL owners meetings dealing with the Los Angeles situation August 10-11 in Chicago. USC senior vice president Todd Dickey said last week the university will submit a bid to the NFL for the Coliseum. But the Coliseum only solves half the NFL's problem if two teams choose to relocate to Los Angeles County as expected. Under the terms of USC's lease with the Coliseum Commission, only one NFL team can play at the stadium on a temporary basis for up to four years.

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NFL officials continue to talk with the Dodgers about the availability of Dodgers Stadium. While both sides are intrigued by the idea of NFL games at Chavez Ravine, such a move would have to overcome the same logistical hurdles facing the Angels. Anschutz Entertainment Group officials are still weighing whether to submit a bid. While the 27,000-seat capacity of the Galaxy’s home stadium is much smaller than existing NFL stadiums, AEG officials believe the venue has special features that would enhance fan experience. Hollywood Park Land Company officials said a $1.86-billion Inglewood stadium backed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke would be ready for the 2018 season. The Chargers and Raiders said a new stadium would entail 28 to 32 months of construction once the league approves a relocation request. The NFL could approve one or two teams relocating as early as December, according to league officials. Any relocation requires the approval of three-quarters of the NFL's 32 owners. By the NFL handling negotiations to secure a temporary venue or venues, NFL officials said, it removes a potential impediment for teams in their negotiations in their current home markets.

On deck: Red Sox at Angels, Friday, 7 p.m. BY JEFF FLETCHER Where: Angel Stadium TV: Fox Sports West, 7 p.m. Did you know: The Angels have lost 280 man-games to injuries requiring a stay on the disabled list this season, the third-lowest total in the American League. Nearly one third of those (88) belong to Tyler Skaggs, who is out rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. THE PITCHERS LHP C.J. WILSON (7-7, 3.83) Wilson has posted five quality starts in his last six outings. His last start was a vintage example of a game in which Wilson manages a passable start despite being in trouble. He gave up three runs in the first three innings, then nothing else. When Wilson faced the Red Sox in Boston on May 23, he gave up four runs in six innings. Vs. Red Sox: 6-4, 2.88 At Angel Stadium: 26-18, 3.41 Loves to face: David Ortiz, 3 for 20 (.150) Hates to face: Shane Victorino, 3 for 8 (.375)

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LHP WADE MILEY (8-8, 4.80) Miley’s first season in the American League hasn’t lived up to his performance in the National League. Miley had a 3.79 ERA in four years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Red Sox acquired him last winter and signed him to a three-year, $19.25-million contract. In his last outing, Miley gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings of a loss to the New York Yankees. His only career game against the Angels came in May in Boston, when he gave up one run in eight innings. vs. Angels: 1-0, 1.13 At Angel Stadium: First game Loves to face: None Hates to face: None Upcoming games: Saturday: Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello (5-9, 5.90) vs. Angels RHP Garrett Richards (9-6, 3.53), 6 p.m., Fox Sports West Sunday: Red Sox LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 3.59) vs. Angels LHP Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33), 5 p.m., ESPN2 Monday: Red Sox TBA vs. Angels TBA, 7 p.m. Fox Sports West.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Weaver progressing with simulated game: Right-hander eyeing possible return vs. Texas next weekend BY DAVID ADLER ANAHEIM -- Angels right-hander Jered Weaver, working his way back from right hip inflammation, threw a simulated game at the team's post-All-Star-Game workout on Thursday, but he said he will need at least one more -- plus a full four days' rest afterward -- before returning to Major League action. That means the Angels' rotation will likely remain as it is for at least one more turn. Weaver threw 50 pitches in three simulated innings (all facing Taylor Featherston) off the mound at Angel Stadium, a day before the Angels open a four-game series against the Red Sox. The Angels said Weaver's second simulated game would likely be either Monday or Tuesday, which would place his return to the rotation toward the end of the Rangers series (July 24-26).

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"Felt good," Weaver said after throwing. "[I] was able to hit down-and-away pretty good. Hitting spots, speed was good. I think we're going to do one more of those and then be ready." If that's the case, Weaver would not need to go on a rehab assignment. "If we keep up that aggressive sim game, he's not that far away from pitching and with his feel he should be OK," manager Mike Scioscia said. "The one thing with Weave, if it's coming out the way we hope, you don't want to waste anything." C.J. Wilson, Garrett Richards and Hector Santiago will pitch the Angels' first three games out of the break against the Red Sox starting on Friday. With Weaver rehabbing, that would leave Andrew Heaney and Matt Shoemaker for Monday and Tuesday. "We're gonna see where Heaney falls in, Shoemaker, Weaver obviously," Scioscia said. "We're gonna look and see where they fold in after that." Scioscia said the team would continue to read the situation with the rotation, but would hopefully come to a "pretty good idea" of the direction they want to go within the next several days. Scioscia also confirmed that Heaney, who has a 1.32 ERA in four starts since he was called up to make his team debut on June 24, will get at least one more start. When Weaver comes back, the Angels will need to figure out what to do with the six starters they would have on the roster. Richards, Weaver, Wilson and Santiago are all likely to remain in the rotation, and Heaney has pitched so well since coming up that it would be difficult to take him out. That would make Shoemaker a possibility to eventually come out of the bullpen, but that wouldn't be until the Texas series, at the earliest, if Weaver is still out. Scioscia has previously said the team does not want to go to a six-man rotation. Worth noting • Closer Huston Street (right groin strain) went through his full normal pregame routine during Thursday's workout, throwing all his pitches. Street said he will throw a bullpen session on Friday and is targeting a Saturday return. • The Angels announced that Keith Johnson, who had been the team's roving infield coordinator, will be serving as the team's new player information coach going forward. Rico Brogna, who had occupied that role, will be a professional scout under director of professional scouting Hal Morris. • Scioscia said Thursday would be the last day in a splint for outfielder Collin Cowgill (sprained right wrist), who was with the team in Anaheim. Cowgill will then resume "range-of-motion" activities with his hand, Scioscia said, and proceed from there.

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FROM BLEACHER REPORT

Angels Hitting Sustainable Peak Despite Front Office Civil War

BY ZACHARY D. RYMER

For much of 2015, things have been a bit hellish for the Los Angeles Angels. They began the year by raising a ruckus over Josh Hamilton's latest relapse. More recently, the running feud between Jerry Dipoto and Mike Scioscia finally boiled over, resulting in the former's ouster.

That only happened two weeks ago. And at the time, it was easy to see the Angels as a dead team walking. Surely, ahead of them lay only doom with a side of gloom.

Or not, as it turns out.

Credit where it's due, Scioscia is showing that he deserved to win his power struggle with Dipoto.

After going 37-37 in their first 74 games, the Angels finished the first half on an 11-3 run that catapulted them into first place in the AL West at 48-40. Rather than let an ugly situation snowball, they've put said ugly situation in the rearview mirror by playing their best baseball to date.

According to the man in charge, they've been able to do so because they haven't let all the turmoil rob them of their focus.

"I think the focus is good; there's really not a lot of distractions there," Scioscia told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com earlier this month. "We've had a lot happen the last couple weeks, and these guys keep playing baseball. That's what we're going to focus on."

This is a good thing. Focused baseball is better than unfocused baseball. And in these recent times, what it's meant for the Angels is a return to the form of their MLB-best 98-win season from 2014.

In no small part thanks to Mike Trout, the Angels offense has finally come alive in recent weeks.

Above all, what stood out about the 2014 Angels was how well they could swing the bats. Led by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, they had a deep collection of quality hitters that produced more runs than any other team.

The Angels offense has largely struggled to carry on the torch in 2015, ranking 11th in the AL in runs. The reason we can say "largely," though, is because the Angels offense has pulled off a Ben Affleck-like turnaround in recent days.

In their first 74 games, the Angels scored only 3.9 runs per game. But in their last 14 games, a dive into the numbers at BaseballSavant.com goes to show that the offensive gears in Anaheim finally started to turn:

Now, the obvious caveat here is that the Angels offense has erupted over a very small sample size. We're not looking at definitive proof that the Angels will score 5.6 runs per game the rest of the way.

And yet, this offensive explosion hasn't come out of nowhere.

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Mike Trout has helped the cause by doing Mike Trout things with a .360 average, 1.292 OPS and seven dingers. Fellow Angels regulars Kole Calhoun, David Freese and Erick Aybar have also found their strides. Calhoun has an OPS of .907 in this stretch, while Freese has a .733 OPS. For his part, Aybar is hitting .455 in his last 11 games.

Regarding Aybar specifically, the Angels have had a hand in his improvement. His hot stretch has coincided with a move into the No. 5 hole, which MLB.com's Andrew Erickson highlighted as a spot that allows Aybar to hit more like his "slasher" self than a top-of-the-order spot.

It's not just Angels regulars who have awoken, however.

Also awakening has been slugging designated hitter C.J. Cron, who was ranked by Baseball America as the Angels' No. 2 prospect not too long ago. Since returning from the minors in late June, he's hit .459 with a 1.326 OPS and four homers in 10 games.

This is after Cron OPS'd just .505 in 35 games to open the season. That's a big difference, but Scioscia says it's reflective of a big difference in Cron's approach.

"There's no doubt he's in the batter's box with a little more confidence. I think he feels like he's better equipped right now. The time spent down in Triple-A was well-served," Scioscia told Erickson. "There's no doubt he needed to work out some things and find his timing, and he did and he's really been attacking the ball well while he's been up here."

Rather than some random occurrence, the Angels' offensive surge thus looks like the result of the best player in baseball looking the part, two established guys living up to their talent, one guy getting put in the right spot and a talented young hitter finding his happy place. That's a mix that could have some staying power, and the Angels offense will continue to thrive if it does.

And lest we forget about him, odds are Pujols isn't going to stay as cold as he's been. There's also the possibility that the Angels will acquire a hitter before the trade deadline, preferably one who swings left-handed and who can bat leadoff and play left field. Someone like, say, Ben Zobrist or Ben Revere.

Whatever the case, the Angels' recent offensive surge should prove to be a good warm-up for the second half. If so, they won't need much in the way of pitching.

But as it happens, they're pretty well off in that department too.

Early in his Angels career, rookie left-handed Andrew Heaney looks like a keeper.

The Angels didn't catch fire before the break just because their offense caught fire. Their pitching also had a hand in it, as the Angels allowed only 2.8 runs per game in those last 14 games.

The difference between the Angels offense and their pitching, however, is that the latter has been kicking posteriors for a while now.

For the season, the Angels have a 3.64 ERA that ranks fifth in the American League. Angels pitchers have been even better recently, posting a 3.22 ERA over the last 30 days.

The main explanation for that? Well, it helps when four of your five primary starters are getting results:

July 17, 2015 Page 17 of 20

Of these five, only Matt Shoemaker hasn't pitched well. And though we could dive into some really nerdy numbers and nitpick how legit the success of the other four is, the reality is that their numbers are accurate enough reflections of their talent.

C.J. Wilson, for example, is a veteran left-hander with a deep repertoire who has fixed the control problems that plagued him in 2014. Hector Santiago has also improved his control, and he's benefited from being a fly-ball pitcher with one of the league's elite outfield defenses behind him. Garrett Richards, meanwhile, is a guy with overwhelming stuff who posted a 2.61 ERA last year.

The one wild card in the mix is Andrew Heaney. He's been successful in his four starts, but those are the only four starts he's made in an Angels uniform. That, combined with the fact that he got lit up in his first taste of the majors with the Miami Marlins last year, should raise suspicions.

And yet, Heaney's hot start does have a tinge of believability to it.

Heaney did come into the year as a consensus top-50 prospect, after all. And though that talent didn't translate in 2014, the Angels managed to diagnose why that was and go about making fixes.

As Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register reported, the Angels stopped Heaney from reaching across his body with every throw. The result has been better velocity and better command than he showed in his underwhelming debut in 2014. Hence, better results.

Assuming Heaney's breakthrough is legit, then the Angels have at least four starters to rely on. The return of Jered Weaver could make it five if his stint on the disabled list somehow leads to him recovering some lost velocity. If not, oh well. Four out of five is still pretty good.

Even better is that the Angels rotation need not do all the heavy lifting. After having one of baseball's best bullpens in the second half of 2014, it could be the same old story down the stretch this year.

The Angels have already been operating with an excellent late-inning duo, as right-handers Huston Street and Joe Smith both own ERAs under 3.00 and the peripherals to back them up. But in the person of Trevor Gott, the Angels may now have a third shutdown reliever.

Gott is averaging 96.5 miles per hour with his fastball.

The 22-year-old right-hander has only made 13 appearances, but that's been enough for him to make an impression. He's allowed only 13 baserunners in racking up a 2.77 ERA. And though he's struck out only seven, he's shown good command of his high-90s fastball and an ability to keep the ball on the ground.

If Gott lives up to what he's teased so far, then the Angels stand to push their way through the second half with a shutdown bullpen, a solid starting rotation and a much-improved offense. That, certainly, doesn't sound like a team that's likely to fade after finally showing up just before the All-Star break.

And if it helps, they're not expected to by the computers.

Though they disagree on whether the Angels will be the AL West's best team down the stretch, both FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus project them to finish the season on top for their second straight division title.

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It thus doesn't take a pair of human eyes to see that the Angels should continue being about as good as they've looked recently. That's commendable even without context, but the context in this case makes it look so much more so.

Seemingly poised to fall apart just weeks ago, what the Angels have done instead is come together. If that does indeed lead to another AL West title, it'll make the victory taste that much sweeter.

FROM LA DAILY NEWS

Angels midseason report: How far can they go this year?

BY ROBERT MORALES

A look at where the Angels stand heading into the second half of the season:

Catcher

Veteran Chris Iannetta has remained No. 1, but he has had a tough time. In 2014 he hit .252 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 306 at-bats. He had an on-base percentage of .373. This season Iannetta is batting just .191 with an OBP of .304 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. He has two errors, same as 2014. He hit just .093 in April.

First base

A healthy Albert Pujols is having his best season since coming to the Angels in 2012. He has 26 home runs, tied for the league lead with teammate Mike Trout. Pujols also has a team-high 56 RBIs. But he’s batting just .255, .219 with runners in scoring position. His slugging percentage of .532 is his best since 2011, when it was .541 with St. Louis. Defensively, he’s still gold-glove caliber.

Second base

Johnny Giavotella had big shoes to fill, those worn by departed Howie Kendrick. Giavotella has done admirably, batting .271 with 16 doubles and 33 RBIs. He’s hitting .292 with runners in scoring position. Nicknamed “Johnny Drama,” Giavotella is hitting .444 (20 of 45) with 11 RBIs in late and close situations. Giavotella does have eight errors; Kendrick had just 11 all last year.

Third base

David Freese is hitting a career-low .244. But with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs, his power numbers at this rate would be his best since 2012, when he smacked 20 home runs and drove in 79 with St. Louis. The good news is he’s hitting .316 (12 of 38) this month. His last home run was June 16, though.

Shortstop

Erick Aybar only recently began to hit like he can, after seeing his batting average at .246 on June 17; it was .264 at the end of June. Aybar has been on a tear this month, going 18-for-40 (.450) in 10 games to raise his average to .287. Aybar does have nine errors after having just 10 all last year. But he still makes wonderful plays.

July 17, 2015 Page 19 of 20

Left field

Matt Joyce is batting just .190 with five home runs and 20 RBIs while getting the majority of the playing time. He came to the Angels during the offseason in a trade that sent standout relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen to the Tampa Bay Rays. Joyce had 65 at-bats in June and drove in just one run.

Center field

Mike Trout is having another MVP-type season. He’s batting .312, highest on the team. He has 26 home runs and 55 RBIs. He leads the team in on-base percentage (.405), slugging (.614) and OPS (1.019). He’s also batting a team-high .370 (20-for-54) with runners in scoring position. Trout, who has made some spectacular plays at his position, has cut down some on his strikeouts, too.

Right field

After hitting .315 in April, Kole Calhoun has had difficulty keeping his average above .270 — it’s .265 right now. But he does have 10 home runs and 47 RBIs, so his power numbers are good enough. Calhoun is also batting .338 (24-for-71) with runners in scoring position, second to Mike Trout among regulars.

Starting pitching

Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33 ERA) is having a career season. Also, southpaw Andrew Heaney is 3-0 with a fine ERA of 1.32 in four starts. But Jered Weaver (4-8, 4.75 ERA) is having his worst season and is on the DL (hip) and Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.85 ERA) has not had a solid sophomore campaign.

Yet, Garrett Richards (9-6, 3.53 ERA), who last season sustained a season-ending knee injury in August, is doing as well as could be expected. C.J. Wilson (7-7, 3.83) is not earning his $18 million this season.

Bullpen

With Huston Street converting 24 of 27 save opportunities, the bullpen has been solid overall. Set-up man Joe Smith has a 2.72 ERA with 22 holds and young flame-thrower Trevor Gott has come up from Triple-A and shown well with a 2.77 ERA.

Southpaw situational reliever Cesar Ramos has contributed nicely with a 1.73 ERA. But Mike Morin has been hit hard since coming off the DL on July 3.

Bench/Designated Hitter

Designated hitter C.J. Cron, who can spell Pujols at first base, has been on a tear since returning from Triple-A Salt Lake. In 10 games, he has hit .459 with four home runs and 12 RBIs.

Efren Navarro, currently back at Salt Lake, has had his moments as a reserve left-fielder/first baseman, hitting .260. And Daniel Robertson has batted .273 in 44 at-bats. The Angels have missed outfielder Collin Cowgill (wrist injury).

Manager

Give Mike Scioscia credit for keeping an under-achieving team within striking distance of Houston in the AL West as it struggled to find consistency on offense. Perhaps where Scioscia really demonstrated his leadership was during the recent fiasco with the front office.

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Scioscia and former GM Jerry Dipoto had a strained relationship ever since Dipoto fired hitting instructor Mickey Hatcher in 2012. But anytime over the past couple of seasons, when asked about his relationship with Dipoto, Scioscia responded in diplomatic fashion and downplayed the notion there was any ongoing friction.

His players, therefore, could avoid constant questions about it. It all came to a head with Dipoto resigning on July 1.

With former GM Bill Stoneman inserted in the interim, the players have to feel more at ease knowing he and Scioscia get along. Heck, Stoneman hired Scioscia in 2000. The Angels have since gotten hot offensively and gone 7-3 to overtake Houston by a half-game in the AL West.

Trade winds

Top need: The Angels need someone in left field who can provide some offense. With Matt Joyce not cutting it, even getting someone who could hit home runs and drive in runs at a 20-75 rate, would be a vast improvement and maybe all the team would need to win the West.

Who could be dealt: With Andrew Heaney doing so well, the Angels are in position to trade one of their other starting pitchers, assuming Jered Weaver is soon off the DL as expected. With Heaney they have six starters, and only need five. Since Wilson makes big bucks, the easiest trade could come by sending second-year man Matt Shoemaker out for a left-fielder.

Current record, position

48-40, first place in AL West

Predicted finish

First place, AL West.