News
Vlad sheds dreads trying to shake slump
Los Angeles (37-32) vs. Colorado (37-34), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
06/24/09 2:00 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- In perhaps a move to break out of his homerless slump, Vladimir Guerrero cut off his dreadlocks completely on Tuesday for the first time since joining the Angels in 2004. |
Angels manager Mike Scioscia quipped before Tuesday's game that without his dreadlocks, Guerrero "looked better than he did the day before."
The ploy, however, didn't work on Tuesday, as the slugger went 0-for-4 in the Angels' 4-3 victory over the Rockies to prolong his homerless drought to 26 games.But Scioscia knows that getting Guerrero back on track will be key for the team if it wants to get hot like its opponent, the Rockies, who have won 17 of their last 19 games.
"Nobody is feeling this anymore than Vlad is," Scioscia said. "He's a little frustrated with the pitches he feels he could be driving. But it's definitely not a bat-speed issue. Hopefully, we'll be able to weather this storm and he can get to where he needs to be." Scioscia was quick to point out that Guerrero started slow last season, batting just .246 with seven homers through the end of May but finished by hitting .337 with 20 home runs over the final 90 games. "It took him a couple hundred at-bats to get going last year, and you saw what he did," Scioscia said. "We hope it won't take that long though." For now, Scioscia said that Guerrero will keep hitting cleanup in the lineup because the skipper expects the slugger to break out of his power drought soon. "It's too premature to talk about that," Scioscia said of moving Guerrero down in the order. "We're going to take it one step at a time and hopefully we won't have to cross that bridge. We have a lot of confidence he'll get where he needs to be." Scioscia said he's happy with his current lineup that notably has Bobby Abreu batting second and Torii Hunter third with power threats such as Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera and Mike Napoli down in the order. "I think right now we're starting to see some inning-to-inning pressure," Scioscia said. "There's a lot of focal point on the guy in the middle, but it's going to take more than that." Pitching matchupLAA: LHP Joe Saunders (7-4, 3.80 ERA)
Saunders fought his control early, walking home a run, and yielded a pair of homers while lasting 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Friday night at home. He was touched for four earned runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four hitters. He has made it into the seventh inning in nine of his 14 starts. Saunders has never faced the Rockies. COL: RHP Jason Marquis (9-4, 3.71 ERA)
Marquis held the Pirates to three runs and forced a whopping 20 ground-ball outs in a 7-3 victory at Coors Field on Friday night. Marquis actually has had better nights. None of his secondary pitches worked. Of course there is a difference between the lineups of the aggressive, experienced Angels and the less accomplished Pirates. But by being allowed to experiment this spring, rather than being forced into competition for a job, Marquis has learned and is better able to adjust to hitters or his own effectiveness level. Tidbits
Scioscia said that reliever Rudy Seanez still "has some work ahead of him" before he could make his debut with the Angels. The Angels signed the right-hander to a Minor League contract on May 18, but he has yet to make an appearance with the club because he's been suffering from a strained chest muscle. ... Scioscia and Napoli, who was behind the plate when the Angels had six wild pitches Monday, went over video on Tuesday. Scioscia, however, said Napoli was fine mechanically but the two talked about a few minor adjustments. ... Saunders, Robb Quinlan, John Lackey, pitching coach Mike Butcher, hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, bullpen catcher Steve Soliz and their wives visited the children of Miller's Children's Hospital in Long Beach on Tuesday. Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 7-3, 2.53) at Diamondbacks (Billy Buckner, 2-4, 7.15), 6:40 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Angels (John Lackey, 2-3, 5.83) at D-backs (TBD), 1:10 p.m. PT
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
