News
Angels don't expect A's to lay down
Los Angeles (75-51) vs. Oakland (56-71), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
08/28/09 1:15 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- With nine games remaining against the front-running Angels, the last-place Athletics could have a major say in how the American League West race plays out. Angels manager Mike Scioscia is taking nothing for granted, reminding his athletes of the need to be on top of their games even though the A's are hopelessly out of the chase as the only team in the division below .500. "There's a lot for those guys to play for," Scioscia said. "Look at their veterans, guys like Adam Kennedy and Mark Ellis. Those guys are going to play hard in a Spring Training game. "They've got a mix of young guys trying to make their footprints in the big leagues, along with some veterans who play as hard as anyone who's ever put on a uniform. You have to go out and earn every win you're going to get." After a brief and unsuccessful start in Toronto, lasting only 1 2/3 innings, rookie Trevor Bell hopes to rediscover his fastball command in his third Major League start. He'll face journeyman right-hander Brett Tomko. "He's shown some signs," Scioscia said of Bell, who won his second start in Cleveland with 5 1/3 solid innings after a no-decision in 5 1/3 innings against the Rays in his debut. "Look at the first game he pitched. When his fastball command is there, his stuff plays in the big leagues. "He's not a finished product. He's better than he showed in his last start." Scioscia doesn't need to be reminded how rough it's been on the Angels this season inside their division, where they're not even playing .500 baseball. Texas, by contrast, is 11 games over .500 against the AL West. "The AL West is a tough division to get through," Scioscia said. "I kind of laugh at people who say it's been easy. It's got the best record, National League or American League, the last 10 years. That says it in a nutshell." It's incumbent on the two-time defending division champs to kick it into gear against the AL West, largely because the Rangers and Mariners, as well as the A's, represent a high percentage of their competition in the remaining five weeks. Along with their nine games left with the A's, the Angels face the Rangers seven times and the Mariners on six occasions. "They're rebuilding in a great way," Scioscia said of the A's. "They've got some great young arms in their rotation ... a terrific pitching staff in the making. They could be as strong as they were when they had [Tim] Hudson, [Mark] Mulder and [Barry] Zito all those years." Pitching matchupLAA: RHP Trevor Bell (1-1, 9.49 ERA)
After handling himself capably in his first two starts, Bell was rocked by the Blue Jays on Sunday in Toronto. The three-run double lobbed over first base by Randy Ruiz that ended Bell's day wasn't a bad pitch, down and in, but his command overall wasn't close to what it had been against the Rays and Indians. Bell, 22, has jumped from Double-A Arkansas to Triple-A Salt Lake to the big time this season, and that's a lot of ground to cover for a guy who hadn't pitched beyond Class A in his first four professional seasons. OAK: RHP Brett Tomko (3-2, 3.69 ERA)
Tomko continued his strong stint with the A's by giving up just one run through six innings in his last start, against Detroit. He has won both of his starts since being selected by Oakland on Aug. 17 and has a 0.75 ERA in that span. Against the Tigers, he scattered just three hits while walking three and striking out eight. Tidbits
The inductions of Chuck Finley and Brian Downing into the Angels Hall of Fame on Thursday night brought membership in the exclusive club to eight. They join Jim Fregosi, Don Baylor, Nolan Ryan, Bobby Grich, Rod Carew and Jimmie Reese. ... Scioscia said the Angels will recall "some guys" on Sept. 1 when rosters expand, then bring up a few more after the Minor League playoffs. Already having made a mark with the Angels this season, Reggie Willits, Sean Rodriguez, Bobby Wilson and Brandon Wood are position players who figure to get a call, along with relievers Rich Thompson, Francisco Rodriguez and Bobby Mosebach. Sean Rodriguez, leading the Bees with 27 homers, 89 RBIs and a .613 slugging percentage, can play six positions. ... Southpaw Trevor Reckling, a popular name in trade discussions, but highly prized by the Angels, was chosen by USA Baseball to pitch in the 2009 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Baseball World Cup in Europe from Sept. 9-27. Reckling, 20, is the youngest member of Team USA. He's 8-6 with a 2.90 ERA in 22 starts at Arkansas after going 1-2 with a 0.95 ERA in three starts at Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Reckling has pitched 149 1/3 innings in his third professional season after working 152 1/3 innings last year. Tickets
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• Saturday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 13-5, 4.03) vs. Athletics (Vin Mazzaro, 4-9, 5.32), 6:05 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Angels (John Lackey, 8-7, 4.16) vs. Athletics (Brett Anderson, 7-9, 4.35), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Angels (Joe Saunders, 10-7, 5.27) at Mariners (Luke French, 4-3, 3.92), 7:10 p.m. PT
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
