News
From Scioscia, the highest praise
Los Angeles (84-55) vs. Chicago (70-71), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
09/11/09 11:23 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- In the sixth month of his 10th season as manager of the Angels, Mike Scioscia thinks he has found something special. "Right now," Scioscia said, heading into a weekend series with the White Sox at Angel Stadium, "this is the best rotation we've had, where our guys are. That's saying something." He paused and searched his mind, tossing around five-deep combinations from seasons past, but nothing swayed his way of thinking. "From top to bottom, where our guys are, this is the deepest rotation we've had," Scioscia concluded. The Angels' rotation is led by veteran John Lackey, who worked the finale of the series with the Mariners on Thursday night. How the other four -- Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana -- eventually line up will shake out in the weeks ahead. Saunders engages Gavin Floyd in the series opener, with Santana and Kazmir following him to the mound against manager Ozzie Guillen's outfit. Kazmir has flourished in his first two starts in an Angels uniform even though he doesn't have a win yet to show for his efforts. He gives the club better rotation balance with a pair of lefties, joining Saunders. Along with his deepest rotation, Scioscia is at the controls of what he calls his "deepest lineup since '02," when he had Bengie Molina and Adam Kennedy in the bottom third of a powerful attack. Scioscia isn't about to entertain questions about potential postseason rotations. Involved in a tight, exciting race with the Rangers for American League West supremacy after blowing the field away last season, the Angels' one-day-at-a-time manager will respond to no queries related to October baseball. "Our challenge is ahead of us to get to the playoffs," Scioscia said. "Nobody's looking ahead to say this guy's going to be fresher than that guy." Santana would seem to be the early choice to be the odd man out, shipped to the bullpen, if the Angels are playing in October. The right-hander has fared well in relief in three postseason assignments, including a victory over the Yankees in the fifth and decisive game of the 2005 American League Division Series. Scioscia's point about giving every game your undivided attention certainly applies to the White Sox. They're one of three teams in the Majors to own a series edge against the Angels, having taken two of three in Anaheim on May 25-27 and two of three in Chicago on Aug. 4-6. The other two clubs to hold the upper hand against the Angels are the Rangers (9-3) and Tigers (5-4). At least the Angels don't have to worry on Jim Thome tormenting them anymore. The big bopper, now a Dodgers backup reunited with old Cleveland buddy Manny Ramirez, owns four walk-off homers against the Angels. Pitching matchupLAA: LHP Joe Saunders (12-7, 4.97 ERA)
Saunders posted his second straight solid outing in his last start, against the Royals. The left-hander allowed 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings but managed to hold Kansas City to just two runs. His pitch count tipped over 100 in the sixth, forcing an early exit, but Saunders kept finding ways to escape major trouble. After a rough stretch in June and July, Saunders seems to have stabilized things in his past three starts. He allowed two runs against Detroit on Aug. 26, and he tossed seven scoreless innings against the Mariners on Aug. 31. Saunders is 0-1 against the White Sox this season, having given up three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings on May 26. CWS: RHP Gavin Floyd (11-9, 3.84 ERA)
Floyd pitched perhaps his best game of the season during Saturday's 5-1 victory against the Red Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. He retired the first 17 batters he faced before surrendering a Nick Green single to center with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to break up a perfect-game bid. Floyd lasted through the eighth inning, allowing one run on just three hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts and no walks. The eight innings matched a season high, which he has done five times this year. Floyd moved to 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA over his last 10 home starts. He is 9-5 with a 2.62 ERA over his last 20 starts overall. Lifetime against the Angels, Floyd is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in four starts. But his lone victory came in a start last month, in which Floyd tossed eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in a 6-2 win at home. Tidbits
Erick Aybar's bunt single in the first inning on Thursday night was his 18th of the season, leading the Majors. He's second in the AL with 11 sacrifice bunts and has 28 infield hits. ... Bobby Abreu is 5-for-14 (.357) with four RBIs against Floyd. Juan Rivera also is hitting .357 against the right-hander with a homer and three RBIs in 14 at-bats. Two of Torii Hunter's three hits in 16 at-bats (.188) against Floyd have been homers. ... Hunter was presented the Angels' Roberto Clemente Award before Thursday night's game for his commitment and involvement in the community. Hunter is the club's nominee for the Majors' annual Clemente Award. ... Performing the national anthem before Thursday night's game, Kenny G carried a note on his sax toward the end that was longer than some entire renditions. Tickets
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• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Saturday: Angels (Ervin Santana, 7-8, 5.71) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 12-9, 3.84), 1:10 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Angels (Scott Kazmir, 8-8, 5.43) vs. White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 12-7, 3.77), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 15-5, 3.76) at Yankees (Chad Gaudin, 5-10, 4.81), 4:05 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.
