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Archive for the 'Chone Figgins' Tag

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Final: Angels 3, Dodgers 1

May 22nd, 2009, 11:08 pm by Al Balderas, staff writer

Chone Figgins hit a bases-loaded single through a drawn-in infield in the eighth inning, plating two runs and leading the Angels to a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers, Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

The victory was the Angels’ 11th in their last 15 games against the Dodgers.

Figgins’ hit ended a string of missed opportunities by both teams.

Twice, Erick Aybar bunted in an attempt to move runners over. Both times he popped out. Aybar had a chance to redeem himself in the seventh inning after Figgins led off with a triple. Instead Aybar struck out, leaving his bat between shortstop and third base.

Figgins was later caught in a rundown between third and home, leaving the score tied.

The Dodgers had a chance to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning after Rafael Furcal hit a leadoff double. He was sacrificed to third by Orlando Hudson but failed to go any farther because Russell Martin struck out and James Loney grounded out.

Kendry Morales and Gary Matthews singled to start the eighth inning but Howie Kendrick was unable to bunt them over. Morales was forced out at third. Maicer Izturis walked on four pitches, bringing up Figgins. Figgins delivered a single to right field off of Corey Wade, scoring Matthews and Kendrick.

Darren Oliver, who pitched 1 1/3 relief innings, got the victory.

Posted in: Angels • Dodgers • • • • | 2 Comments »

Red Sox covet Teixeira

November 21st, 2008, 7:48 am by Earl Bloom, staff writer

With the New York Yankees busy trying to land the top starting pitchers in free agency, the Red Sox are making a serious run at first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to both Boston papers.
The strongest competition  is expected to come from the Angels, although the Orioles and Nationals are also mentioned as players for the Maryland native’s services.
Yahoo! Sports columnist Jeff Passan lays out the Red Sox situation in the notes portion of his column on another Southern California area free agent, Rafael Furcal. He explains Boston has enough expiring contracts upcoming to ease the hit of landing Teixeira and/or another of its targets, right-hander A.J. Burnett.
Boston has only one player, Daisuke Matsusaka, under contract through 2012. Josh Beckett and Jason Bay can become free agents after 2009; Julio Lugo and Mike Lowell, after 2010; and J.D. Drew, after 2011. The Red Sox hold an option on David Ortiz after 2011.
Kevin Youkilis, the man who can make Teixeira work for the Red Sox by shifting to third base or left or right field,  is only in his second year of arbitration, although the Sox want to tie him up long term.
Where Lowell, Bay or Drew would end up if Youkilis is moved is uncertain. Perhaps one of them could bring more pitching in return. Or the Red Sox could use Youk as a five-position (1B, 3B, LF, RF, DH) supersub a la Chone Figgins of a few years ago.

Posted in: Angels • Mark Teixeira • • | 14 Comments »

Figgins for Paul Konerko?

October 28th, 2008, 7:47 am by Brian Perdue
Could Figgins be headed to the Windy City?

Could Figgins be headed to the Windy City?

The Angels need power.

The White Sox need a leadoff batter who can play third base.

Could a White Sox trade involving Chone Figgins and Paul Konerko be in the works?

It’s possible, Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune writes: “The Angels will need a first baseman if they can’t re-sign free agent Mark Teixeira. Paul Konerko came close to signing with the Angels after the 2005 season and is friendly with Angels manager Mike Scioscia dating to their days in the Dodgers organization.”

Konerko has two years left on his contract and no-trade rights, according to Gonzalez.

Whatever bad blood the Angels’ fans may have with the White Sox after the 2005 ALCS (Remember A.J. Pierzynski?), the front offices seem to get along well. The Orlando Cabrera/Jon Garland trade last year was worked out with relative ease.

Last year, Figgins had 22 RBI. Konerko had 22 home runs.

Even if the Angels do sign Teixeira - which I think is doubtful - working out some Konerko-Figgins trade sounds like a good idea. The Angels would probably have to sweeten the pot with a promising minor-league player.

It’s time for Scioscia to start building a American League batting order. The Angels aren’t in the National League, as their woeful offense again proved in the postseason.

What do you think?

Should the Angels work a trade involving Chone Figgins for Chicago's Paul Konerko?
View Results

Posted in: Angels • • | 9 Comments »

Angels’ young players heading to winter ball

October 21st, 2008, 8:21 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

A number of the Angels’ young players will be playing winter ball this season. The main place to keep your eye on will be the Estrellas team in the Dominican Republic, run by Angels coach Alfredo Griffin.

Planning to play for Griffin this winter are Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, infielder Brandon Wood, catcher Bobby Wilson and right-hander Shane Loux in addition to outfield prospect Brad Coon (team-high 17 steals at Triple-A Salt Lake last summer) and C Ben Johnson (a Double-A Texas League All-Star).

Willits will be trying to recoup the at-bats he lost by spending most of the summer buried on the Angels’ bench. He hit just .194 in 82 games (and 108 at-bats) this season — a big step back after hitting .293 in 136 games the year before. A good showing in winter ball will re-establish his credentials as an every-day option in the majors (if not for the Angels, then for some other team.)

But Wood will be the most important one to watch. Steady playing time in a highly-competitive winter league will be a good test of whether his second-half surge in Triple-A this summer really did signal his readiness for a major-league job.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • • • • • • | 11 Comments »

Game 4 lineups — Angels vs. Red Sox

October 6th, 2008, 1:56 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

Only one slight change in the Angels’ lineup for Game 4 — Mike Napoli moves ahead of Juan Rivera, no shock considering the way Napoli has been hitting since the end of August.

For the Red Sox, Mike Lowell will take his gimpy hip to the bench again. J.D. Drew and his balky back are in the lineup (as is former Cal State-Fullerton star Mark Kotsay).

And Angels manager Mike Scioscia said this afternoon that last night’s 7 1/3 scoreless-inning effort from his bullpen will not limit his options tonight.

“Everybody’s available,” Scioscia said. “Even Jered (Weaver).”

Tonight’s lineups follow:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • Mike Scioscia • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Game 3 lineup — Kendrick moves down

October 5th, 2008, 1:18 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

BOSTON - As intimated by Angels manager Mike Scioscia at yesterday’s workout, second baseman Howie Kendrick is still in the lineup — but lower. He has been moved down to eighth behind both Juan Rivera and Mike Napoli.

The Angels’ 3-4-5 hitters (Teixeira, Guerrero, Hunter) are batting .609 (14 for 23) in this series. But the 6-through-9 hitters are 2 for 31 (.065).

TODAY’S LINEUP:

3B Chone Figgins

LF Garret Anderson

1B Mark Teixeira (5 for 7 in first two playoff games — but all singles)

DH Vladimir Guerrero (1 RBI in past 15 playoff games)

CF Torii Hunter (.357 hitter in 18 career ALDS games)

RF Juan Rivera

C  Mike Napoli

2B Howie Kendrick

SS Erick Aybar

LHP Joe Saunders (4-0, 2.89 in six career starts vs. Boston)

Posted in: Angels • Mike Scioscia • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Hunter hop gives Angels a fright

October 4th, 2008, 7:22 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

Facing the Red Sox in October has been a series of horrors for the Angels. But they got a real fright in the third inning of Game 2 Friday.

Upset over a close call at first base, Angels centerfielder Torii Hunter leapt into the air in frustration, spinning around toward umpire Kerwin Danley – and then crumpled to the ground, reaching for his left knee.

“It buckled on me,” Hunter said later.

“That’s scary,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “This guy’s an important part of everything we’re doing out there on the field.”

“I didn’t actually see it,” Angels third baseman Chone Figgins said. “But I heard the crowd get quiet.”

After back-to-back two-out singles by Mark Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero in the third, Hunter came up as the tying run with a chance to wipe out the early advantage the Red Sox had taken.

He hit a ground ball to shortstop Alex Cora and ran hard down the line but Danley called Hunter out on a very close play, prompting Hunter’s airborne response.

“At the time, the adrenaline is flowing,” Hunter said. “I’m pretty pumped up. I’m an intense player. I play the game like a football player.

“It was a bang-bang play and it’s pretty deflating to have it go against you.”

After several nervous moments for the Angels, Hunter got up and eventually walked gingerly out to his position in center field for the next inning.

“Right now, it looks like it’s just a bit of a tweak, nothing more than a little hyperextension and he’ll be able to play Sunday,” Scioscia said.

Hunter stayed in the game but appeared to be running at less than full strength at times. He misplayed Mark Kotsay’s drive for an error in the sixth inning – Hunter’s first error in an Angels uniform. He went errorless in 137 games (354 chances) during the regular season.

“I’ll be fine,” Hunter said. “Adrenaline is all the medicine I need.”

Posted in: Angels • Mike Scioscia • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Game 2 starting lineups — Angels vs. Red Sox

October 3rd, 2008, 3:25 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

Both teams made changes for today’s Game 2. Gimpy third baseman Mike Lowell is not in the Red Sox’s starting lineup. Sox manager Terry Francona indicated Thursday that he wanted to save Lowell for Game 3 in Boston against Angels left-hander Joe Saunders.

Former Cal State-Fullerton hero Mark Kotsay (not Sean Casey) gets the start at first base with Kevin Youkilis moving to third. Alex Cora is in for Jed Lowrie at shortstop as well.

The Angels, meanwhile, made only minimal changes in response to their ongoing playoff slump (as manager Mike Scioscia indicated he would). Juan Rivera is in for Gary Matthews Jr. and Jeff Mathis is in to catch Ervin Santana.

RED SOX

CF Jacoby Ellsbury (three hits in Game 1)

2B Dustin Pedroia

DH David Ortiz (12-game hitting streak in ALDS)

3B Kevin Youkilis

RF J.D. Drew

LF Jason Bay (two-run home run in Game 1)

1B Mark Kotsay

C  Jason Varitek

SS Alex Cora

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (led AL with 94 walks)

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins

LF Garret Anderson

1B Mark Teixeira (2 for 4 in playoff debut Wednesday)

DH Vladimir Guerrero (1 RBI in past 14 post-season games)

CF Torii Hunter

RF Juan Rivera

2B Howie Kendrick

C  Jeff Mathis

SS Erick Aybar

RHP Ervin Santana (1-2, 5.73 ERA in four career starts vs. Boston)

Posted in: Angels • Mike Scioscia • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Thinking outside the box — Angels lineup changes?

October 3rd, 2008, 9:23 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

Angels manager Mike Scioscia would not divulge his Game 2 lineup during Thursday’s off-day workout. He said only that he was “considering a few things” but “the core of our lineup will remain the same.” Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Angels • Mike Scioscia • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Angels vs. Red Sox — Game 1 lineups

October 1st, 2008, 5:45 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM

RED SOX

CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.280, 9 HRs, 47 RBIs)

2B Dustin Pedroia (.326, 17, 83)

DH David Ortiz (.264, 23, 89)

1B Kevin Youkilis (.312, 29, 115)

RF J.D. Drew (.280, 19, 64)

LF Jason Bay (.293, 9, 37)

3B Mike Lowell (.274, 17, 73)

SS Jed Lowrie (.258, 2, 46)

C   Jason Varitek (.220, 13, 43)

LHP Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21)

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins (.276, 1, 22)

LF Garret Anderson (.293, 15, 84)

1B Mark Teixeira (.358, 13, 43 — with the Angels)

DH Vladimir Guerrero (.303, 27, 91)

CF Torii Hunter (.278, 21, 78)

2B Howie Kendrick (.306, 3, 37)

C  Mike Napoli (.273, 20, 49)

RF Gary Matthews Jr. (.242, 8, 46)

SS Erick Aybar (.277, 3, 39)

RHP John Lackey (12-5, 3.75)

Posted in: Angels • Vladimir Guerrero • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

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