Spring Training Overview

 

I been watching some of the Angels spring training game and I been enjoying watching some of the Angels young players. Some of the good signs I'm been noticing that Pare Bourjous has been very good reading the ball in the field and also seems like he is getting more comfortable on the plate. Also I like what Mark Trumbo is doing with the bat he is able to turn on the ball nicely but also take the ball to right center when he needs to.

 

This are some of the Result:

 

March 3

Cubs 4, Angels 2

 

Trout 0-3

Bourjous 0-3

Calhoun 0-1

Hamilton 1-2  Run

Trumbo 1-2

Iannetta 1-2

Cowart 0-2

 

Pitching

Blanton 2.0IP 1ER 4.50ERA

Kohn 1.0IP 0ER 3.00ERA

Kobayashi 1.0IP 1ER 4.50ERA

 

March 2

Brewers 4, Angels 3

 

Aybar 1-3

Callaspo 0-2

Kendrick 1-3

Wells 1-2 Run,RBI Walk HR

Conger 1-3 2RBI

Calhou 0-3

 

Pitching

Wilson 1.2IP 2ER 10.80ERA

Frieri 1.0IP 0ER 0.00ERA

 

March 1

 

Angels 16, Dodgers 8

 

Trout 2-2 2BB

Bourjos 1-4 3RBI

Hamilton 2-2 1R 2RBI HR

Trumbo 0-2 2R Walk

Iannetta 0-3

 

Pitching

Weaver 2.0IP 1ER 4.50ERA

Jespen 1.0IP 2ER 18.00ERA

 

Trout is looking to get a new contract

 

The Angels and Mike Trout are negotiating a new contract for 2013 season, however, it wont be a 10 year $25 million contract but he might be making just a little more then the league minimum of $490,000. You might be thinking why? The reason is that Mike Trout will be under team control for a few more years which means the Angels don't really need to agree with Trout to be able to sign him, Angels just need to offer Trout the major minimum and he will need to sign with them with or with out his signature. Seems unfair but the league is trying to give players with service time in the league more leverage then up and coming players.

 

However, I really hope the Angels give Mike Trout a pretty good raise at least a $1million contract so he wont hold this negotiations against the Angels when both sides are ready for a contract extension.

 

I really like how Trout knows his time will come he is not worried about his the contract.

 

Read Article:

 

TEMPE, Ariz.—It’s not the preferred outcome of a contract negotiation for either side, but it is one the Angels and Mike Trout appear headed for.

The 2012 American League rookie of the year and most valuable player runner-up and the team are far enough apart in talks over his 2013 salary that Trout expects to have his contract “renewed” on Saturday at a figure the Angels set, not one the 21-year-old phenom agrees to.

“You could easily put yourself in a bad mood about it, but that’s not me,” Trout said before Thursday’s workout. “I like to play baseball. I’m going to try to win a World Series for the team and not worry about off-the-field things.”

Players with less than three years of major league service have virtually no leverage, and most will make close to the major league minimum, which rose from $480,000 in 2012 to $490,000 this season.
If a player and team can’t agree on a figure, the team can renew the player at a salary at or above the minimum, an outcome that can ruffle the feathers of some players and their agents but doesn’t always cause contention.

Derek Jeter was renewed after winning rookie of the year in 1996, but the New York Yankees more than tripled his salary, from $130,000 to $550,000. Ryan Howard was renewed in 2007 after winning rookie of the year in 2005 and MVP in 2006, but the Phillies more than doubled his pay, from $355,000 to $900,000.

Most salary bumps for rookies of the year are in the 15%-20% range, but few also finish among top MVP vote getters, which makes Trout a little more exceptional.

The closest comparable for Trout may be Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, the former St. Louis slugger who won rookie of the year and finished fourth in MVP voting in 2001. The Cardinals and Pujols agreed to terms in 2002 for $600,000, twice what he made in 2001.

The Angels and Trout’s agent have not begun discussing a multi-year deal. Trout will probably make a salary closer to the major league minimum than $1 million this season; his salary will jump considerably when he reaches arbitration in 2015.

 

“I have to go out there, put up some numbers and not worry about that other stuff,” Trout said. “My time will come.” (LA Times)

Vernon Wells plans to retire after 2014

 

I feel like Vernon Wells would not have many options after his contract is over in 2014. I don't think he will try to get another contract because mostly it will be a minor league contract which will be a huge cut from his current contract. So I feel even if Wells would not want to retire after the 2014 season, I feel like he will be force to.

 

However, I do like that him and Hunter are planing to team up to get their own team because I feel like they will make a very good team and they will be able to out a nice team together.

 

 

Read the Article:

 

Angels outfielder Vernon Wells plans to retire at the end of the 2014 season because he wants to spend more time with his family, he told reporters Monday.
"My kids," Wells said, via MLB.com. "It'll be time to invest more in their lives. I've gone through this for long enough. My thoughts right now as a family is to be done after two years, enjoy them, get to be there for them in those years where they're going to need their dad every day, not just every now and then."

Wells has two boys, ages 10 and 7.

Though Wells is only 34 years old, the timing of his planned retirement is no coincidence. He's set to make $21 million in both 2013 and 2014, so if he retired now he'd leave over $40 million on the table. Instead, Wells will play out the deal and make the entirety of his contract for his family. Once he finishes the 2014 season, Wells will have made well into nine figures in his lucrative career.

Wells hit .230/.279/.403 with 11 homers and 29 RBI in 262 plate appearances last season. He's been incredibly unpopular and the butt of many jokes in his time with the Angels, due to his gargantuan salary, sub-par play and the fact that the Angels traded Mike Napoli to acquire him.

The fact remains, though, that Wells is a three-time All-Star with three Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and a career .273/.321/.467 line in the bigs. He's hit 259 homers and driven home 908 runs. That's a quality career, regardless of the malign. (CBS)

Trout Making His Presents Known



2012 ROY was making his mark during Spring Training but not only on the field but out of the field. 

Mike Trout, David Carpenter, Michael Kohn and Travis Witherspoon brought school supplies and toys to Children First Academy, a Tempe charter school for underprivileged and homeless kids.

This makes me happy to hear because it really makes a big impact to those kids when they see this players coming and helping them out. The kids might know who Trout is but they will appreciate the help that they are doing for them. Hope Trout keep doing that through out his career.

READ ARTICLE:

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Hours before Mike Trout singled in his first at-bat this spring, the Los Angeles Angels' outfielder was a big hit with some kids.

Trout and teammates David Carpenter, Michael Kohn and Travis Witherspoon brought $5,000 worth of school supplies and toys Monday morning to Children First Academy, a Tempe charter school for underprivileged and homeless kids.

''After it was all over the kids ran up and gave us a big hug,'' the 20-year-old Trout said. ''Put a smile on my face and all the teammates that came.

''Doing stuff for the community,'' Trout added, ''it means a lot to me.''
A few hours later, Trout scored twice for the Angels in a 9-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The AL Rookie of the Year and runner-up in the MVP voting last season also walked.

''Felt good out there,'' he said. ''Felt like I had a couple good at-bats. Still, timing is not there, but it's the first game. It'll get better.''

Last spring, a lingering illness and shoulder tendinitis kept Trout off the field and forced him to start the 2012
season in Triple-A. He didn't stay there long.

Los Angeles called him up in late-April and Trout blossomed into a superstar. He scored a major league-leading 129 runs, hit .306 with 30 home runs, 83 RBIs and 49 stolen bases.

Now, a healthy Trout is looking forward to getting an exhibition schedule to prepare for the regular season.
''Just to get the timing down,'' he said. ''For me, it's all about timing, seeing pitches.''

Trout led off the game with a single and scored later in the inning when catcher Hank Conger ripped a three-run home run off Seattle starter Jeremy Bonderman. Conger, competing for a reserve role, added a double and single, going 3 for 3 with five RBIs.
T
he 30-year-old Bonderman, trying to secure a spot in Seattle's rotation after missing the past two seasons and undergoing elbow surgery last year, allowed two hits and a walk in his lone inning.
''It wasn't the way I wanted it go, but it was good to get out there and get my feet wet again,'' Bonderman said. ''It was good to get the first one out of the way, but it's no excuse. I have to go out there and get outs.''
Brendan Ryan homered for the Mariners and Justin Smoak doubled and singled. Seattle rallied for seven runs in the final three innings.

NOTES: Smoak Seattle SS Brendan Ryan homered in his first at-bat of the spring and 2B Dustin Ackley tripled in his spring debut. ... LF Jason Bay was 0 for 3, but made an athletic, tumbling catch in the third inning. ... Angels starter Garrett Richards threw two innings, allowing two hits, an unearned run and struck out one. ... RP Chad Cordero, signed two weeks ago to a minor-league contract, threw one inning and allowed the home run to Ryan. Shoulder injuries sidelined the career of the former All-Star, who has not pitched in the majors since 2010. (Yahoo)

Once again Chirs Iannetta has to learn a new pitching staff

 

Not only does Chris Iannetta has to make sure his wrist is 100% strong this spring he also need to learn his new pitchers from starters to relievers. But to be honest I really like Chris as the everyday catcher he is very smart and a very good overall player. I have faith in his ability to call games and he will do good learning each pitcher. I feel the second year with pitchers like Weaver and CJ will really help the team this year. I feel like he has this respect with the pitchers that really helps him call games. O and hit hitting is not to bad either.

 

 

Read the Angels Article:

TEMPE, Ariz. -- When Chris Iannetta arrived at Angels camp a year ago he was the new guy. Iannetta was acquired via a trade with the Colorado Rockies and was pegged to be the Angels' starting catcher.

But as the relationship between a pitcher and a catcher is so vital to the success of a pitcher and a baseball team, it was Iannetta's job to develop strong ties with the Angels' rotation -- even if he was the new one.

In 2013, Iannetta, entering his second Spring Training with the Angels, is no longer the new guy, but his spring task has not changed. The club added Tommy Hanson, Jason Vargas and Joe Blanton to the rotation while Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson became new members of the bullpen, and once again Iannetta will spend this time getting to know a new crop of pitchers.

"That's what Spring Training is for," Iannetta said. "It's like any friendship. You start with the 'hello' and you get to know them off the field and in the clubhouse. That translates onto the field and it just keeps getting better every day like any other friendship or relationship in life. You get to know them better the more you're around them." To Finish Reading Click Here



Dont Miss the First Spring Training Game

Don't miss the first Spring Training Game starting this SAT Feb 23 at 12 noon.
The Angels will be taking on the Cubs at Diablo Stadium. If you can't make it you could list in to the game on AM830.



Get your 2013 Individual Games to Watch the Angels

 

Tickets are going for sale to the public on Sat Feb 23 at 9:00am. This is your chance to get tickets for Opening Day and popular series like with the Yankees, Texas and Dodgers.

 

Make sure you get them early.