Outfield could leave little room for Wells
A lot can change in two weeks, as the Angels, who turned their season around with an 11-5 run entering Friday, can attest.
Even more can change in two months, so who knows what shape the outfield will be in when Vernon Wells recovers from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and is ready to play in early August?
“I can’t predict what will happen,” Wells said. “Hopefully I can slide right back into what I was doing.”
That’s doubtful if the current Angels in the outfield avoid injury and, in the case of Mike Trout and Mark
Trumbo, remain as hot as they were in May. With right fielder Torii
Hunter back in the lineup, Trumbo will slide from right to left, and Trout, who has been moving between left field and center, will be more of a regular center fielder.
Trout has provided a significant spark in the leadoff spot, hitting .324 with 11multiple-hit games in May and playing superb defense.
Trumbo entered Friday with a team-leading .348 average, .396 on-base percentage and 10 homers, including one in each of his last four games.
Wells, who has two years and $42 million left on his contract after 2012, was hitting well when he got hurt, going eight for 23 with two homers in his last eight games to raise his average to .244.
“I think there’s still a spot for me in left field,” Wells said.
If not, “We’ll just rotate, and I’ll be a cheerleader half the time and play some nights. Once everyone gets a chance to be in the lineup, it’s a matter of going out there and doing what you can to help the team win. It will play itself out.” Express lane
Nolan Ryan set foot in Angel Stadium on Friday for the first time in 19 years, receiving a standing ovation when he was introduced for a pregame ceremony. The Texas Rangers President and CEO received a specially designed ring commemorating his membership in the Angels Hall of Fame and he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Hall of Fame pitcher, who threw four of his seven no-hitters for the Angels, has vivid memories of the last time he was here, on Sept. 17, 1993.
Ryan was a 46-year-old right-hander with the Rangers, and in the next-to-last start of his distinguished 27year career he gave up one unearned run and four hits, struck out five and walked none in seven innings of a 2-1 loss to the Angels.
“I didn’t win, but I had pretty good stuff,” Ryan said. “I knew it was the last time I would pitch here. I was a little emotional. The fans here always treated me well.” Short hops
Reliever LaTroy Hawkins (broken right pinkie) threw a 20-pitch simulated game and will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Sunday at Class-A Inland Empire. … Jered Weaver, on the disabled list because of a lower-back strain, said his pain has subsided enough to begin playing catch this weekend. … Catcher Chris Iannetta (fractured right wrist) began throwing with a brace but is weeks away from returning. … Catcher Hank Congerreturned to action at triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday after missing 11⁄ 2months because of a sprained elbow.