Fletcher looking forward to healthier season
TEMPE, ARIZ. ❯❯ The Angels have another infielder looking for a comeback season.
Like third baseman Anthony Rendon and first baseman Jared Walsh, David Fletcher also endured a season lost to injury in 2022. While Fletcher doesn't have the huge contract that Rendon does, he nonetheless would like to again be the player he was a couple years ago.
“That's my expectation,” said Fletcher, who is in the mix for everyday playing time at shortstop in 2023. “My expectation of myself is to hit around .300 and play good defense.”
Fletcher hit .319 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, his third consecutive season of improved offensive numbers, earning a five-year, $26-million deal heading into 2021.
And 2021 started off well, including a 26-game hitting streak and a .315 average in late July. But Fletcher finished 2021 with a six-week stretch hitting .150 and then saw his 2022 season ruined by injuries.
He felt a core muscle tear in spring training and played through it for more than a month before succumbing to surgery, which cost him nearly three months. In September, he was hit on the hand by a pitch and tried to play through that even though he clearly couldn't swing at all.
“It was the first year I too much about Fletcher's approach at the plate.
“I don't want him to change,” Nevin said. “He goes up there and hacks and wails. He's not going to walk a lot, but if he's getting hits, it's the same thing.”
Nevin pointed out that Fletcher could boost his batting average by bunting more. In September, when Fletcher played with a sore hand, he couldn't swing at all and he dropped down two bunt hits.
“He got two bunt hits when everyone in the ballpark knew he was going to bunt,” Nevin said. “Think about that when he's healthy. That can move guys around the infield and create more holes and create more spots for hits when he's swinging away too. That's another thing we've talked about with him too.”
Mostly though, Nevin said his hope for Fletcher being more productive is health and strength. The stronger he is, the more likely he is to be able to punch balls through the infield or into the gaps.
“I think with health, he's going to be a lot better,” Nevin said. “I think he's back to where he was before. He's stronger. There's no doubt about that. He spent a lot of time this winter working on his body which, quite frankly, he may not have done as much so in the past and he hasn't had to, but you get to certain points in your career where you got to make some changes in the offseason. I think he recognized that.”
If Fletcher can produce like he did from 2018-20, he would be a boost for an Angels lineup that is otherwise without an established everyday shortstop. As of now, the Angels have Fletcher and Luis Rengifo looking to get most of the time at shortstop, with either player also able to play second base. The Angels also have Gio Urshela, who will get some time at shortstop.
Notes
Right-hander Griffin Canning threw his first live batting practice session of the spring. Canning, who missed all of last season with a back injury, is in the running for the Angels' sixth starter spot. “I'm feeling great,” Canning said. “That's probably the best I've felt in a while. I'm pretty excited. That was my first live BP in a long time.” ... The Angels moved some of their workouts into Tempe Diablo Stadium, instead of their minor-league complex, in preparation for the start of exhibition games this weekend . ... For the Angels' spring training opener Saturday, they will start Urshela at third, Fletcher at shortstop, Rengifo at second and Kevin Padlo at first. Jo Adell, Brett Phillips and Mickey Moniak will be in the outfield. Matt Thaiss will be the catcher. Left-hander Tucker Davidson will pitch. Other regulars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are expected to play their first game when the Angels are at home Sunday . ... Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami will start for the Oakland A's on Tuesday against the Angels. Ohtani will be starting that day for the Angels, the only game he will pitch for the Angels before leaving for the World Baseball Classic.
A person with knowledge of the hiring tells The Associated Press that Sean Payton is bringing back exBroncos head coach Vance Joseph to Denver to serve as his defensive coordinator.
Two other former NFL head coaches — Rex Ryan and Matt Patricia — also interviewed for the job in recent days.
Joseph coached the Broncos from 2017-18, compiling an 11-21 record before being replaced by Vic Fangio. He spent the past four seasons as the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator.
Payton was hired as head coach last month after spending a year in the Fox broadcast studio following his departure from the New Orleans Saints.
• New Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has asked Drew Petzing to lead an offense that will eventually be built around franchise quarterback Kyler Murray. The problem is Murray is recovering from tearing the ACL in his right knee and probably won't be available for at least the first few weeks next season.
This is the first offensive coordinator job for the 35-year-old Petzing, who spent the past three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and was the quarterbacks coach last season.
Petzing has a wide variety of experience on the offensive side of the ball, also coaching tight ends with the Browns and receivers for the Vikings. Gannon and Petzing worked together in Minnesota.
Rangers' deGrom back on the bump
Jacob deGrom threw his first bullpen session in spring training camp for the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
The two-time NL Cy
Coco Gauff set up a semifinals match against top-ranked Iga Swiatek at the Dubai Championships by beating Madison Keys 6-2, 7-5.
Swiatek, who reached the last four in a walkover after Karolina Pliskova withdrew because of an illness, is 5-0 against Gauff and beat the 18-year-old American in last year's French Open final. Gauff is yet to win a set against the threetime Grand Slam champion.
The fifth-seeded Gauff relied on her steady serve and capitalized on Keys' mistakes in their all-American quarterfinal match. Keys committed 51 unforced errors.
Barbora Krejcikova upset second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 0-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, was on a 13-match winning streak and led 3-1 in the second set before Krejcikova's comeback. It was Sabalenka's first loss this season.
Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, will face Jessica Pegula of the United States in the semifinals. Pegula, who is ranked No. 3, advanced by a walkover after Karolina Muchova withdrew because of an abdominal injury.
• Andy Murray reached the semifinals of the Qatar Open by beating French qualifier Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
The 35-year-old Murray will next face Jiri Lehecka after the Czech player upset top-seeded Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who has had two hip operations, seeks his third title in Doha. He's currently ranked 70th.
Second-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime faces Daniil Medvedev in the other semifinal. The 22-year-old Canadian reached the last four by beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 7-6 (5). Medvedev beat Christopher O'Connell of Australia 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.