Minor League Spring Training, Day Two
 Jered Weaver threw a simulated game session today. |
Another day of photos from minor league camp are now on-line at:
www.futureangels.com/tempe/springphotos.aspx
Among other things, you’ll see a photo of Jered Weaver throwing his simulated game. Most of the Angels brass was in attendance, including Bill Stoneman, Mike Scioscia, Mike Butcher and more. Bobby Wilson caught the session, with right-handed batter Michael Collins and left-handed batter Brad Coon alternating in the box. Four or five minor leaguers were scattered in the outfield to shag balls.
This was strictly for exercise, not to pitch in actual game conditions, so Weaver wasn’t trying to blow away anyone. But on his final pitch, he took his time and painted the inside corner at the knees.
Stoneman and Scioscia spent quite some time watching the various minor league workouts in the morning. You’ll see a photo of Scioscia talking with minor league field coordinator Bruce Hines. Unlike many organizations, the Angels are very disciplined about the entire organization being on the same page when it cames to the way they play the game. I’ve heard the minor league managers and coaches many times tell players to do something the way Scioscia wants it. So it’s not the least bit surprising that he’d be there on an off-day. Pitching coach Mike Butcher and third base coach Dino Ebel also put in an appearance.
It seemed like rehab day on the mound. Mitch Arnold and Bobby Cassevah, both coming back from Tommy John surgery, threw in games. I also got to see Warner Madrigal pitch the 9th for the Rancho Cucamonga team. Madrigal was originally a power-hitting outfielder in the lower minors, but after a couple broken hand injuries and a lot of unfulfilled promise at the plate the Angels decided to convert him last year into a reliever. He’s throwing in the mid-90s and already has a slider and changeup. He was effective against the Oakland roster he faced, 1-2-3 in the 9th.
There’s an outfielder on the Rancho roster right now named Anthony Norman, who used to play for UCLA. He was signed in February. I don’t know his background, so if anyone is familiar with him please chip in. You’ll see a photo of him making a head-first dive to score in the 1st inning.
All the guys cut yesterday were in camp today. Got to say hi to Brandon Wood and Nick Adenhart. Erick Aybar was hanging out later in the day.
As for Korean pitcher Young-Il Jung, I’ve seen an interpreter assigned to him but he seems to spend a lot of time without the interpreter conversing with his teammates. How much he knows, much less understands, is debatable.
We face the Giants teams tomorrow, then I head home on Wednesday.
This article is copyright © 2007 Wordsmith Resources and FutureAngels.com. It may not be used elsewhere without the prior expressed written permission of the author.
FutureAngels.com 