April 17, 2015 Page 1 of 18

Clips

(April 17, 2015)

April 17, 2015 Page 2 of 18

Today’s Clips Contents FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels balance out the bullpen with two left-handed relievers

Josh Hamilton situation is unsettled and possibly unsettling

Angels' Mike Scioscia not convinced Josh Hamilton getting help he needs FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 7)

Angels players insist Josh Hamilton not a distraction ... unless media ask about it

Dissecting the hot start for Angels' Mike Trout

On deck: Angels at Astros, Friday, 5 p.m.

Even after talking to Josh Hamilton, Mike Scioscia still has questions

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 11)

Angels champing at bit for Richards' return

Scioscia reaches out to Hamilton, still ‘no clarity’ …

Weaver hopes third start is the charm against Astros

FROM FOX SPORTS (Page 14)

Hamilton's agent believed Angels were protected by JDA FROM ESPN (Page 15)

Mike Trout's latest transformation; other early-season trends FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 16)

Angels-Astros Preview FROM THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (Page 17)

Why the Angels asked the Salt Lake Bees to store their baseballs in a climate-controlled humidor

April 17, 2015 Page 3 of 18

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels balance out the bullpen with two left-handed relievers

By Mike DiGiovanna

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia summoned left-hander Jose Alvarez to face Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales in the eighth inning of a one-run game against the Kansas City Royals last Friday night. Alvarez retired Hosmer, the left-handed cleanup hitter, and Morales, a switch-hitter who is more powerful from the left side, on ground balls to third base. The same two sluggers came up again in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. This time, Scioscia turned to left-hander Cesar Ramos, who struck out Hosmer and got Morales to ground out. It has been two years since the Angels had a reliable left-handed reliever, though Scott Downs was slowed by injuries and appeared in 43 games with a 3.15 earned-run average in 2013, the end of a solid three-year run. You have to go back to 2009 for the last time the Angels had two strong left-handers in the bullpen, but Brian Fuentes was the closer that season, and Darren Oliver was more of a middle reliever than a specialist. Neither Ramos, a middle reliever and spot starter for four years in Tampa Bay, nor Alvarez, a starter for most of his nine-year minor league career, were left-handed specialists before this season. But their ability to adapt to the role could add more depth and versatility to a strong Angels bullpen. "Statistically, they're both fine," Scioscia said, when asked which player matches up better against left -handed hitters. "I think they both have the ability to neutralize some left-handers and take some power away. I don't know that it has to be one or the other. We're going to need them both." Scioscia has always preferred dominant right-handers who are effective against all batters — think Scot Shields, Francisco Rodriguez, Brendan Donnelly — over mediocre left-handers, which is why he has gone full seasons without a left-hander in the bullpen. But with right-handed setup man Joe Smith and closer Huston Street covering the eighth and ninth innings, Alvarez and Ramos give Scioscia the luxury of matching up against left-handers in the middle innings while still retaining Mike Morin, Vinnie Pestano and Fernando Salas for right-handers. "It's great to have balance, it's great to have two left-handers, and that should help take some pressure off the rotation," Scioscia said. "The bottom line is you have to have arms to hold leads, and we feel both of these guys will do that." With a sizable pack of left-handed hitters in the American League West, a group that includes Seattle's Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, Texas' Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo and Oakland's Ike Davis and Josh Reddick — there should be plenty of opportunities for the Angels left-handers. "It's unbelievable," Ramos said. "I thought being in the AL East, there were some big left-handers, but I feel like they're all in the AL West now. Seattle is full of them, the same with Texas, even playing Kansas City, they have some big left-handed bats. It's fun going up against them, testing each other out."

April 17, 2015 Page 4 of 18

Ramos and Alvarez throw 90-mph fastballs and curves, but Ramos throws from a lower arm slot with more of a cutting action on his fastball, and Alvarez has more of an overhand curve and changeup, so they give different looks to hitters. Ramos, the more experienced and accomplished of the two, will draw the higher-leverage assignments. He has allowed no runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings of four appearances, striking out four and walking one. Alvarez, 25, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings of his first three games before giving up four runs in 2 1/3 innings in a mop-up role Tuesday in Texas. "So far, the way I've been used, it hasn't been how it was in Tampa Bay," Ramos, 30, said. "It's definitely a good thing. I'm getting in meaningful games, building that trust in Scioscia. Hopefully I can keep building it and he keeps running me out there." Ramos has found one considerable benefit to being more of a specialist than a long man. "You're a lot more fresh the next day," he said. "I'm able to recover better than when I'd go multiple innings and be expected to do it again the next night. That's a little more taxing on the arm." UP NEXT: Right-hander Jered Weaver (0-2, 8.71 ERA) will oppose Astros right-hander Roberto Hernandez (0-1, 1.93) at Minute Maid Park on Friday at 5 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV—FS West; Radio—830.

Josh Hamilton situation is unsettled and possibly unsettling

By Mike DiGiovanna

As the Angels open a series Friday in Josh Hamilton's temporary hometown of Houston, the conflicts over the troubled outfielder rage on two fronts: whether owner Arte Moreno can find a way out of Hamilton's contract, and how Manager Mike Scioscia can delicately balance respecting Moreno's hard-line stance without alienating a clubhouse to which Hamilton might yet return. Although the players' association insists nothing in Hamilton's contract would allow Moreno to recoup at least some of his investment, the commissioner's office does not agree with the union's stance. If Moreno pursues the matter, the commissioner's office and the union could face off in a second arbitration hearing on Hamilton. Moreno said he has not spoken with Hamilton since the outfielder reported a relapse in his battle with substance abuse in February. Scioscia said he hopes to meet with Hamilton in Houston. "There are absolutely times you want to sit down and get a personal connection with a player," Scioscia said Wednesday. "If it happens, it happens. The important thing is communication, knowing that a support unit is there. I'm going to feel better if there's that support group there and he's getting the help he needs." Moreno said last week that he might try to enforce contract language that he said protected the Angels against a relapse. Within hours, the union issued a sharply worded statement that said provisions of

April 17, 2015 Page 5 of 18

baseball's collectively bargained drug policy "supersede all other player contract provisions and explicitly prevent clubs from exactly the type of action Mr. Moreno alluded to." However, MLB chief legal officer Dan Halem told The Times on Wednesday night: "We obviously have a different view than the players' association regarding the club's rights under these circumstances." Halem declined to comment further. Hamilton, who is rehabilitating a surgically repaired shoulder, is not expected to be able to play for another one to two months. Moreno is not believed to be considering any imminent action. The time for such action would have been immediately after an arbitrator ruled Hamilton had not violated his drug treatment program by reporting a relapse and could not be suspended. That ruling came April 3, three days before the Angels opened their season. As Fox Sports first reported, a player's annual salary becomes fully guaranteed on opening day, leaving Moreno liable for the $23 million he owes Hamilton this season. The Angels owe Hamilton $30 million in each of the next two seasons. Two people familiar with Hamilton's contract say it contains at least three provisions Moreno could use to pursue his case, including one that would enable the club to void the deal if Hamilton could not perform because he had engaged in "dangerous activities" that include drug and alcohol abuse. The Angels also could cite a provision that would allow the club to walk away if it determined Hamilton was not in "first-class condition" because of substance abuse. Although such language is not uncommon in player contracts, it is uncertain whether the Angels — and perhaps the commissioner's office — could persuade an arbitrator that the team should be relieved of Hamilton's contract if he is physically ready to play. Even that question would be moot if the arbitrator decided that the Angels could not act independently of the leaguewide drug policy. Moreno last week pointedly declined to say that Hamilton would play another game for the Angels. "I will not say that," Moreno said. Hamilton was not issued a locker in the Angel Stadium clubhouse, and merchandise bearing his name and number has been pulled from stadium team stores. At least one player, pitcher and union representative C.J. Wilson, has been critical of the team's handling of Hamilton, and several players have expressed frustration over the fact that Hamilton was deemed by an arbitrator to be in baseball's good standing but is not with the team. "We've talked to some players," Scioscia said. "This has been a process for all of us. We have to concentrate on what's here and how we need to play the game. That's where our focus has to be. "That teammate, player-to-player bond is strong in our clubhouse, so it doesn't surprise me that some guys would wonder about that, but it's no distraction."

April 17, 2015 Page 6 of 18

Angels' Mike Scioscia not convinced Josh Hamilton getting help he needs

By Mike DiGiovanna

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia came away from a meeting with Josh Hamilton with a feeling of "frustration" that the outfielder is not getting enough help and support after suffering a substance abuse relapse that has triggered an ugly dispute with the team. "We feel that there's really no clarity that he's getting the help he needs," Scioscia said in an interview with MLB Network Radio on Friday morning. "That's a major concern. Hopefully the frustration will start to evaporate as Josh gets through his first physical rehab of getting his shoulder where he needs to be." Hamilton has been rehabilitating from a Feb. 4 surgery on his right shoulder in Houston and has not been with the team all season. The Angels had an off day in Houston on Thursday before opening a three-game series against the Astros on Friday night, and Scioscia said he was able to “catch up” with Hamilton. Hamilton's physical recovery appears to be going well. He has been swinging a bat for several weeks. “He had surgery about eight weeks ago, and it seems like he’s turned the corner on that and feels pretty good,” Scioscia said. “We have to see when he’s ready to get out on the field and play baseball.” Hamilton, who has a long and well chronicled addiction to cocaine and alcohol, reported a relapse in early February, but an arbitrator ruled on April 3 that Hamilton did not violate baseball’s drug treatment program and could not be suspended. Angels Owner Arte Moreno has taken a hard-line stance toward Hamilton, claiming the team included language in Hamilton’s contract that forbade him from drinking or using drugs and that it might challenge Hamilton’s ability to collect some of the $83 million left on his contract. The players' union responded with a sharply worded statement saying such language had not been approved and that it would “not supersede the provisions of the joint drug agreement and/or the basic agreement.” Hamilton was not issued a locker in the Angel Stadium clubhouse, and merchandise bearing his name and number has been pulled from stadium team stores. Hamilton’s future with the Angels might eventually be determined by an arbitrator. "It’s a unique situation," Scioscia said. "As an organization, first and foremost, we want to make sure Josh is getting the help and support he needs. That’s important for Josh to get back to where he needs to be and getting on the field and playing baseball. Things are open-ended, and there’s a natural frustration I think that goes with uncertainty, and that’s kind of what we’re dealing with."

April 17, 2015 Page 7 of 18

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Angels players insist Josh Hamilton not a distraction ... unless media ask about it BY JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

HOUSTON – The Josh Hamilton situation provides a perfect example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. When Angels players are asked if they are distracted by the matter, it’s those very questions that provide the only distraction. “Whoever is in charge of sorting those things out, it has nothing to do with us,” Chris Iannetta said. “It doesn’t affect us. The only way we hear about it is when you ask us questions.” To be sure, the Hamilton case has become a soap opera. The club issued statements critical of its own $125 million player, with owner Arte Moreno suggesting ways the team could get out of the contract. C.J. Wilson was not shy about saying Angels management was treating Hamilton unfairly – targeting him only because his performance has not lived up to his salary. But most of Hamilton’s teammates have chosen to remain out of the middle of what is clearly a wounded relationship between player and team. “I don’t want to get caught in the middle,” Matt Shoemaker said. “I understand (management’s) side of it, but me being a player I want to focus on player things.” In that sense, Shoemaker and his teammates seem to have been successful. Players polled about the situation unanimously agreed it has not been a distraction to what they have to do on the field. “The guys in the clubhouse are focused on the task at hand,” Matt Joyce said. “We’re focused on who is here and the job that has to get done. Our thoughts and prayers are with Josh and hopefully everything works out for the best for him, but we have to focus on the game.” Hector Santiago said: “I don’t think it’s a distraction for us. When we get to the field, we’re all out there thinking ‘What do I need to be good today?’ It’s not that we’re not thinking about him, but it’s hard enough to play this game without worrying about someone else’s situation.” Santiago and several other players also admitted to a type of contented oblivion when it comes to Hamilton. They don’t seem to know exactly what happened with him, beyond him self-reporting a relapse involving drugs and alcohol. Why, though, isn’t Hamilton rehabbing from his shoulder surgery with the team? “I have no idea,” Santiago said. David Freese said he doesn’t know and he doesn’t ask: “I don’t let my mind think that far. That’s not my decision, what he’s doing and where he’s doing it and how he’s doing it.” The Angels may get a lot more answers this weekend. They arrived Wednesday night in Houston, where the club says Hamilton has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Players seem to be eager to see him and find out how he’s doing, although it’s unclear if and when any meeting will take place.

April 17, 2015 Page 8 of 18

Manager Mike Scioscia said he’s expecting to “communicate” with Hamilton this week, but he’s not sure if it will be in person. “He’s our teammate and friend; when don’t you want to see a teammate or a friend?” Iannetta said. “If that fits in with him, and that works with everyone, I have no issue with that.” Freese said he would “absolutely” like to see Hamilton when the Angels are in Houston. Freese said he has talked to Hamilton “a few times” since spring training. Shoemaker also said he’d be eager to see Hamilton. “I still love and care about the guy,” Shoemaker said. “He’s a great person.” Depending on what happens with Hamilton’s rehab and his relationship with management, at some point he may well be back in the clubhouse as an active player. That is certain to change dynamic in one way – more media will descend upon the team to poke and prod at the situation – but Freese said it would be worth the extra questions. “I think we all understand what type of guy Josh is, what type of teammate he is,” Freese said. “We all love him. He’s going to get 35 hugs and a welcome with open arms if he does return. He’ll jump right back in.”

Dissecting the hot start for Angels' Mike Trout BY JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

HOUSTON – After Mike Trout on Wednesday had the 42nd game of his career in which he reached base four times, lifting his batting average to .438, Manager Mike Scioscia was asked if there was anything new and improved he had seen in the already-exceptional Trout.

“Mike is just playing baseball,” Scioscia said.

OK then.

Then Trout was asked how things were going at the plate and he cracked a smile and sa id: “I’m seeing the ball good.”

Well, that settles it.

Pithy quotes aside, we’re now nine games into the season, so there are some numbers that are starting to be interesting. The sample size is still too small for any meaningful analys is, but they are … interesting.

Here’s one. Trout has a batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .500. That means half the time he’s putting the ball in play, he’s getting a hit. The league average is .285. Normally a high BABIP means that you’re getting more than your share of bloopers to fall in.

But this …

April 17, 2015 Page 9 of 18

Trout’s line drive percentage is 41 percent. The league average is 25 percent. So he’s definitely squaring up more balls, which ought to lead to more hits.

Trout is also going to have a higher than usual BABIP simply because of his speed. He beats out more grounders that more guys. Trout has a couple infield hits already.

He has also, as promised, been swinging at more first pitches, 21.1 percent this year, compared with a career average of 10.3 percent prior to this year. Oddly, he’s only put three of those into play, and he’s got one hit on the first pitch.

He’s seeing 4.16 pitches per plate appearance, not significantly lower than his average of 4.23 coming into this season.

Trout has cut his strikeout rate from 26.1 percent last year to 15.8 percent.

Of course, all of this will be much more significant as the sample size grows. So stay tuned.

On deck: Angels at Astros, Friday, 5 p.m. BY JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

Where: Minute Maid Park

TV: Fox Sports West, 5 p.m.

Did you know: Albert Pujols has hit 45 homers against the Astros, second only to Hank Aaron (46) all-time.

THE PITCHERS

RHP JERED WEAVER (0-2, 8.71)

The Angels’ opening day starter has had two rough outings, in which he’s lacked both command and velocity. Weaver has proven he can win without the latter, but not without both. The last time out, Weaver walked four and gave up six runs in 41/3 innings. It was the first time since 2012 that he was knocked out of a start (without being injured) before completing five innings. The Astros may be a good matchup for him. Current Astros have hit a combined .216 against him.

Vs. Astros: 3-2, 2.94

At Minute Maid Park: 1-2, 4.58

Loves to face: Jose Altuve, 3 for 16 (.188)

Hates to face: None

RHP ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (0-1, 1.93)

Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, is with his fifth team in the past four seasons. He made nine starts for the Dodgers last year, posting a 4.74 ERA. Hernandez gave up only one run in his

April 17, 2015 Page 10 of 18

first start this season, but he gave up five hits and four walks in 42/3 innings. Current Angels have hit .190 against Hernandez.

Vs. Angels: 0-4, 2.28

At Minute Maid Park: 0-1, 4.50

Loves to face: Matt Joyce, 2 for 14 (.143)

Hates to face: Mike Trout, 3 for 8 (.375)

UPCOMING MATCHUPS

Saturday: Angels LHP C.J. Wilson (1-1, 3.95) vs. Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-0, 1.29), 4 p.m.

Sunday: Angels (TBA) vs. Astros Scott Feldman (0-2, 6.17), 11 a.m.

Even after talking to Josh Hamilton, Mike Scioscia still has questions BY JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

HOUSTON -- Mike Scioscia said he had “a chance to catch up with” Josh Hamilton after the team arrived in Houston this week, but the Angels manager provided little more detail on the status of the embattled star.

In an interview on Friday morning with MLB Network Radio, Scioscia said he and the rest of the organization still feel “frustration that we feel that there’s really no clarity if he’s getting the help he needs. That’s a major concern. Hopefully the frustration will start to evaporate as Josh gets through his first physical rehab of getting his shoulder where it needs to be.”

In that respect, Scioscia said Hamilton “seems like he’s turned the corner. He feels pretty good.”

Hamilton had right shoulder surgery on Feb. 4. The initial prognosis was for a six to eight week recovery, but it’s now been more than 10 weeks. As of this week, Scioscia said Hamilton was only able to hit off a tee.

The Angels still seem to have no idea when Hamilton will be able to return to the field.

“We gotta see when he’s able to get on the field and play baseball,” Scioscia said. “There are some things that are open ended. There is a natural frustration that comes with the uncertainty.”

Hamilton, who has been rehabbing from surgery in Houston, self-reported a relapse involving drug and alcohol use in February. An arbitrator ruled that he did not violate his treatment program, and could not be disciplined by Major League Baseball.

April 17, 2015 Page 11 of 18

FROM ANGELS.COM

Angels champing at bit for Richards' return

By Alden Gonzalez HOUSTON -- It was late on a Tuesday night, a day game loomed, the assembled media was out of questions and Mike Scioscia, two hours removed from watching his temporary fifth starter record only eight outs in Arlington, immediately shifted his attention to a rehabbing pitcher in Triple-A. "We got a line on Garrett yet?" the Angels' manager asked, of nobody in particular. "Garrett," of course, is Garrett Richards, the 26-year-old right-hander who underwent left knee surgery in late August and made what could've been his final rehab start on Tuesday. "Oh, 'Bullet,'" Albert Pujols said, smiling, because that's the nickname that gets tossed around the Angels' clubhouse, where Richards' return has been greatly anticipated since the onset of Spring Training. It's easy to see why. "There are very few talents in the game that are just kind of undeniable," Angels closer Huston Street said, "and he's one of them." Richards' rise to prominence and ensuing quest for last year's American League Cy Young Award ended prematurely on Aug. 20, when he ruptured his left patellar tendon while covering first base at Fenway Park. An extensive rehab ensued, and now Richards could return to the rotation as early as Sunday's series finale against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. As of Thursday afternoon, though, the Angels still hadn't decided the next step. Richards is confident with his surgically-repaired knee, loves the way the ball feels coming out of his hand and doesn't believe he has anything left to prove in the Minor Leagues. But the Angels were unsure after Richards' recent outing in Fresno, Calif., which saw him continually leave pitches up while surrendering five runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. It'd be easy to chalk that up to the high altitudes and unforgiving nature of the Pacific Coast League, but the Angels want to be positive. "When you have a dynamic arm like Garrett, you don't want to miss any steps," Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said. "You want him to be right; you want him to be comfortable -- not only physically comfortable, but mentally comfortable." Richards will meet up with his teammates this weekend in Houston, where the Angels will determine the next step. They could start him Sunday, on the regular four days of rest. Or push him back a day or two, keeping the other starters on schedule and giving Richards more time. Or, least likely, send him back to Triple-A for another rehab start or two. "The team is playing the long game," Street said. "It's not just this season but the next 15 seasons, hopefully."

April 17, 2015 Page 12 of 18

Richards and Mike Trout share a house in Newport Beach, Calif., during the season, and for a while now, the Angels' center fielder has been pestering Richards about when he's going to come back. "I always give him a hard time, but you can't rush things like that," Trout said. "It's a lot of patience, because in his head, he's ready." Richards pitched in only intrasquad scrimmages and Minor League games during Spring Training, but he dominated, giving up two runs on 12 hits and seven walks and striking out 29 in 24 1/3 innings. The fastball -- the fastest among Major Leagues starters last year -- is still 98 mph with tailing action; the curveball and slider are still filthy. "He's definitely looked good," Angels catcher Chris Iannetta said. "But obviously, bullpens are different than games, and exhibition games are different than big league games. So, we'll see. "It's definitely a long road ahead. I don't think it's going to be midseason form first time out, but it's going to be good to have him back." After back-to-back years of constant shuffling from the rotation to the bullpen to the Minors, Richards finally honed his big stuff in 2014 and emerged as one of the best young pitchers in baseball. He went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts, while allowing the 12th-lowest opponents' slugging percentage in Major League history. Now he can change the dynamic of the Angels' rotation, which includes Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Matt Shoemaker, Hector Santiago and a lot of questions. "Everybody's looking forward to it," Pujols said of Richards' return. "When teams play us, they wonder if they're going to miss G-Rich or not," Angels third baseman David Freese added. "He's that type of pitcher. He's big to our rotation. What he did last year, hopefully he can build on that. From the looks of it, he's ready to go."

Scioscia reaches out to Hamilton, still ‘no clarity’ …

By Alden Gonzalez Angels manager Mike Scioscia touched base with Josh Hamilton when the team arrived in Houston for a weekend series, but said there’s still “no clarity that he’s getting the help he needs.” “That’s a major concern,” Scioscia told MLBNetwork Radio on Friday morning, roughly nine hours before the series opener against the Astros from Minute Maid Park. “Hopefully the frustration will start to evaporate as Josh gets through his first physical rehab of getting his shoulder where he needs to be,” Scioscia added. “He had surgery about eight weeks ago, and it seems like he’s turned the corner and it feels pretty good. And then we have to see when he’s able to get back out on the field and play baseball. There’s still some things that are open-ended and natural frustration that comes with uncertainty. That’s kind of what we’re dealing with.” Houston has been in Houston, staying with a friend who acts as a part-time accountability partner, since undergoing surgery in his right A.C. joint on Feb. 4. The 33-year-old outfielder hasn’t been around

April 17, 2015 Page 13 of 18

the team all year – he wasn’t even given a locker at Tempe Diablo Stadium or Angel Stadium – and isn’t expected to make an appearance at Minute Maid Park this weekend. On April 3, an arbitrator ruled that Hamilton did not violate the terms of his treatment program and would not be suspended for a self-reported drug relapse that occurred late in the offseason. The ruling noticeably angered the Angels, with president John Carpino saying it “defies logic” and general manager Jerry Dipoto expressing “disappointment” in Hamilton’s actions. Angels owner Arte Moreno indicated prior to last Friday’s home opener that he’l l seek action against Hamilton, who has provisions in his contract that may give the team recourse in the event of drug or alcohol use. Asked if Hamilton will play another game for the Angels, Moreno said, “I will not say that.” “It’s a unique situation,” Scioscia said. “First and foremost, we want to make sure Josh is getting the help and support he needs. It’s important to Josh getting back to where he needs to be and getting on the field and playing baseball.” Scioscia, who will address the matter further from Minute Maid Park on Friday afternoon, did not specify what kind of help Hamilton is currently receiving and whether or not the two met face-to-face. “He’s still doing his rehab, and we’ll see when he’s ready to get into full baseball activities,” Scioscia said. “Nothing much has changed.”

Weaver hopes third start is the charm against Astros

By Alden Gonzalez The Angels begin their first series in Houston on Friday, following an off-day for both clubs, with Jered Weaver on the mound against Astros right-hander Roberto Hernandez. Weaver gave up four home runs in his first start at Minute Maid Park last year, and he is hoping to take a step in the right direction on Friday, after giving up 10 runs on 15 hits in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts this year. Hernandez, who owns a 2.28 ERA in 67 career innings against the Angels, gave up five runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Rangers on Saturday. The Angels won 12 of their 19 games against the Astros last season, but Houston won five of nine at home. Three things to know about this game • Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun has been out of the starting lineup for the last four games because of a strained right calf. The 27-year-old leadoff hitter hit a pinch-hit RBI single on Monday, and he is hopeful of returning to the lineup on Friday. • Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has only three hits in 16 career at-bats against Weaver, but shortstop Jed Lowrie is 6-for-22 with a home run. Albert Pujols' 45 regular-season home runs against Houston are the second most all time against them. Hank Aaron hit 46.

April 17, 2015 Page 14 of 18

• Friday will mark the seventh of 15 straight games against American League West opponents for the Astros, who will see their division rivals over the next couple of weeks. Houston went 35-41 against AL West foes last season.

FROM FOX SPORTS

Hamilton's agent believed Angels were protected by JDA

By Ken Rosenthal The radio interview took place shortly after outfielder Josh Hamilton signed his five-year, $125 million free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2012. In the interview, SiriusXM host Jim Bowden asked Hamilton's agent, Michael Moye, if the Angels were the only team not to insist on a clause to help protect them against addiction or drug use. At the time, it was thought that Hamilton's deal did not include such language; Angels owner Arte Moreno had told reporters as much. But such language does exist, as FOX Sports reported Tuesday, and Moye's answer in the interview revealed how differently clubs and players view the provisions. The players union issued a statement last Friday saying that the Joint Drug Agreement and Collective Bargaining Agreement supersede all other player contract terms. Moye, who has declined comment since Hamilton revealed his relapse to Major League Baseball in February, took the same position in his earlier interview. Hamilton's relapse involved alcohol and cocaine, according to CBSSports.com and the New York Daily News. An arbitrator found that the player did not violate his program, preventing commissioner Rob Manfred from suspending him. "I can't really get into specifics of any of the negotiations that take place for our clients — that's one of those specifics," Moye said in 2012. "But I can tell you that every club was protected to the extent that Josh is part of the joint Major League Baseball drug program. He's under their jurisdiction. "If Josh violates the terms of that program — and he has certain terms that he has to abide by, one of which is well-documented, he gets tested three times a week — then he can be disciplined by Major League Baseball. Those protections are in place. ... Teams were protected from the joint Major League Baseball drug program." HIGH FASHION WITH A PURPOSE Each week, FOX baseball insider Ken Rosenthal partners with former NFL player Dhani Jones’ Bowtie Foundation (bowtiecause.com) by donning neckwear to raise awareness for various charities. Click here to see what Ken is wearing this week and to find out how you can get involved.

April 17, 2015 Page 15 of 18

Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio reported Wednesday that Moye told teams involved in the free-agent bidding that Hamilton would allow protective language if he received the right deal. But Moye, with his comments, indicated no such language was necessary. As it turned out, Hamilton's contract includes three separate provisions that would allow the Angels to terminate or convert the deal to non-guaranteed if he was not in "first-class physical condition" or mentally or physically incapacitated due to drug and/or alcohol abuse, major-league sources told FOX Sports. Similar language covering a variety of activities exists in almost all player contracts, though it varies from club to club, sources said. The relevance of those clauses likely will be the source of any future dispute between the Angels and Hamilton. Moreno already is obligated to pay Hamilton $23 million this season; all player contracts became guaranteed on Opening Day, and that stipulation applied to Hamilton even though he is on the disabled list recovering from surgery on his right shoulder. The union almost certainly would file a grievance if Moreno tried to escape Hamilton's $30 million salaries for 2016 and '17. Barring a settlement, an arbitrator would decide in favor of one side of the other.

FROM ESPN

Mike Trout's latest transformation; other early-season trends

By Buster Olney Some early-season numbers which distract, ever so slightly, from the Kris Bryant pomp and circumstance: 1. Mike Trout: six strikeouts in nine games When Magic Johnson began his career with the Lakers, he would launch into each offseason with plans to upgrade specific parts of his game. One year you’d hear that he was working on his own version of a hook shot -- the junior, junior, junior sky hook, he called it, after nailing this game-winning shot -- and then another year he worked on his 3-point shooting, which became a part of his game. It’s not as simple to make those sort of changes in baseball, especially for hitters looking for substantive alterations, because pitchers control so much. But Trout’s gift for the game is so extraordinary that he seemingly drives his evolution in a way few hitters can. After his rookie season, he said he wanted to take more walks, and the next year, he led the American League in walks. After striking out 184 times last season, Trout -- appalled by that number -- decided late in 2014 that he was going to be more aggressive early in the count, because he was taking a lot of called strikes and putting himself on the ball-strike ledge in his plate appearances. Last year, Trout led the majors in pitches per plate appearance, at 4.45. So far this season, that number is down to 4.16 -- it actually stood at 3.58 before Wednesday’s game -- and Trout is, according

April 17, 2015 Page 16 of 18

to plan, striking out a whole lot less, and doing more damage; he’s got 14 hits in his first 32 at-bats, for a .438 average, with five walks and six strikeouts. And three of those punchouts came in the first game of the season. He has whiffed just once in the past six games. At this rate, he’ll cut into his strikeouts by 41 percent. Which is kind of crazy.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Angels-Astros Preview

Jered Weaver has been hit hard in his first two starts, though he might be running into a lineup that could help send him in the right direction. The Los Angeles Angels open a three-game series in Houston on Friday night, and Weaver will be trying to keep the Astros' bats quiet. Weaver (0-2, 8.71 ERA) made it through 4 1/3 innings of Saturday's 6-4 home loss to Kansas City, allowing six runs and seven hits while walking four and striking out five. "I've got to figure something out," Weaver said. "Obviously this isn't the way I wanted to start the season, that's for sure." It followed a 4-1 loss in Seattle on opening day in which the right-hander surrendered four runs and eight hits in six innings. In total, he's yielding a .349 opponent batting average with a 1.84 WHIP. "I can't get the ball down and I can't get ahead of guys," Weaver said. That hasn't been a problem against Houston, which has hit .182 against him in five career starts, resulting in a 3-2 record and 2.94 ERA. Reigning AL batting champion Jose Altuve is 3 for 16 against Weaver. The Astros (4-5) haven't been much better at the plate this season and are among the league's worst in hitting (.204) and scoring (2.56 runs per game), though they've started to get some production from the top of the order. Altuve was 1 for 11 through three games but has hit safely in six straight, including a 2-for-4 effort in Wednesday's 6-1 home win over Oakland to help avoid a three-game sweep. Shortstop Jed Lowry was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and his third home run as he continued to bat third, while Evan Gattis has hits in three straight games after starting 0 for 20 with his new team. The designated hitter connected on his first home run Wednesday and has been in the cleanup spot with Chris Carter (2 for 30) struggling even more. "Everyone in that clubhouse knows how much he's grinding to try to break out," manager A.J. Hinch said of Gattis. "So maybe this is a sign of things to come. He certainly takes every at-bat as if it's his last at-bat."

April 17, 2015 Page 17 of 18

It's yet to turn into sustained run production, and Roberto Hernandez was on the wrong end of the weak support in his Astros debut. The right-hander was far from great in Saturday's 6-2 loss in Texas as he allowed five runs -- one earned -- and five hits while walking four in 4 2/3 innings, but Houston stranded 13 runners. That speaks to a larger problem with the lineup batting .135 with runners in scoring position. Hernandez didn't face the Angels last season while pitching in the NL. Mike Trout took him deep in each of Hernandez's last two starts against Los Angeles and is 3 for 8 in their matchups overall. Trout has been locked in to start his fifth big league season, batting .438 with a nine-game hitting streak after going 3 for 4 in Wednesday's 10-2 win in Texas. At Minute Maid Park, however, the outfielder is a career .190 hitter in 16 games for his worst average in any ballpark. Albert Pujols has been even worse there lately with a 7-for-50 mark (.140) in his last 12 games. They could have some help after the lineup began to break out against the Rangers to take two of three. The Angels (4-5) had a .371 on-base percentage in the series after posting a .245 mark through six games. Los Angeles won 12 of 19 in the series a season ago but lost the last three in Houston.

FROM THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

Why the Angels asked the Salt Lake Bees to store their baseballs in a climate-controlled humidor By Steve Luhm The combination of high altitude and dry air has always made Salt Lake City a hitter's paradise and pitcher's nightmare. Fly balls travel farther, breaking pitches snap off with less authority and, accordingly, statistics don't always give the most accurate portrait of a prospect's future. The Los Angeles Angels noticed. In an attempt to "normalize" conditions for its Triple-A players in Salt Lake City, Angels officials approached Bees general manager Marc Amicone last winter about the possibility of installing a humidor at Smith's Ballpark. The theory? Store the baseballs used in Bees games, including Friday night's 2015 home opener against Sacramento, in a climate-controlled humidor to minimize the impact of altitude and humidity on the game. "We felt, if it's important to the Angels, it's important to us," he said. "If they want us to do it, we'll do it."

April 17, 2015 Page 18 of 18

As a result, a small room that from the outside looks like a restaurant's meat locker was installed off a passageway behind the Bees' dugout, across the umpires' locker room. Inside, the temperature is kept at a constant 70 degrees. The humidity is maintained at 50 percent. If the temperature or humidity varies by more than 10 percent, an alarm system goes off, according to baseball operations manager Bryan Kinneberg. "We can monitor it 24 hours a day," he said. Salt Lake joins Colorado Springs, Albuquerque, El Paso and Reno as the Triple-A teams using a humidor to store baseballs. Colorado, which plays a mile above sea level at Coors Field in Denver, is the only major league team using one. But does it work? Yes, according to Kinneberg. Research shows a pitcher's earned run average can drop by half a point over the course of a season when consistently using baseballs stored in a humidor. A 300-foot fly ball will lose almost 3 percent of its distance. "A lot of times," Kinneberg said, "that's the difference between flying out and a home run. … It does seem to even out the numbers in these dry climates and higher elevations." Consider the case of Matt Shoemaker. In five starts for Salt Lake last season, he allowed 34 hits in 252⁄3 innings. He had a 6.31 ERA before being called up by the Angels. In L.A., Shoemaker went 16-4 with an ERA of 3.04 and helped the Angels reach the playoffs. He finished second in the voting for Rookie of the Year. Told the Bees had installed a humidor this season, Shoemaker told the Orange County Register, "Playing there is tough, knowing I did really well and the results didn't look necessarily good. [The humidor] would even it up a little more." Said Amicone: "It puts moisture back in the ball. It normalizes the ball. … The purpose is so major league teams can evaluate their people better. Offensive numbers can get inflated. ERAs can get inflated. This allows you to put a little more science in those numbers."