Clips (June 29, 2016)

Transcription

1 June 29, 2016 Page 1 of 31 Clips (June 29, 2016)

2 June 29, 2016 Page 2 of 31 FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3) Today s Clips Contents Tim Lincecum fails to make it through the fifth again Despite Angels poor start, GM says Mike Scioscia s job is not in jeopardy Angels pitchers trying stem cell treatment instead of Tommy John surgery FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 9) Angels GM Billy Eppler says a rebuild is not in the DNA here Astros take advantage of pretty terrible Tim Lincecum as Angels lose for eighth time in nine games Angels rehabbing Tyler Skaggs heads to Triple-A Salt Lake, could be in majors within a month On deck: Astros at Angels, Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Fryer: Mike Trout, Corey Seager highlight this All-Star ballot FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 16) Lincecum still playing catchup with mechanics Smith to represent Angels in Futures Game Lincecum labors, offense struggles in series loss Eppler says rebuilding phase not in Halos plans Calhoun quietly having #ASGWorthy season Weaver, Keuchel face off to wrap series with Astros FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 25) Houston blasts Lincecum, routs Angels 7-1 for 9 th win in 10 FROM ESPN (Page 27) MLB Rumor Central: Angels pitchers face uncertain future FROM FOX SPORTS (Page 28) Astros-Angels Preview FROM YAHOO SPORTS (Page 29) Why the Angels are fading into irrelevancy again

3 June 29, 2016 Page 3 of 31 FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES Tim Lincecum fails to make it through the fifth again Mike DiGiovanna The Angels signed Tim Lincecum hoping the two-time Cy Young Award winner would help stabilize their injury-ravaged rotation, but the veteran right-hander has provided little relief in two of three starts. Lincecum walked two batters ahead of Carlos Correa s three-run homer in the first inning Tuesday night and failed to make it out of the fifth inning of a 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros in Angel Stadium. Lincecum, the former San Francisco Giants star who spent the winter recovering from left hip surgery before signing in May, was charged with five earned runs and seven hits in 41/3 innings, striking out seven and walking four. After giving up one run and four hits in six innings of a 7-1 win over Oakland in his Angels debut on June 18, Lincecum has been tagged for nine earned runs and 14 hits in 71/3 innings of his last two starts, both losses. His season ERA: My fastball command was pretty terrible, and I didn t get a chance to establish the zone and work around that, Lincecum said. And felt myself getting one-dimensional again with my changeup. That s a good hitting team. They punished balls up in the zone. Lincecum struck out three in the first inning but walked George Springer and Jose Altuve, both on four pitches, before hanging a 2-and-0 changeup to Correa, who belted it over the left-field wall for his 13th homer. The Astros, who are 24-9 in their last 33 games and 17-8 in June, scored in the fourth on Marwin Gonzalez s triple and Carlos Gomez s double. Correa walked in the fifth and later scored on Gonzalez s squeeze bunt for a 5-1 lead. Of Lincecum s 101 pitches, only 55 were strikes. After the first inning, he settled in and you saw some stuff that looked a little like what he had up in Oakland, Manager Mike Scioscia said of Lincecum. But he couldn t repeat his delivery and repeat pitches enough to give himself a chance. The Angels have lost eight of nine and are 8-18 in June. Houston starter Scott Feldman (5-2) gave up one unearned run and three hits in five innings. Short hops

4 June 29, 2016 Page 4 of 31 Yunel Escobar missed his fifth straight game because of a bone bruise in his left knee, but Scioscia said the third baseman and leadoff man is making progress and could be activated for the start of a 10-game trip Friday. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has reached base in 31 straight games, a career high. Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano, who was activated off the disabled list and optioned to triple A last Friday, gave up two earned runs and three hits in 62/3 innings for Salt Lake against Albuquerque on Tuesday night, striking out seven and walking one. Of his 85 pitches, 63 were strikes. Catcher Geovany Soto, out since May 18 because of right knee surgery, is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday. Despite Angels poor start, GM says Mike Scioscia s job is not in jeopardy Mike DiGiovanna The Angels were 17 ½ games back in the American League West with four starting pitchers still on the shelf and a.206 hitter in the cleanup spot Tuesday night, grim realities for a team that hasn t hit the halfway point of the season and is already far out of contention. But a first half filled with heavy losses on the field and in the training room is not expected to cost Manager Mike Scioscia his job. Nor will it trigger a fire sale, in which the Angels trade as many useful veterans as they can for young big leaguers or prospects to boost baseball s thinnest farm system. With the financial strength of this organization, it s not in the DNA here to rebuild, General Manager Billy Eppler said before Tuesday night s game against the Houston Astros in Angel Stadium. And how would Eppler define a rebuild? Punting everything, he said. Scioscia, in his 17th year with the Angels, has two more years and $12 million left on his contract after this season. Eppler praised Scioscia for his energy and enthusiasm and for being so even-keeled. But is Scioscia safe? His job is not in jeopardy, Eppler said.

5 June 29, 2016 Page 5 of 31 That won t appease fans who are frustrated with the Angels record entering Tuesday, but it s hard to pin the team s woes on the manager. Few expected the Angels to compete after losing their two best starters, Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney, to elbow injuries in April and May, respectively. There is also a steep drop-off in the lineup beyond the first four hitters Yunel Escobar, Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols and the bullpen is nowhere near as talented or deep as the Angels thought it would be. Scioscia did not assemble the club. Eppler and the front office did, under heavy financial constraints from an owner (Arte Moreno) who was extremely reluctant to push his payroll beyond the $189-million luxury tax threshold. Eppler has made it clear he has no interest in trading Trout, considered the game s best allaround player. But setup man Joe Smith, in the final year of a three-year contract; Escobar, the third baseman with a $7-million option for 2017, and closer Huston Street, signed through 2017, could be dealt. Calhoun, under club control for three more years, would command the biggest return in a trade, but he also has great value to the Angels. Eppler said he has not been very active in trade talks, but the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline is still a month away. We re not up against any decision at this point in time, he said. Eppler does not seem inclined to deal a core player such as Calhoun. I think you can serve both masters you can contend and compete at the major league level while maintaining a commitment to build the farm system, he said. I think we ll do both. We re going to try to contend year in and year out. Eppler is pleased with the effort of the Angels. The one thing that is a positive is the fact that these guys have not stopped fighting; they re coming back late in games, there s absolutely no quit, Eppler said. That s a good thing for us, the fans and the coaching staff to see. Because the effort is good, does that suggest the Angels have incurred too many injuries or simply lack the talent to compete for a playoff spot? I don t think we have a lack of talent here, Eppler said. I think some guys haven t achieved what they re accustomed to achieving, but at the end of the day, there is talent on this roster that we will continue to supplement.

6 June 29, 2016 Page 6 of 31 Our goal is to continue to bring in championship-caliber players, whether that s through the draft, international signings, minor league free agency or major league free agency. Know the type of player you re gravitating to, identify it in the marketplace and try to acquire it. Angels pitchers trying stem cell treatment instead of Tommy John surgery Pedro Moura Twice now, doctors have performed an ultrasound on Andrew Heaney s arm, squirting on a gel, twisting it around, taking pictures, and then showing him the images on a screen. He doesn t entirely understand what he sees, but it s enough to inspire hope in the 25-yearold Angels pitcher. The ulnar collateral ligament in his left arm, which tore and abruptly ended his season after one appearance, looks like it is healing. To what extent is yet to be determined. Heaney experienced pain near his elbow during an April 5 start against the Chicago Cubs, but no one knows precisely when the fibrous tissue actually ripped. At first, the Angels prescribed rest and physical therapy. When that didn t help, he was left with a choice: Undergo ligament replacement, a proven procedure commonly known as Tommy John surgery, that probably would keep him out of action for 15 months or more; or try something different. He chose stem cell therapy. Undergoing stem cell treatment might allow him to return to the Angels rotation by the end of this season, Heaney was told. So he took a calculated risk and visited the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, where stem cells from his own bone marrow were injected into his left elbow. Two weeks later, in mid-may, Garrett Richards, the Angels 28-year-old ace right-hander, underwent the same procedure for a partial UCL tear similar to Heaney s. Since then, as the Angels slid into last place, 17 ½ games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West, all the team s top two starters have been able to do is watch as they wait to see if their ligaments regenerate. It just requires patience. It s not any deeper than that, Angels General Manager Billy Eppler said. You don t play mind games with yourself, you don t bang your head against a wall you just wait.

7 June 29, 2016 Page 7 of 31 The ultrasounds show, to a certain extent, the rate of healing in the injured area. What s not known is how much of a partially torn ligament stem cell therapy will actually repair. We do know stem cells can heal tissue and form new tissue. It can work, said Dr. Tim Kremchek, an orthopedic surgeon who is the Cincinnati Reds team physician. The question is, can it work to the level we want it to for these pitchers, in their elbows? Another key question: How long do you wait until you realize it doesn t work? asked Dr. David Altchek, an orthopedic surgeon who is the New York Met s team physician. If it turns out you were wrong and you waited four, five months, then what? Then, the only alternative is surgery. But wasting a few months was worth the risk for Heaney and Richards because had they chosen surgery immediately they would have missed this season and also, likely, most if not all of In 1974, Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first UCL replacement surgery on Dodgers pitcher Tommy John. The soft-throwing left-hander returned after 18 months, and for decades his rehabilitation provided a blueprint that was continually shortened. At one point, the industry standard for full recovery was less than a year. More recently, most pitchers who have undergone the procedure have taken 15 months or more to complete their comebacks. Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs had surgery 22 months ago and is still working his way back in with a low-level minor league team. Given the old 12-month recovery prognosis, Heaney said he would have chosen surgery. Richards wasn t as certain, but, like Heaney, he believes that trying stem cell therapy was gambling with free time. Both players live near Anaheim and attend all the Angels home games, and both are working out to stay in shape. They re just not throwing yet, and that s the most frustrating part. I feel like I take up space, Heaney said recently. Like I m not providing any kind of use to the team. The process can be just as infuriating for physicians. Outside the United States, doctors have administered small doses of human growth hormone and other so-called growth factors on stem cells to grow ligament tissue in labs before injecting them into a patient. But HGH is prohibited by Major League Baseball's drug program, and the use of growth factors is banned domestically by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Joseph Purita, who says he has performed stem cell therapy on about two dozen pro pitchers, including Bartolo Colon, laments that for these reasons he is able to provide better

8 June 29, 2016 Page 8 of 31 care for a baseball fan than he can for a baseball player. It s a real moral dilemma for me, he said I should give the best care I possibly can. At its core, most stem cell therapy isn t complicated. The procedure takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. With recipients under anesthesia, bone marrow is harvested from the pelvis and spun down in a centrifuge, producing a liquid with a high concentration of stems cells. For Heaney and Richards, those cells were then injected into the elbow. This is natural, Heaney said. You use your body s natural ability to heal itself and speed [the healing process.] Why not? If Heaney and Richards can return to the Angels rotation while avoiding surgery, more injured pitchers may choose stem cell therapy. For now, skepticism reigns because of the many unknowns. We ve put so much stigma on therapies and treatments that it s really become, like, a witch hunt, Angels closer Huston Street said. There s an amount of care that guys have to take with who they trust and how they trust because God forbid you go to a doctor that has a license to sell HGH and he s got a whole client list of 50-year-olds that want to stay young and your name is on that list. Street speaks from experience. In 2010, federal investigators interviewed him about time he spent in Toronto three years earlier, when he underwent oxygen therapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy from Dr. Anthony Galea. Street, then the closer for the Oakland Athletics, had been diagnosed with an irritated ulnar nerve. His arm recovered after 18 days of therapy, but investigators questioned him as they looked into Galea, who in 2011 pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying unapproved drugs into the United States to treat athletes. Street was never accused of wrongdoing. There s also the matter of whether stem cell therapy actually works in some situations. For example, evidence suggests it will not work on full tears. Altchek, the Mets physician, has developed an algorithm that he says helps him determine the chances of the therapy working based on where the tear occurred within the ligament better high than low. Dr. Henry Stiene, a Cincinnati-based surgeon who works with the Reds, believes the therapy will have a larger effect on labrum tears in throwing shoulders, which often prove difficult to surgically repair. That would be the ultimate in baseball, Stiene said.

9 June 29, 2016 Page 9 of 31 If Richards and Heaney show more improvement, they could begin a standard throwing program in August. That would put them six to 12 months ahead of what their schedule might have been after surgery. However, they would still not know if the stem cell therapy worked. The problem with partial tears, Stiene said, is they re not symptomatic until they get about 75% effort level. That s the uncertainty the Angels and their pitchers are confronting. The ligaments are healing, but to what degree is unknown and won t be known until they start throwing again. If they do make a full comeback, Heaney and Richards could become the poster players of a revolution in arm rehabilitation. C.J. Nitkowski, a journeyman left-hander who five years ago underwent stem cell therapy in a last-ditch attempt to extend his career, predicted the procedure might become an annual event for some pitchers. If it ever becomes conclusive that your own stem cells can help you regenerate ligaments, then why wouldn t you do it every off-season? he said. Street sees the potential, but proposes caution. It behooves the player to be transparent with their organization what they re doing, who they re seeing, he said. And the smart organizations are going to be an incubator to their players in those regards, educating them so they can control it better. Because as we ve seen, players will make mistakes. What if a doctor just wants to prove that he can heal you and slips [a banned substance] in there? Heaney and Richards will wait and see, just like the rest of the Angels. Maybe I ll be a medical miracle, Richards said last week. But if I can t be what I was before, I m not going to push it. I ll just have the surgery. FROM THE OC REGISTER Angels GM Billy Eppler says a rebuild is not in the DNA here By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM Although his team is languishing far out of contention, Angels general manager Billy Eppler is saying all the right things. Or, depending on your perspective, all the wrong things.

10 June 29, 2016 Page 10 of 31 Eppler held court with reporters before Tuesday night s 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros and said he doesn t see a scenario in which the team would go into an all-out rebuilding phase. With the position of this organization and the financial strengths of this organization, it s not in the DNA here to rebuild, Eppler said. We ll continue to invest. We ll continue to invest throughout this season, with a mind for this season, with a mind for the future and this winter with a mind towards competing and contending year in and year out. Some frustrated fans would certainly prefer to hear Eppler acknowledge the obvious, that the Angels are 14 games under.500 and 19 games out of first place. They would like to hear him say the Angels are going all-in to build a stronger organization in the future, even at the expense of the short-term product on the field. However, it s understandable why Eppler can t really say that. That doesn t send a good message to players in his clubhouse or the ticket buyers. It s also not a great position from which to negotiate with other general managers. As the Aug. 1 trading deadline approaches it is a day later this year because July 31 is on a Sunday the Angels have six healthy (or near healthy) players who would be of most interest to other teams. One is Mike Trout, who they aren t trading. Two others are Kole Calhounand Andrelton Simmons, but both are under control for at least three more years, so the Angels probably wouldn t be inclined to move either one. That leaves Yunel Escobar, Huston Street and Joe Smith. Smith, who is expected to come off the disabled list this weekend, is a free agent at the end of the season, so the Angels could move him without a cost to the future. Escobar and Street, however, could be back next year. Escobar has a team option and Street is signed. Even if the Angels decide they are out of the race this season, they may want to hold on to either or both of those players if they feel they can compete in And Eppler, not surprisingly, thinks they can. We see a scenario where we re going to try to contend year in and year out, he said. He added that doesn t necessarily mean ignoring the organization s need to add young players: I think you can serve both masters. I think you can contend and compete at the major league level while maintaining a commitment to building a farm system. Eppler also said, not surprisingly, that Manager Mike Scioscia s job is not in jeopardy. Scioscia is signed through 2018.

11 June 29, 2016 Page 11 of 31 Asked how Scioscia is performing, Eppler said: I think he s doing great. Energy. Enthusiasm. He s even-keeled. I think he s doing great. Certainly, it s difficult to objectively blame Scioscia for what has happened with this team, which has been ravaged by injuries. Of the eight starting pitchers the Angels had to start spring training, five are or have been on the disabled list. Everyday players like Daniel Nava and Simmons have also been hurt, as well as role players Geovany Soto, Craig Gentry and Cliff Pennington. Eppler said he s hopeful that Smith, Soto, Pennington and possibly Tyler Skaggs can all be back before the trading deadline. Hopefully we get some guys back, Eppler said. Get some guys healthy and let this team play. Astros take advantage of pretty terrible Tim Lincecum as Angels lose for eighth time in nine games By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM Tim Lincecum has shown that a pitcher without command of his fastball doesn t have a fastball. Not one that he can use anyway. After his second straight poor outing in the Angels 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, Lincecum said his fastball command was pretty terrible and the results followed. Unable to put his fastballs where he wanted them, Lincecum instead was going to my secondary pitches and trying to B.S. my way through it. Obviously, that didn t work. Lincecum gave up five runs in 4-1/3 innings, after allowing four runs in three innings in his previous outing. It s left the impression that maybe his first start, when he gave up one run in six innings, was a fluke. Although three starts is still too small of a sample size to judge Lincecum for 2016, it certainly looks like he s reverted to the large sample size of his previous four seasons. Lincecum had a 4.68 ERA from , at the end being relegated to mop-up duty with the San Francisco Giants. He had hip surgery and could not find a job until late May, when the Angels desperate for pitching gave him a shot.

12 June 29, 2016 Page 12 of 31 They are still desperate for pitching. Lincecum dug an early hole on Tuesday night, walking two of the first three hitters of the game and then serving up a three-run homer to Carlos Correa. Lincecum ended up striking out the side around all that, on his way to seven strikeouts. The missed bats were the one silver lining to an otherwise sloppy outing. His stuff looked like it will play, but in the end he didn t have enough command, Manager Mike Scioscia said. He gave up too many counts and those guys took advantage of it. Now with a 6.75 ERA in three starts and two of those were against the Oakland A s Lincecum has not contributed much to solving what has clearly become the Angels biggest issue. Since April 24, Angels starters have a 5.34 ERA. That s not only caused them to lose plenty of games all by itself, but the extra work put on the bullpen has also hurt them in games they have had a chance to win. Just Monday night, for example, Matt Shoemaker left after six scoreless innings, but a couple of hard-worked relievers Mike Morin andfernando Salas gave up four runs and the Angels lost. Offensively, the Angels only run was an unearned run, courtesy of an error by third baseman Luis Valbuena. Albert Pujols drove in the run with a single. Mike Trout s homer streak ended at three games, although Trout reached base on a single and a walk. Angels rehabbing Tyler Skaggs heads to Triple-A Salt Lake, could be in majors within a month By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM Tyler Skaggs next start will be at Triple-A, his first appearance at that level since late April. Angels GM Billy Eppler said Tuesday that Skaggs will throw five innings for Salt Lake City on Saturday. He said it s realistic to think Skaggs could be in the majors within a month. Skaggs, who has been out with biceps tendinitis since April, gave up one run in 4-1/3 innings for Class-A Inland Empire on Monday.

13 June 29, 2016 Page 13 of 31 He got a little tired in the fifth inning but the stuff was really good early, Manager Mike Scioscia said. Good velocity. Everything is good. NUMBERS GAME Eppler essentially confirmed that roster management was one of the main reasons that Nick Tropeano was optioned to Triple-A, even though his ERA is better than all of the other Angels starters. Tropeano is one of only three Angels starters who can be optioned. Hector Santiago andmatt Shoemaker are the others. Sometimes you run into situations when you might feel the club needs to maintain as much depth as possible, Eppler said. And some pieces are flexible and some pieces are not. There are always depth considerations and maintaining as much depth as possible. Tropeano, who started at Triple-A on Tuesday, is eligible to return to the big leagues starting July 4. ALSO Yunel Escobar is getting much better, Scioscia said, but he s still not expected to play until Friday, when the Angels open a series in Boston. Escobar has been out with a sore knee.... Joe Smith, who is scheduled for a second outing with Inland Empire on Wednesday, could be activated from the disabled list on Friday. Smith is out with a strained hamstring.... Garrett Richards said his stem cell treatment is going well. Things are doing what we want them to do. Tests Monday on Richards elbow showed some healing, but the Angels are weeks away from knowing if he will be able to avoid Tommy John surgery.... Angels 20th-round pick Jack Kruger, a catcher from Mississippi State, was at the ballpark for a visit on Tuesday. Kruger has not signed yet. On deck: Astros at Angels, Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER Where: Angel Stadium TV: Fox Sports West, 12:30 p.m. Did you know? This is the Angels only 12:30 p.m. start on a weekday home game this season. THE PITCHERS ANGELS RHP JERED WEAVER (6-6, 5.24) Vs. Astros: 5-4, 3.26 At Angel Stadium: 76-33, 2.81 Hates to face: George Springer, 7 for 15 (.467) Loves to face: Colby Rasmus, 1 for 17 (.059)

14 June 29, 2016 Page 14 of 31 ASTROS LHP DALLAS KEUCHEL (4-9, 5.35) Vs. Angels: 8-2, 3.74 At Angel Stadium: 5-1, 3.51 Hates to face: Mike Trout, 11 for 34 (.324) Loves to face: C.J. Cron 3 for 19 (.158) Fryer: Mike Trout, Corey Seager highlight this All-Star ballot By STEVE FRYER / STAFF WRITER What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here This is another polarizing election year. Agree or disagree, here is my MLB All-Star ballot as we approach the Thursday voting deadline For the American League: catcher, Salvador Perez (Royals); first base, Chris Davis (Orioles); second base, Jose Altuve (Astros); shortstop, Francisco Lindor (Indians); third base, Manny Machado (Orioles); designated hitter, Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays); and outfielders Mookie Betts (Red Sox), Mike Trout (Angels) and Mark Trumbo (Orioles). My National League picks: catcher, Buster Posey (Giants); first base, Brandon Belt (Giants), second base, David Murphy (Nationals); shortstop, Corey Seager (Dodgers); third base, Nolan Arenado (Rockies); and outfielders Jay Bruce (Reds), Adam Duvall (Reds) and Matt Kemp (Padres). All-Star voting ends Thursday at 8:59 p.m. The Angels and Dodgers websites have easy links to the voting site (angels.com, dodgers.com will get you to the team websites). Rosters will be announced Tuesday at 4 p.m. on ESPN s All-Star Selection Show. For the Dodgers final regular-season game, against the Giants in San Francisco on Oct. 2, it should be arranged that Vin Scully does an old-fashioned simulcast so he is on TV and radio at the same time. Or, and perhaps better, a national telecast of the game has Scully at the microphone for all the world to enjoy. Since Rick Honeycutt became the team s pitching coach in 2006, the Dodgers 3.64 ERA is the lowest in the majors. Trout is consistently excellent. Through June 27, Trout s past three seasons including this one: a.313 average in 2014,.303 in 15 and.319 this year; 18 home runs in 14, 19 in 15 and 17 this year 53 runs scored in 14, 55 in 15 and 55 this year. A long and loud standing ovation should greet Garret Anderson when he is inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame on Aug. 20 before the Angels play the Yankees. Anderson is the best

15 June 29, 2016 Page 15 of 31 offensive player in club history. He is the club s all-time leader in games, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles and RBI. Anderson was rough on the Yankees, too, with a.319 average and 15 homers with 83 RBI in 124 games against New York. Jered Weaver, Wednesday s probable starting pitcher, leads the Angels with an average of six innings per start. Matt Shoemaker s ERA over his past five home starts is He is 1-1 in those five starts. Of Shoemaker s 15 starts this season overall, the Angels have scored 29 runs while he was in the game. Jim Hickman, veteran of 13 MLB seasons who died Saturday, is known by some for his role in one spectacular play. It was Hickman s hit in the 1970 All-Star Game that sent Pete Rose home on the famous collision in which Rose blasted through catcher Ray Fosse to score the winning run. The pitcher who gave up the Hickman hit was Angels lefty Clyde Wright. In 1985, the Chicago Bears Buddy Ryan-coached defense was No. 1 in the NFL in fewest points allowed, yardage allowed, first downs allowed, rushing touchdowns allowed and in interceptions. That s dominating. Most NCAA Division I basketball championships: Geno Auriemma, UConn women s basketball, 11; John Wooden, UCLA men, 10; Pat Summitt, Tennessee women, 8, Mike Krzyzewski, Duke men, 5. Every Tennessee women s basketball player who completed her eligibility during Summitt s 38 years graduated. Tom Kelly, whose stately voice was silenced Monday, did some broadcasting work in Peoria, Ill., before getting to Southern California, where he became best known for Trojans football broadcasts. Peoria is the cradle of sports broadcasting. Other Southern California sportscasters who worked in Peoria before coming here: Chick Hearn (Lakers), Ralph Lawler (Clippers), Bob Starr (Angels, Rams), Bob Steinbrinck (UCLA) and Charley Steiner (Dodgers). At the USA Track and Field Junior National Championships over the weekend, Canyon High s Rachel Baxter won the women s pole vault, Joy McArthur (Mater Dei last school year, Dana Hills next school year) won the women s hammer throw and Esperanza s Brandon Osborn finished second in the men s discus. They advanced to the world championships in Poland, July

16 June 29, 2016 Page 16 of 31 Novak Djokovic is a 5-6 favorite to win the Wimbledon men s singles championship. Andy Murray is next at 3-1. The women s singles favorites are Serena Williams, at 17-10, and Garbine Muguruza at 9-2. Orange High and USC alum Steve Johnson won a close match over Malek Jaziri in Wimbledon s first round. Johnson was knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon last year after being eliminated in the first round in 2013 and 14, his first two years in the event. Lionel Messi was emotionally messy. He will change his mind and stay on Argentina s national team. Messi will realize he couldn t bear not being with the team in Russia for the 2018 World Cup. Rogie Vachon, finally to be received into the Hockey Hall of Fame this year, was the Kings first real star, the team s most popular player until Marcel Dionne came along and then Wayne Gretzky. Vachon, 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, was like a hyperactive little spider between the pipes on some outstanding Kings teams of the 1970s. Vachon was a big reason the Kings out-drew the Lakers at The Forum for two seasons in the 70s, (12,620 average attendance for the Kings, 11,567 for the Lakers) and (12,436 for the Kings, 12,230 for the Lakers). It is wrong to say the Kings were not a good draw until Gretzky arrived in 88. Reports of Vachon s Hall of Fame election stated that Vachon won the Vezina Trophy in the season in Montreal. It s more accurate to say he shared it with Gump Worsley. Vachon played 2,227 minutes to Worsley s 2,213. That was back when the Vezina went to the goaltenders of a team with the fewest goals allowed. The Vezina would go to the goaltender judged to be the best at the position starting in the season. The Jennings Trophy now recognizes the lowest goals allowed. NHL draft report card: BleacherReport.com gave the Ducks a B and the Kings got a B, too. NBA draft report card: Yahoo Sports gave the Clippers an A-minus and gave the Lakers an A- plus. FROM ANGELS.COM Lincecum still playing catchup with mechanics Angels starter tagged for 5 runs over 4 1/3 innings By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- It didn't take long for Tim Lincecum to realize he didn't have his fastball.

17 June 29, 2016 Page 17 of 31 "I had to work around that," Lincecum said, "and then I found myself becoming onedimensional again." Lincecum began his Tuesday start against the Astros by walking two of the first three batters, then got behind in the count to Carlos Correa, tried to locate an 87 mph fastball low and away and watched it sail into the left-field bullpen for the three-run homer that drove in the winning runs in the Angels' eventual 7-1 defeat, their eighth loss in the last nine days. Lincecum wound up recording only 13 outs, charged with five runs on seven hits, four walks and -- because the Astros whiff more often than any other team in baseball -- seven strikeouts. The 32-year-old right-hander signed an incentive-laden, pro-rated, $2.5 million contract with the Angels on May 20, a little more than eight months after hip surgery. He impressed in his season debut, limiting the A's to six baserunners and one run in six innings on June 18. But Lincecum has since allowed nine runs on 14 hits and six walks in 7 1/3 innings at Angel Stadium, a place that is supposed to play favorably to his fly-ball tendencies. On Thursday, he gave up four second-inning runs and required 83 pitches to complete three innings. On Tuesday, his fastball command was admittedly "pretty terrible," and from there, Lincecum said, "I was just trying to B.S. my way through it," mostly by relying heavily on his changeup. "I think I'm just trying to overthrow it right now, still gauge where it plays," Lincecum said of a fastball that is sitting mostly mph, about where it was last season but a far cry from where it was in his early years. "I know I'm not throwing hard anymore, but I still have to trust it and have confidence in it. That's where I'm sort of [deluding] myself. I'm not really convicting those pitches." The Angels -- a season-high 14 games under.500 and 19 games out of first place in the American League West, their largest deficit through 78 games in 15 years -- signed Lincecum out of sheer desperation. Four of their starting pitchers were tending to serious ailments and five of their current ones were fighting inconsistencies. They didn't need Lincecum to be the guy from , when he made four All-Star teams, claimed two National League Cy Young Awards and won a World Series championship. But they needed him to keep them in games, perhaps spare the bullpen every once in a while, and he hasn't really done that, either. Given the length of his rehab, Lincecum was asked if he's still a little rusty.

18 June 29, 2016 Page 18 of 31 "Yes and no," he said. "But at the same time, I'm here, and I committed to being here and tell myself that I was ready, so I'm willing to work within that. I accept what I'm going through right now. I want to move forward and get through it." Smith to represent Angels in Futures Game Lefty prospect has 3.92 ERA with Triple-A Salt Lake By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Starting-pitching prospect Nate Smith has been selected to represent the Angels at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday, July 10. Smith is ranked third in the Angels' system by MLBPipeline.com and became their top pitching prospect after Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis were sent to the Braves in a trade for shortstop Andrelton Simmons in November. Selected in the eighth round of the 2013 Draft, Smith has spent the 2016 season pitching exclusively for Triple-A Salt Lake, posting a 3.92 ERA with 21 walks and 64 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The 24-year-old left-hander is 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds, throws his fastball in the low 90s and commands up to four pitches. He profiles as a mid- to back-end rotation starter and could join the Angels when rosters expand in September, if not sooner. The Futures Game will be played at 4 p.m. PT on MLB Network, with live streaming also available on MLB.com. Major League Baseball collaborated with MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 teams to select the 50 prospects who will make up the U.S. and World teams. Each Major League organization was represented and all players from a full-season Minor League affiliate were eligible. The U.S. Team -- riding a six-game winning streak -- features 14 former first-round picks, while the World Team has players from 11 countries and territories outside the 50 states.

19 June 29, 2016 Page 19 of 31 Lincecum labors, offense struggles in series loss By Fabian Ardaya and Brian McTaggart / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Carlos Correa launched a three-run, first-inning homer and finished a triple shy of the cycle, Jose Altuve extended his on-base streak to 31 games and the Astros beat the Angels, 7-1, on Tuesday to claim a series victory and their ninth win in their last 10 games. "We expect to win the way we're playing, which is good," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We show up the ballpark every day feeling good about the chance to win. We've got to go out and produce and do some things and prepare, but we do have a nice little vibe about us, a little swagger. We've got our confidence back and the way we show up and performing right now, it's a fun atmosphere." Altuve walked against Angels right-hander Tim Lincecum in the first inning to extend his Major League-best streak and was followed by Correa's Statcast-projected 389-foot home run to left field to give the Astros an early 3-0 lead. "I knew he was going to throw some changeups to get me to chase and I was able to lay off them and get a good pitch to hit," Correa said. Lincecum struggled at home for the second consecutive start, giving up five runs in 4 1/3 innings and struggling with control as the Angels lost for the eighth time in their last nine games. "I thought [Tim] spun the ball better," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Lincecum. "His fastball command improved as the game went on. But in that first inning, just two walks and going 2-0 to Correa, they got on that board quick." Astros right-hander Scott Feldman, making his first start since April 24, worked an efficient five innings to pick up the win. He gave up a run (zero earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking none in a tidy 65 pitches. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Correa strikes again: Correa, who drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning Monday with a sac fly, struck early with his three-run homer, his 13th, to give the Astros an early cushion. He drove in Altuve on a grounder in the seventh inning to give him four RBIs in a 3-for-4 night. He has 14 RBIs in the last eight games, giving him a team-high-tying 47 this season. "He's got a little burst of energy the last 10, 12 days and he's hunting pitches and his productivity has skyrocketed," Hinch said. "He's done a lot of damage with the pitches to hit. He's got a little bounce in his step, obviously, and that comes with confidence and contributing and things like that. He's playing great."

20 June 29, 2016 Page 20 of 31 Wild Thing: Lincecum was erratic from the start on Tuesday, walking two of the first three batters on four pitches each before giving up the homer to Correa. He only threw 55 strikes in his 101 total pitches, and was pulled in the fifth inning with a pair on as the bullpen, which had thrown 29 innings in the last eight games, was tasked with another long night. "My fastball command was pretty terrible," Lincecum said. "If you don't get a chance to establish the zone and work around that, I found myself being one-dimensional again with my changeup and not really finding my way out of it." Feldman fills in nicely: Making a spot start in place of Lance McCullers (blister), Feldman held the Angels without an earned run for five innings to pick up his first win this season as a starter. Feldman, making his first start in two months, allowed only three singles, including an infield hit. He threw 65 pitches, which was his most since throwing 103 in his last start, which came against the Red Sox. "I have been doing the bullpen thing for a couple of months so I had to try to remember my whole routine for [starting], but it was a lot of fun," Feldman said. "I appreciate the opportunity and just tried to make the most of it." Nothing doing: The Angels' offense struggled to get much of anything going all night long, as they didn't get their first extra-base hit until shortstop Andrelton Simmons' double over left fielder Colby Rasmus' head in the seventh inning. Left fielder Daniel Nava doubled to right to give the Angels their only other extra-base hit. They totaled eight runners in scoring position, with one -- catcher Carlos Perezin the third inning -- coming around to score. "We had a couple good looks at [Feldman] and a couple good opportunities, and we couldn't get those hits with runners in scoring position," Scioscia said. "Especially early, it could've maybe set the game up a little different." QUOTABLE "He's every bit our heart and soul of our team." -- Hinch on Altuve, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two steals to extend his hitting streak to 10 games "I was a lot better today mechanically. I was able to get my arm up and pull down, but even so, I just felt myself not attacking the zone and after that just going to my secondary pitches and trying to be B.S. my way through it." -- Lincecum, on his mechanics and command UPON FURTHER REVIEW Angels center fielder Mike Trout hit a one-out flare single in the first inning off Feldman, then decided to bolt for second base two pitches later. He was initially ruled safe, but the Astros challenged the call. After a one minute, 59-second review, the call stood and Trout was awarded his 11th stolen base of the year.

21 June 29, 2016 Page 21 of 31 Perez tried to bunt for a single to lead off the third inning. The Angels challenged, the play was reviewed and subsequently overturned. After initially being called out, Perez was awarded a single. WHAT'S NEXT Astros: Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (4-9, 5.35 ERA) takes the mound in Wednesday's 2:35 p.m. CT series finale against the Angels at Angel Stadium. Keuchel beat the Royals last time out in Kansas City, which was only his second win in a span of seven starts during which he's 2-4 with a 5.24 ERA. Angels: Jered Weaver comes into Wednesday's series finale against the Astros looking to recapture some magic from two starts ago, when he tossed a 95-pitch shutout against Oakland. He's 6-6 with a 5.24 ERA this season, often running into his most trouble his second and third time through the batting order. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. PT. Eppler says rebuilding phase not in Halos plans Angels GM also says Scioscia s job not in jeopardy By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- The Angels took the field on Tuesday with an 18-game deficit in the American League West, a farm system that is considered to be among the weakest in the industry and a top-heavy payroll that has basically maxed out. But they have no plans to enter into any sort of rebuilding phase. First-year general manager Billy Eppler pretty much guaranteed that. "With the position of this organization, and the financial strengths of this organization, it's not in the DNA to rebuild," Eppler said prior to the second game of a three-game series against the division-rival Astros. "So, we will not do that. We'll continue to invest. We'll invest throughout this season, with a mind for this season, with a mind for the future and this winter, with a mind towards competing, and contending year in and year out." Eppler didn't rule out using veteran players to acquire prospects prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline, but he also didn't commit to it, saying: "We're not up against any decision at this point in time." The Angels can eventually part with players who are eligible for free agency at season's end, a list headlined by starting pitcher Tim Lincecum, setup man Joe Smith and catcher Geovany Soto. But the bigger returns, and the tougher decisions, come with regards to trading players signed beyond 2016, including third baseman Yunel Escobar ($7 million club option for '17),

22 June 29, 2016 Page 22 of 31 closer Huston Street (on the books for up to two additional seasons), right fielder Kole Calhoun (controllable through '19) and first basemanc.j. Cron (controllable through '20). Eppler indicated that most of the latter group may stay, because he wants the Angels to compete in '17. "There is no doubt we want to be a contending team year in and year out," he said. "You can connect the dots on that." Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson, each making $20 million in '16, are off the books after this season. But the Angels will still be paying the Rangers an additional $22 million for Josh Hamilton in '17, Albert Pujols will still be owed $140 million over a five-year period, the farm system will still need a lot of work, and the upcoming free-agent class won't be very deep. Eppler needs to navigate through all of that in his quest to build a competitive team around Mike Trout, who doesn't line up to hit the free-agent market until after the '20 season. Eppler doesn't necessarily believe there is a trade-off. "I think you can serve both masters," Eppler said. "I think you can contend and compete at the Major League level while maintaining a commitment to building a farm system. So, we're making that commitment. We'll do both." Mike Scioscia, baseball's longest-tenured manager, is signed through '18, and Eppler assured that his job is "not in jeopardy." He called his relationship with the Angels' owner, Arte Moreno, "great." "Very positive, very supportive," Eppler said. "Yeah, it's been great." Eppler also insisted that "there is talent on this roster," even if a minus-37 run-differential would indicate otherwise. He believes the win-loss record is largely a product of both injuries and underperformance, and he remains perpetually hopeful that a turnaround will come. His plan? "Continue to just allow guys to play and just take it day to day," Eppler said. "I think the one thing that is a positive, that we walk out of every day with, is the fact that these guys have not stopped fighting. There's absolutely no quit. That's a good thing for our fans to see, for our coaches to see. Hey, welcome to the grind. This is it."

23 June 29, 2016 Page 23 of 31 Calhoun quietly having #ASGWorthy season That s a great talent, Scioscia says of Angels right fielder By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Angels center fielder Mike Trout has run away with the American League All-Star voting, generating a large and seemingly insurmountable lead over other AL outfielders. Trout's outfield mate, right fielder Kole Calhoun, certainly has made himself a case to join the former AL MVP in San Diego for the All-Star game on July 12. Calhoun, the 2015 Gold Glove Award winner, has maintained his role as one of the driving forces in the Angels' lineup. "Kole's been very, very consistent ever since he started getting consistent at-bats a couple years ago in the big leagues to where he is now," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's very versatile with how you can use him in the lineup, bringing the on-base percentage and the ability to drive the ball. That's a great talent." Through 76 games this season, he's produced a slash line of.290/.361/.452 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs, bringing his batting average up from last season's.256 while also adding to his power by improving from his.422 slugging percentage. Among AL right fielders, Calhoun currently ranks 4th in Wins Above Replacement (10th among AL outfielders). He's made an impression on Trout, who has worked with Calhoun since the right fielder broke into the Majors in '12. "He's up there [among right fielders]," Trout said. "I've played with Torii [Hunter] and some of the older guys, but he's got a Gold Glove and comes into the part every day trying to work and just be better." Calhoun's continued production and improvement have elevated him among the best right fielders in baseball. The next accolade for Calhoun to accomplish would be an All-Star appearance. "It's something that would be an honor, for sure," Calhoun said. "It's something every player thinks about, but I'm not going to hang my hat on it. It's not going to make or break my season." For Scioscia, there's no hesitation as to where he sees Calhoun in the game of baseball. "There's no doubt he should get All-Star consideration," Scioscia said. "The All-Star selection is a little dicey of a procedure, but [Kole] is an All-Star caliber player, no doubt." Worth noting

24 June 29, 2016 Page 24 of 31 Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar remained out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Houston, and is unlikely to play Wednesday. Scioscia said he's "hopeful" that Escobar, who is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee, would be available when the team opens its series in Boston on Friday. Angels catcher Geovany Soto worked out in the bullpen before Tuesday's game against the Astros, and if he comes out of it well, Scioscia said he'd be able to start a rehab assignment. Soto hasn't played since undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee on May 18. Angels infielder Cliff Pennington underwent an MRI on his strained left hamstring, which revealed he's making progress in his recovery. He's been participating in baseball activities, and hasn't experienced any setbacks. Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs threw 4 1/3 innings with Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Monday, his first competitive outing since April. Angels GM Billy Eppler said Skaggs would throw five innings with Triple-A Salt Lake before taking the next step. Right-hander Nick Tropeano was solid in his first start back with Triple-A on Tuesday, giving up two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings. Tropeano was optioned Friday after being activated from the 15-day DL, as the Angels found themselves with six starters for five slots. Eppler said the fact that Tropeano was one of the few pitchers with options remaining was influential. "Sometimes you run into situations when you might feel the club needs to maintain as much depth as possible," he said. "And some pieces are flexible and some pieces are not." Weaver, Keuchel face off to wrap series with Astros By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com Former American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel looks to continue his career dominance against the Angels when he faces off Wednesday with right-hander Jered Weaver. The Astros, winners in nine of their last 10 games, will be seeking a three-game series sweep. Keuchel (4-9, 5.35 ERA) snapped a three-game losing streak in his last start, giving up four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings of a 13-4 Astros win over Kansas City. Before that start, his last win came against the Angels on May 28. Facing Weaver that night, Keuchel gave up two runs on three hits over seven innings. Keuchel's career winning percentage against the Angels is higher than against any AL West opponent, as he's 8-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 13 appearances. Weaver (6-6, 5.24 ERA) is two starts removed from his best performance of the season, a 95- pitch shutout in Oakland on June 19. When facing those same Athletics at home in his next start, however, he gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings and looked much like the same pitcher