Notebook: Scioscia pushing back rotation due to roster expansion
Rosters expand on the team's off-day Monday so manager Mike Scioscia has decided to push back the pitching rotation. Hector Santiago was scheduled to pitch Tuesday in Houston but Scioscia said Sunday morning that he would be pushed back to Thursday at Minnesota.
After Saturday night's bullpen game, Scioscia decided to keep Santiago there for the time being and made him available for Sunday's game. His services weren't needed but the lineup for next week is still not available.
"We're just in the heart of the pennant race. We need to just go one inning, one pitch, one game at a time," Scioscia said. "But there won't be any surprises."
With the day off, it's likely they will start the rotation over again - C.J. Wilson, Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago, Matt Shoemaker and the bullpen. And there will be plenty of pitchers on hand to fill in.
This morning, Cory Rasmus was optioned back to Triple-A, but he'll be brought back up Monday. Vinnie Pestano was back in the clubhouse and Cam Bedrosian, Jose Alvarez and Drew Rucinski are all currently on the 40-man roster and eligible to be called up.
Others on the 40-man likely to be called up are outfielders Efren Navarro and Tony Campana but it's tough to say what infielders are likely to join the big club.
The Angels now have quite the platoon at third base with Grant Green, Gordon Beckham, John McDonald and regular third baseman David Freese. Green rejoined the Angels Sunday after finishing a rehab stint at Triple-A Salt Lake but did not play.
"I think (Green and Beckham) overlap a little bit but there's still enough separation that they'll add depth," Scioscia said. "Gordon has played a little more third base than Grant and I think that at shortstop Gordon is more comfortable on the left side and he's played short as much as Grant has. And I think at second base they're both really comfortable."
The New Wave Wave
The Lightwave has become an Anaheim trend. And the A's fans hate it.
The flashing cellphone camera lights caught on with fans at the Big A earlier in the summer as a way to replace the wave. Other teams have taken notice but none have complained until this week when the A's complained that it was a distraction until Thursday night when Oakland fans went on a Twitter rampage.
Even the Bay Area media had a say in it but San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Susan Slusser said in a radio interview that the players didn't really see it as any big deal.
"It's a little tough to see on defense," said Angels' outfielder Collin Cowgill. "It's kind of like looking through a strobe light when everyone is doing it. But I guess it doesn't really bother us, it's just different."
How the Angels won (08/31): angels sweep the A's and extend their AL West lead to 5 games
Scioscia said he rarely notices it and sees it as harmless. Getting the crowd engaged is a good thing and most everyone is locked in when they're on the field.
"While you're out there, it's really just white noise," he said. "I haven't really paid much attention."
The players are starting to embrace it as a sort of home field advantage.
"It's funny and the fans seem to like it," Cowgill said. "I wish they would do it when we were hitting and not playing D but it's an advantage."
Eye-annetta
Catcher Chris Iannetta is seeing everything right now. If he can sustain his .265 average he'll have a new career high but even when he's not hitting he seems to find a way to get on base.
Angels taking bullpen approach with Richards' old rotation spot
In his last 10 games, he's only .217, but he's walked in at least seven of those 10 games amassing 10 free passes and his on-base percentage is at .280.
In the last two games, Iannetta went 4-for-5 with two home runs four RBI and four runs. Scioscia said it's not out of the realm of possibility to consider using him as a DH in an attempt to rest him down the stretch.
