Finley, Grich join Angels camp

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Former Angels Chuck Finley, a pitcher, and Bobby Grich, a second baseman, joined the team as guest instructors Monday, sparking a not-too-fond memory for Mike Scioscia.

The Angels manager and former Dodgers catcher, who batted left-handed, never faced Finley in a regular-season game. But he often faced the left-hander, as well as two other Angels lefties, Mark Langston and Jim Abbott, in the Freeway Series back when the Angels and Dodgers would play three games before the start of the regular season.

Finley had one of the game’s best split-fingered fastballs. Langston had an excellent curve, and Abbott had a good cut fastball.

‘We’d face Finley on Friday night, because he was being lined up for opening day, Langston on Saturday and Abbott on Sunday,’ Scioscia said. ‘I was 0 for 12 with 10 broken bats going into the season.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna