Shortstop Erick Aybar hopes Angels don’t go hungry without Vlad

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Vladimir Guerrero, the former Angels slugger who signed with the Texas Rangers this winter, was much more than a teammate to Angels shortstop Erick Aybar.

‘Man,’ Aybar said Tuesday, reflecting on the 2004 American League most valuable player and fellow Dominican. ‘He was like my father.’

Guerrero, who spent six years in Anaheim, was a mentor and friend to all of the Angels’ young Latino players, and Aybar will miss the camaraderie the two shared for years. But when asked what he will miss most about Guerrero, Aybar’s response had nothing to do with baseball.

‘The food,’ Aybar said. ‘He brought food to the park every day: chicken, beans and rice. Maybe when we go to Texas, he’ll bring the food. Maybe not. He better do that.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.