Angels' Mike Scioscia named AL manager of the year

 Mike Scioscia, who helped navigate the Angels through the tragic April 9 death of pitcher Nick Adenhart and a flurry of injuries to key players to win another division title, was named American League manager of the year today.

It marked the second time in 10 years with the Angels that Scioscia has won the award, which is voted on by members of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America. Scioscia last won the award in 2002.

The Angels went 97-65 this season, winning their fifth AL West championship in six years, and defeated the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs. The Angels were eliminated by the eventual World Series-champion New York Yankees in the AL championship series.

The longest-tenured manager in the AL, Scioscia has guided the Angels to a 900-720 record in 10 years with the club.

Jim Tracy, the ex-Dodgers skipper who took over the Colorado Rockies in mideason and guided them to the playoffs, was named NL manager of the year,  

For more information go to latimes.com/sports later today. 

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Do you have a Facebook page? Become a fan of the Times' Sports Facebook page and get Angels news and other sports news delivered to your Facebook page.

Photo: Mike Scioscia before Game 5 of the ALCS. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel / U.S. Presswire

In Jeter's case, the eyes have it

Monday's third game of the American League Championship Series at Angel Stadium, which the Angels won 5-4 in 11 innings, had so many memorable moments that one of the more heads-up plays in postseason history got lost in the shuffle. But without it, the game likely never would have carried into extra innings.

With the game tied in the bottom of the eightth inning, Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu led off with a double to center. With both shortstop Derek Jeter and second baseman Robinson Cano leaving second base to race out for the relay throw, the speedy Abreu rounded the base aggressively and appeared to have designs on a triple before slamming on the brakes and heading back to second -- which he thought had been abandoned.

What Abreu didn't know, though, was that first baseman Mark Teixeira had followed him around the bases and was now standing at second. Jeter knew it -- or at least sensed it. So when he got the ball he immediately threw behind the runner and Abreu was out easily.

The next two batters went quietly and the inning was over.

"He's got eyes in the back of his head," Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said of Jeter. "He's got field sense like no one in baseball."

-- Kevin Baxter

Thursday's poll: Who is the better manager, Mike Scioscia or Joe Torre?

Mike Scioscia is the best manager in Angels' history, while Joe Torre is one of the best managers in baseball history. But which would you rather have managing your team?

Vote in today's poll and let your voice be heard, then leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

-- Houston Mitchell

Postgame quotes from Angels Manager Mike Scioscia

 

Here's what Angels Manager Mike Scioscia had to say after his team's 5-4 victory over the Dodgers on Friday night.

On the win:

"We beat some good pitchers this week, and [Chad] Billingsley has thrown the ball very well, and we just kept battling. I think we showed great plate discipline. We got some pitches to hit, we had some good swings on them, and Joe [Saunders] kept pitching and we kept playing defense. The only way you’re going to beat good teams is to just go out by out and grind it out. And that’s what we did today. What an at-bat by Juan Rivera."

On the bullpen:

"I think we’re getting a little more continuity down there [in the bullpen]. I don’t know if we’re ever going to get hardcore roles like we’re used to with Scot Shields and guys that were pitching before him last year. Maybe when Kelvim [Escobar] gets settled in the bullpen ... maybe he could give us some more options and maybe we’ll establish some harder roles."

On Rivera:

"We expect some powerful production at a little higher rate than we’ve seen so far this year for some guys from our lineup. And Juan is one of those guys that’s picking it up. He has the capability of going on streaks, and that’s what we’re seeing right now and it’s a great time for it. With Juan’s emergence in probably the last 50-75 at-bats, he’s been terrific."

Tributes to Adenhart, TV and radio and typing through the tears

There was no game, of course. The Angels couldn't play baseball at the place where a night earlier 22-year-old Nick Adenhart pitched six shutout innings, went out with his friends and hours later died from injuries caused by a driver allegedly so drunk that he didn't stop for a red light or even slow down to avoid a car full of three young men and woman.

So Adenhart's family is grieving -- biological and baseball -- and there is no baseball at Angel Stadium.

On Fox Sports West, its six Angels experts -- Bill Macdonald, Steve Physioc, Rory Markas, Jose Mota, Rex Hudler and Mark Gubizca -- gathered at the stadium to speak of the tragedy.

Of the six speakers, two touched me specially. Markas has undergone his own trauma this year, suffering and then recovering from a brain aneurysm that kept him from broadcasting part of the USC basketball season.

Finley, Grich join Angels camp

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

Photo: Chuck Finley throws for the Angels in 1999. Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

Jered Weaver behind ... but Angels manager says it's too early to panic

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Jered Weaver has increased his long-toss program to 180 feet but appears to be at least two weeks away from throwing off a mound, putting the right-hander behind the other pitchers in camp.

Sound familiar? Weaver reported to spring training in 2007 after a superb rookie season (11-2, 2.56 earned-run average in 2006) with a sore shoulder and drew criticism from some coaches, who felt he didn't do enough work over the winter to be ready for spring training. Weaver opened that season on the disabled list but still had a solid year, going 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 28 starts. (Full stats below.)

Manager Mike Scioscia downplayed Weaver's issues, saying, "This is something most pitchers go through every year -- adhesions have to be broken up, you have to get your range of motion and strength," and he did not question Weaver's winter preparations.

"That first spring was a youngster throwing more innings than he ever had the season before and trying to find the balance between rest and getting ready for the season," Scioscia said.

"This is just normal stuff. He needs a little more time to build up arm strength. There is no concern that he won't be ready for the season."

Year	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	SVO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
2007	LAA	13	7	3.91	28	28	0	0	0	0	161.0	178	77	70	17	45	115

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Photo: Jered Weaver is all smiles after finishing his workout in Tempe, Ariz. Credit: Eric Risberg / Associated Press

Mike Scioscia reportedly to receive contract extension

Yahoo.com is reporting that Manager Mike Scioscia and the Angels have agreed in principle to a contract extension through the 2012 season. Scioscia’s current deal, which is believed to pay him about $2 million a year, runs through 2009 and includes a club option for 2010.

Scioscia, 50, has guided the Angels to an 803-655 record in nine seasons and led them to their only World Series championship, in 2002. The Angels have won four of the last five American League West titles but have been eliminated by the Boston Red Sox in the division series in three of those years.

The Angels had a major-league-best 100-62 record last season but lost to the Red Sox in a division series that included Scioscia's most controversial call of the season, a suicide squeeze play in the ninth inning of Game 4.

With the score tied, 2-2, Erick Aybar failed to make contact, Reggie Willits was tagged out in a rundown between third and home, and the Red Sox scored in the bottom of the ninth to win the series.

But Scioscia has also been praised for getting the most out of his often-limited lineups, employing an aggressive running game that relies heavily on the stolen base and players going from first to third on singles.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Francisco Rodriguez is gone -- what now for Angels?

LAS VEGAS -- Mike Scioscia said today that the Angels wouldn't necessarily enter the 2009 season with a set ninth-inning reliever to replace closer Francisco Rodriguez, who has agreed to a three-year, $37-million deal with the New York Mets.

Veteran set-up man Scot Shields will probably be given first crack at the job, and right-hander Jose Arredondo, who was both impressive and dominant in his rookie season, will be considered. Veteran left-hander Darren Oliver could pitch later in games, and hard-throwing youngster Kevin Jepsen will likely play a more prominent role. The Angels are also talking to the agent for free-agent closer Brian Fuentes.

"If one guy steps up and siezes the role, we can adjust the bullpen accordingly," Scioscia said. "Right now, Shields has the most experience, but that doesn't mean we'll go into the season with just Shields closing games. It's easier when you have one guy. We might not be there in December, but we might be there by May. ... It will be more of a committee look until someone takes off with that role."

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Photo: Scot Shields is shown during Game Four of the ALCS in October. Credit: Elsa / Getty Images

Last call: Angels, Kimbo Slice, Hulk Hogan and Bruce Springsteen?

Well, the Angels finally found a way to generate some interest and the fans have come to life. Never has a squeeze play stirred the ire of so many fans. And, if Erick Aybar had sucessfully bunted, you have to figure many of those same fans would be writing in proclaiming Mike Scioscia to be a genius.

Did you hear that sound about mid-afternoon? That was the collective yawn of Clipperdom over the news that Elgin Baylor was stepping down as GM. At least he leaves a long legacy of near mediocrity.

Maybe EliteXC should line up Hulk Hogan as Kimbo Slice's next opponent. He knows how to follow a script.

And finally, the big news from the last two weeks isn't the Dodgers or Angels, it's that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are going to play the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Here are some suggested songs:

Drive All Night

It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City (Only if New Orleans makes it)

Balboa versus the Earth Slayer

Born to Run

Does This Bus Stop at 82nd St? (Jerome Bettis joins him on stage)

Follow That Dream

I Wish I Were Blind (dedicated to Ed Hochuli)

Local Hero

Loose Ends

And for those who would like a sneak preview:

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Hulk Hogan could show Kimbo Slice a thing or two. (Credit: WWE)