THT Daily: Angels on a Streak

Major League News for July 17

Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
Game of the Day
Top Minor League Performances
Player News
Stats

Yesterday’s Results

American League
TOR    10  TEX     1    (Recap and Boxscore) Lilly: 8 IP, 1 R; Wells: GS HR
MIN     6  TB      3    (Recap and Boxscore)
NYA     4  SEA     2    (Recap and Boxscore) Wang: 7 IP, 2 R; A-Rod: 3 E
BAL     5  OAK     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
BOS     5  KC      4    (Recap and Boxscore) BOS: 5 R in last 2 innings
LAA    10  CLE     5    (Recap and Boxscore) Izturis: 4-5; Rivera: 2 2B

National League
MIL    10  SF      1    (Recap and Boxscore) Jackson: 5 IP, 1 R
SD      8  PHI     6    (Recap and Boxscore) Gonzalez: 3-4, 2 HR
ATL    15  STL     3    (Recap and Boxscore) Betemit: 4-6, 5 RBI; McCann: GS HR
PIT     3  COL     1    (Recap and Boxscore) Wells: 7 IP, 1 R
FLA     4  WAS     2    (Recap and Boxscore) Nolasco: 7 IP, 2 R
ARI     8  LAN     3    (Recap and Boxscore) Gonzalez: 6.2 IP, 3 R, 3 for 3 at bat

Today’s Games

Visitors                          Home                               Time
COL - Francis J.* (6-8, 4.15)     PIT - Gorzelanny T.* (0-1, 7.00)   7:05
WAS - O'Connor M.* (3-6, 4.32)    FLA - Willis D.* (6-7, 3.80)       7:05
KC - Duckworth B. (1-2, 5.40)     BOS - Lester J.* (4-0, 2.89)       7:05
SEA - Pineiro J. (6-8, 5.94)      NYY - Ponson S. (0-0, -)           7:05
OAK - Loaiza E. (3-5, 6.34)       BAL - Ortiz R. (0-1, 8.68)         7:05
CWS - Garland J. (8-3, 5.37)      DET - Robertson N.* (8-5, 3.36)    7:05
TEX - Padilla V. (9-5, 4.25)      TOR - Marcum S. (0-0, 7.45)        7:07
NYM - Pelfrey M. (1-0, 3.60)      CIN - Milton E.* (6-4, 5.19)       7:10
HOU - Oswalt R. (6-6, 3.06)       CHC - Marmol C. (2-3, 4.23)        8:05
ATL - Hudson T. (6-8, 4.81)       STL - Marquis J. (11-6, 5.34)      8:10
TB - Kazmir S.* (10-6, 3.27)      MIN - Liriano F.* (10-2, 2.12)     8:10
LAD - Billingsley C. (0-2, 4.45)  ARI - Cruz J. (3-4, 4.45)          9:40
CLE - Lee C.* (9-6, 4.68)         LAA - Saunders J.* (0-0, -)       10:05
PHI - Madson R. (8-6, 5.91)       SD - Hensley C. (5-7, 4.70)       10:05
MIL - Ohka T. (2-1, 3.18)         SF - Wright J. (5-8, 5.06)        10:15

Standings

The graphics next to each team are called “sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each “up” bar is a victory and a “down” bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and gray bars represent games decided by two runs or less. “PWins” is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.

American League East        Pwins  Diff
BOS     55  36 .604    0.0   51      4      
NYA     54  36 .600    0.5   53      1      
TOR     52  40 .565    3.5   51      1      
BAL     44  51 .463   13.0   41      3      
TB      39  54 .419   17.0   38      1      
American League Central
DET     62  30 .674    0.0   59      3      
CHA     57  34 .626    4.5   54      3      
MIN     51  40 .560   10.5   49      2      
CLE     41  51 .446   21.0   49     -8      
KC      32  60 .348   30.0   33     -1      
American League West
OAK     48  45 .516    0.0   46      2      
LAA     47  45 .511    0.5   47      0      
TEX     47  46 .505    1.0   48     -1      
SEA     44  49 .473    4.0   47     -3      

National League East         Pwins Diff
NYN     55  37 .598    0.0   53      2      
ATL     44  49 .473   11.5   48     -4      
PHI     42  49 .462   12.5   43     -1      
FLA     41  50 .451   13.5   44     -3      
WAS     39  55 .415   17.0   41     -2      
National League Central
STL     52  40 .565    0.0   48      4      
CIN     49  44 .527    3.5   46      3      
MIL     46  48 .489    7.0   40      6      
HOU     45  48 .484    7.5   45      0      
CHN     35  56 .385   16.5   36     -1      
PIT     33  61 .351   20.0   41     -8      
National League West
SD      49  43 .533    0.0   47      2      
ARI     46  46 .500    3.0   45      1      
SF      46  47 .495    3.5   46      0      
LAN     46  47 .495    3.5   50     -4      
COL     44  48 .478    5.0   46     -2      

Game of the Day

The Angels moved within half a game of first place by beating the Indians, 10-5. The Angels have won seven straight and 12 of their last 13 games to climb from last to their current position. Garrett Anderson and Orlando Cabrera hit two-run homers for the Angels, and Maicer Izturis had a career-high four hits. This game featured Dustin Moseley’s major league debut. Moseley was acquired from Cincinnati for Ramon Ortiz a year and a half ago.

CLEVELAND (5) VS LA ANGELS (10) - FINAL

CLEVELAND              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
G Sizemore cf           5  1  2  0   0  1   1  .289
J Michaels lf           5  1  2  2   0  1   2  .267
T Hafner dh             4  1  1  1   0  1   2  .320
V Martinez c            4  1  2  0   0  0   2  .309
R Belliard 2b           4  0  2  1   0  0   1  .290
B Broussard 1b          4  0  1  1   0  0   2  .318
J Peralta ss            4  0  0  0   0  1   3  .253
T Hollandsworth rf      4  1  2  0   0  1   1  .250
R Vazquez 3b            4  0  0  0   0  2   1  .185

Totals                 38  5 12  5   0  7  15

BATTING: 2B - T Hollandsworth (11, D Moseley); R Belliard (20, H Carrasco). HR 
- T Hafner (28, 3rd inning off D Moseley 0 on, 0 Out), J Michaels (8, 4th 
inning off D Moseley 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Belliard (44), T Hafner (77), J 
Michaels 2 (31), B Broussard (42). 2-out RBI - R Belliard, J Michaels 2. 
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1, B Broussard 1, T 
Hollandsworth 1. GIDP - J Peralta. Team LOB - 6. 
 
FIELDING: E - R Vazquez (4, throw). Outfield assists - G Sizemore (A Kennedy 
at 2nd base). DP: 2 (J Peralta-B Broussard, B Broussard-J Peralta-B Broussard). 

LA ANGELS              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
C Figgins cf            4  0  2  0   1  1   0  .269
M Izturis 3b            5  3  4  1   0  0   0  .276
O Cabrera ss            5  1  1  2   0  0   6  .291
V Guerrero rf           5  1  3  2   0  0   0  .314
G Anderson dh           4  1  2  2   0  0   1  .271
M Napoli c              3  1  0  0   1  0   1  .282
J Rivera lf             4  2  2  1   0  1   1  .282
K Morales 1b            4  0  2  1   0  0   1  .247
A Kennedy 2b            4  1  1  1   0  1   2  .262

Totals                 38 10 17 10   2  3  12

BATTING: 2B - M Izturis (5, J Westbrook); J Rivera 2 (12, E Mujica, J 
Westbrook). HR - G Anderson (8, 1st inning off J Westbrook 1 on, 2 Out), O 
Cabrera (7, 4th inning off J Westbrook 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - V Guerrero 2 (70), G 
Anderson 2 (49), J Rivera (40), K Morales (21), O Cabrera 2 (50), A Kennedy 
(33), M Izturis (13). 2-out RBI - V Guerrero 2, G Anderson 2, J Rivera, K 
Morales. GIDP - O Cabrera, G Anderson. Team LOB - 6. 
 
BASERUNNING: SB - C Figgins (36, 3rd base off G Mota/V Martinez), M Izturis 
(8, 2nd base off G Mota/V Martinez). CS - C Figgins (9, 2nd base by E Mujica). 
 
FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Izturis-A Kennedy-K Morales). 
 
----------------------------------------------------
    CLEVELAND       - 101 200 010   --   5
    LA ANGELS       - 302 210 02x   --  10
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
J Westbrook (L, 7-5)          3 2/3  12   7   5   1   1   2   4.44
E Mujica                      3 1/3   3   1   1   0   1   0   1.50
R Perez                         1/3   1   2   2   1   1   0   4.15
G Mota                          2/3   1   0   0   0   0   0   5.80

LA ANGELS                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
D Moseley (W, 1-0)            5      10   4   4   0   2   2   7.20
H Carrasco                    2 1/3   2   1   1   0   2   0   3.75
S Shields (H, 15)               2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   2.36
B Donnelly                    1       0   0   0   0   2   0   4.19

WP - R Perez. Pitches-strikes: J Westbrook 86-58; E Mujica 29-21; R Perez 
17-9; G Mota 9-5; D Moseley 92-56; H Carrasco 31-23; S Shields 6-4; B Donnelly 
23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Westbrook 6-4; E Mujica 1-6; R Perez 0-1; G 
Mota 1-0; D Moseley 5-8; H Carrasco 2-3; S Shields 0-1; B Donnelly 1-0. Batters 
faced: J Westbrook 23; E Mujica 11; R Perez 4; G Mota 2; D Moseley 24; H 
Carrasco 9; S Shields 2; B Donnelly 3. 
 
UMPIRES: HP--Mark Wegner. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Jerry 
Layne. 

T--2:59. Att--43,921. 
Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, in from center.

The following graph tracks the game’s Win Probability, courtesy of Fan Graphs.

Top Minor League Games

The following list, provided by First Inning, includes the top minor league batting (based on Runs Created) and pitching (based on Game Score) performances from yesterday.

ORG LVL PLAYER            POS AB  H 2B 3B HR BB SO  Notes
ATL A+  Carl Loadenthal    RF  5  5  1  0  1  0  0  3 runs scored
BOS A-  Bubba Bell         RF  5  4  0  1  0  1  1  3 runs scored
CHC A+  Alan Rick          DH  3  3  2  0  0  0  0  4 RBI
CHC A   Ryan Norwood       1B  4  3  0  0  1  0  0   
CIN A   Craig Tatum         C  4  4  1  0  1  0  0   
CLE A+  Brian Barton       CF  4  4  1  1  0  0  0  Hitting .524 over last 21 at bats
COL A   Phillip Cuadrado   3B  4  3  0  0  1  0  0   
DET A   Michael Hollimon   SS  4  3  0  0  3  0  0  3 runs scored
FLA AAA Jason Stokes       1B  4  2  0  0  2  1  1  .519 OBP during past week
MIL AAA Nelson Cruz        RF  4  3  0  0  1  0  0   
 
ORG LVL PLAYER             IP   H  R ER SO BB HR  Notes
COL A   Xavier Cedeno      6.0  5  0  0  7  2  0   
HOU A-  Bryan Hallberg     6.0  2  0  0  5  1  0   
HOU A   Brad James         6.0  3  0  0  3  1  0  0.92 ERA over past month
HOU A+  Felipe Paulino     6.0  2  0  0  7  0  0   
LAA A   Tommy Mendoza      8.0  5  1  1  7  0  1   
NYY AA  Philip Hughes      5.0  3  0  0  9  1  0  42 K over last 29 IP
OAK A-  Scott Deal         6.0  2  0  0  4  0  0   
PHI A+  Julio De La Cruz   7.0  4  1  1  4  2  1   
PIT A   Luis Valdez        9.0  5  0  0  7  1  0   
SF  AA  Jesse Floyd        8.0  3  2  2  8  0  2  

Player News

Player news items are provided by CBS SportsLine.com.

The L.A. Angels confirmed that Joe Saunders would be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to make a spot start on Tuesday in place of the injured Kelvim Escobar (elbow).

Francisco Liriano is scheduled to face Devil Rays left Scott Kazmir on Tuesday, a matchup of two young All-Stars. In fact, it’s only the second time since 1989, according to the Devil Rays, that two 10-game winners ages 22 or younger have pitched against each other. It’s the first involving two left-handers.

With their parents in the stands, Arizona’s Stephen Drew and big brother J.D. of the Dodgers faced each other for the first time since they played in their back yard as kids on Monday in Arizona. Stephen, called up on Saturday to replace injured Craig Counsell, got his first major league hit with a one-out single in the fourth and made two spectacular plays at shortstop — a diving stop to his left and a play deep in the hole to his right. J.D. had an RBI sacrifice fly when Los Angeles tied it at 2-2 in the third.

Ty Taubenheim is out of the hospital after spending a couple of days receiving treatment for a staph infection in his left foot. The Blue Jays disinfected their clubhouse over the All-Star break after being forced to place Taubenheim on 15-day disabled list.

Chris Young was scheduled to have an MRI on his right foot Monday night. According to Padres manager Bruce Bochy, Young had a bone scan earlier Monday. He injured the top part of his right foot running down the first-base line in his last start Friday against Atlanta.

Randy Wolf continued his rehab Sunday, allowing one run in 3 1/3 innings in a start for Double-A Reading. He showed some rust, walking three and throwing two wild pitches. Wolf, who underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery on July 1, 2005, is expected to make at least two more starts in the minors. In his five rehab starts over the last month, Wolf is 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA.

A five-run third highlighted by Brian McCann’s first career grand slam removed suspense from the end of the Cardinals’ season-best winning streak and Jeff Weaver’s attempt at a fresh start with his new team. Weaver, picked up for a minor leaguer after going 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA with the Los Angeles Angels, lasted four innings, giving up six runs and eight hits on Monday against Atlanta.

Infielder Damian Jackson will be placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 8 with chest problems, the team said Monday. Jackson is batting .210 with four home runs and nine RBI.

The Washington Nationals said they will recall left-hander Mike O’Connor to start Tuesday’s game against the Florida Marlins.

The Colorado Rockies recalled infielders Ryan Shealy and Jason Smith, as well as pitcher Manuel Corpas from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday. They optioned relievers David Cortes and Scott Dohmann to the Sky Sox.

Chipper Jones had three singles and two RBI although his 14-game extra-base hit streak, which tied the major league record set by Pittsburgh’s Paul Waner in 1927, came to an end. The Braves third baseman has a 17-game hitting streak, and during his run he had eight doubles, a triple and seven homers.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday morning that Marcus Giles (thumb) had X-rays which did not reveal any major damage. He is expected to return by Friday and he thinks he might be able to return even sooner. Wilson Betemit will continue to be the beneficiary of playing time in his absence.

The San Diego Padres activated reliever Alan Embree from the disabled list on Monday and designated right-hander Brian Sikorski for assignment.

Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield left Monday night’s game against Kansas City after four innings with a strained upper back. He was listed as day to day and was to undergo tests. Wakefield originally was scheduled to start on Sunday but was given an extra day to rest his back. He retired the Royals in order in the first inning Monday then allowed three runs and two hits in the second when he walked two batters and hit another.

Eligible to be activated from the disabled list on July 31, Torii Hunter said Monday that he would be ready to return then from the stress fracture in his left foot.”I’m convinced,” he said. “Give me 15 days, I’ll be straight. Trust me.” Hunter, who broke his ankle and missed the last two months of the 2005 season, suffered this injury a month ago but assumed it was a strain and simply tried to tape his foot each game and play through the pain. On Saturday, it hurt too much to even do that. “I couldn’t even move,” Hunter said.

Shannon Stewart might have played his last game of the season. With severe pain in his left foot stemming from an aggravation of an earlier injury that prompted a six-week stint on the disabled list, Stewart shook his head when asked Monday if he thought he could come back this season. “To be honest, I don’t know,” he said, sitting in a chair in the clubhouse with a big walking boot on the floor in front of his cubicle. “I’ve done everything I can do before, and the doctor is optimistic – thinks I can. The way I feel, I don’t know.”

The Colorado Rockies placed infielder Omar Quintanilla on the 15-day disabled list Monday with an injury to his right shin. Quintanilla wasn’t immediately replaced on the roster. Colorado played its game Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates with one less reserve. Quintanilla fouled a pitch off his shin Saturday night in Cincinnati. Manager Clint Hurdle said there is no break.

The Athletics purchased the contract of RHP Jason Windsor from Triple-A Sacramento and designated OF Doug Clark for assignment. They have 10 days to trade, release or outright him to the minor leagues.

Craig Dingman had arterial bypass surgery in his right shoulder and there is no timetable for his return. “I was telling people the other day that I’m 32, but after that surgery my body feels like I’m going on 95,” Dingman told the Wichita Eagle. ‘I’m getting better every day, though. Stronger, more energy. My goal is to make it back to the big leagues in August or September.”

Mike Sweeney (back) reportedly is no better than an early August returnee at this point.

The Washington Nationals recalled RHP Tony Armas Jr. (forearm) and they reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list Monday. The team also designated Matthew LeCroy for assignment.

THT Stats

ERA+ is an important statistic for historical comparisons. It adjusts each pitcher’s ERA by the average scoring rates of his league and park in a particular year, and sets the baseline at 100. The other trick is that a number above 100 is positive. Taking a look at this list of the top 20 ERA+ leaders this year, you can see how much Francisco Liriano and Brandon Webb stand out from the competition.

Last         First       Team      IP      ERA    ERA+
Liriano      Francisco   MIN      93.3    2.12     216
Webb         Brandon     ARI     146.3    2.52     194
Lackey       John        LAA     130.7    2.69     164
Carpenter    Chris       STL     120.0    2.85     159
Halladay     Roy         TOR     135.3    3.06     157
Verlander    Justin B    DET     117.7    2.83     157
Arroyo       Bronson     CIN     137.0    2.96     157
Santana      Johan       MIN     138.0    2.93     156
Oswalt       Roy         HOU     126.3    3.06     152
Schmidt      Jason       SF      132.3    3.06     149
Cook         Aaron       COL     128.0    3.59     146
Jennings     Jason       COL     128.7    3.64     144
Zambrano     Carlos      CHN     131.0    3.23     141
Zito         Barry       OAK     131.0    3.30     138
Kazmir       Scott E     TB      115.7    3.27     138
Schilling    Curt        BOS     134.3    3.42     138
Mussina      Mike        NYA     128.3    3.30     137
Penny        Brad        LAN     113.3    3.26     135
Contreras    Jose        CHA     116.3    3.48     134
Robertson    Nate        DET     115.3    3.36     132

Access all of THT’s stats here…