June 6, 2017 Page 1 of 22

Clips

(June 6, 2017)

June 6, 2017 Page 2 of 22

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Despite Mike Trout's injury, Angels players appear all-in on head-first slides

Angels mailbag: Kole Calhoun, plus lots of looking ahead

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 7)

Angels’ JC Ramirez rides new pitches to confidence in new starting role

Vladimir Guerrero to be inducted into Angels Hall of Fame

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10)

Vlad to be inducted into Angels' HOF in August

Inbox: Is Maldonado going to win a Gold Glove?

Much more in store for Pujols after No. 600

FROM DETROIT FREE PRESS (Page 14)

Tigers' next foe: Hobbling Angels visit Comerica Park minus Trout, Maybin

FROM ESPN.COM (Page 15)

Power Rankings: Everyone is chasing the Astros

June 6, 2017 Page 3 of 22

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Despite Mike Trout's injury, Angels players appear all-in on head-first slides

By Mike DiGiovanna

Cameron Maybin wanted to please his new employer, so when the Angels suggested during spring

training that he slide feet-first on stolen-base attempts in an effort to avoid injury, he complied.

“I tried it twice,” said Maybin, who suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb on a head-first slide into

second last August while playing for the Detroit Tigers. “I got thrown out twice, and I was, like, over it.

It’s too slow. It literally slows me down.”

The Angels, like most major league organizations, encourage players to slide feet first because it’s

considered safer than sliding head first, a belief that was reinforced last week when star center

fielder Mike Trout suffered a torn left-thumb ligament on a head-first slide into second.

A head-first slide exposes the fingers, hands and wrists to injury, and if a player slides beyond or away

from the bag, he can jar an elbow or a shoulder while grabbing the base to stop his momentum.

A player can jam his wrist on the ground while bracing himself on a feet-first slide, and if he goes too

hard and too late into the bag, he can sprain an ankle. But if executed properly, a good feet-first, pop-up

slide is less dangerous.

Unless you’re like Maybin, Trout and the many big leaguers who grew up sliding head first into bases

and feel uncomfortable doing anything different.

“It’s just a freak thing,” said Trout, who underwent surgery last Wednesday and will be out for six to

eight weeks. “I’ll play the same way — I’m still gonna slide head-first, obviously with a guard now.

“I tried to slide feet first in spring. I just don’t feel comfortable doing it. I think I have more control when

I dive head-first. They say [feet-first sliding] doesn’t slow you down, but it feels like I’m slowing myself

down a little bit.”

Maybin, who stole 40 bases for the San Diego Padres in 2011, felt a similar sensation when he tried feet-

first sliding this spring.

“It was physically awkward,” said Maybin, who was traded to the Angels last November. “I’m tall and I

run kind of low to the ground, like Rickey Henderson did. When I tried to contort my body back upright

[to start a feet-first slide], it just physically slows you down.

“I’m successful, and comfortable, doing it the way I do it, so I’m gonna keep doing it that way. I know I

messed up my thumb last year, but it’s part of the risk that comes with the game.”

June 6, 2017 Page 4 of 22

Players typically slide feet-first into second when attempting to break up double plays, and they rarely

slide head-first into home, where a collision with a catcher in full gear could risk a serious neck injury in

addition to hand, arm and shoulder injuries.

The Angels stress the perils of the head-first slide throughout the minor leagues, but as general manager

Billy Eppler said in the wake of Trout’s injury, “It’s really hard when something is instinctual.” Forcing a

player to change could make him more susceptible to injury.

“Some guys have tried to go feet first, and it’s actually more dangerous because they’re not used to

doing it,” Angels third-base coach Ron Roenicke said. “When you think about it, sliding head first is the

easiest thing to do, because you’re kind of low and you just drop down, and guys are used to diving

instinctively.

“If you’re going feet first, you’ve got to figure out, ‘How do I get my leg in the air; where do I tuck my leg

under?’”

The 2014 expansion of instant replay to include, among other things, tag plays has further muddled the

head-first vs. feet-first sliding debate.

In a nationally televised May 27 game at Dodger Stadium, Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs was ruled out —

after a replay review — when the momentum of his feet-first slide on an apparent double caused him to

pop up off the bag while Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager kept the tag on him.

Fox analyst John Smoltz, a Hall of Fame pitcher, said overturned calls such as that one are causing more

players to slide head first into second because it is easier to maintain contact with the bag.

“I haven’t noticed more guys sliding head first, but what he’s saying is correct,” Roenicke said of Smoltz.

“When you go feet first, you’re usually sliding later. So the later you slide, the faster you’re going, and

when you impact that bag, there’s a pop, and a lot of times you come up off the base.”

Teams train infielders to keep tags on baserunners until a play is complete in case the runner comes off

the bag.

“It’s unfortunate because that’s not the intent of replay,” Roenicke said. “It was not put in for the guy

who is safe and who is off the bag.”

Joe Torre, executive vice president for baseball operations, said replay officials consider the intent of a

runner and his actions on a slide before determining whether to overturn a call because he may have

lost contact with the bag for a split second.

“Your rear end hits the ground and you make an attempt to stay on the base — if you come off the base

a little bit, chances are you’re not going to get flagged,” Torre said. “But you have to make an attempt.

“A lot of guys slide late and, all of a sudden, after everything’s done, you see them reaching their hand

out. That’s not the same thing. If the intent is there to stay on the base, it’s still judgment, but for the

most part, I think they’re going to be OK.”

June 6, 2017 Page 5 of 22

A head-first slide doesn’t guarantee a runner will maintain contact with the bag. The Angels’ 3-2 loss to

Minnesota on Sunday ended when Ben Revere’s head-first slide on an attempt to steal second base took

him past the bag. Revere was initially ruled safe. Upon replay review, he was out.

“We don’t encourage sliding head first, but now, because of replay, it’s hard to hit that bag and keep

your foot on the base,” Angels bench coach Dino Ebel said. “I don’t think, in the moment, guys slide and

think, ‘I’ve got to go head-first because I need to stay on the bag.’

“I think the guys who naturally go head-first, they’re going to go head-first. And you don’t want to

change what they do instinctually, because that’s when they get hurt.”

Angels mailbag: Kole Calhoun, plus lots of looking ahead

By Pedro Moura

Hello, Angels fans. Your favorite baseball team is off today. Their record this season is 29-31, a 78-win

pace. A weekend series in Houston looms after three games in Detroit, and the Angels are going to be

without the best player in the world for the next month. It’s a rough road ahead.

Via email:

What in the world has happened to Kole Calhoun?

James Donahue

So, I’ve avoided answering questions about Calhoun so far this season because I’ve been unsure what, if

anything, is wrong with him. He’s walking more than he has over his career and striking out at about the

same rate. He’s seeing the same number of pitches per plate appearance, and swinging at the same

number of strikes and balls, but his approach is not reflected in his more traditional statistics.

He did homer three times last week, which helps, but he’s still hitting .227 with a .311 on-base

percentage and .370 slugging mark, well below his career norms in each category.

One scout recently raised a question about whether he’s become too vulnerable on down-and-in

pitches. Anecdotally, that seems like a concern, but the data muddles it. I tend to think that more time

will tilt his statistics closer to their norms.

Maybe the most plausible theory is simple sequencing. Until his two-homer game Thursday, he’d been

slugging impossibly low on first pitches and swinging at a below-norm rate. Perhaps he was picking the

wrong pitches at which to take opening hacks. That’s the kind of thing that can change quickly, though,

as Mike Trout has demonstrated. And both of Calhoun’s homers that night came on first pitches.

@pedromoura Why do Angels Pitchers give up so many Hrs?

June 6, 2017 Page 6 of 22

Yes, Angels pitchers have given up far more home runs than could be expected considering the 4.10

earned-run average. They’re second in the majors in home runs allowed, at 86, and the other teams

near them have logged ERAs a half-run worse. There are a few reasons for that, the way I see it.

Most prominent is that the Angels have a good, maybe great, defense. That prevents many runs from

scoring. It does not prevent home runs from leaving the field of play. Essentially, the true talent level of

the staff is worse than its ERA represents.

Also relevant: The Astros and Athletics, members of the American League West, are two of the most

homer-oriented clubs in the sport.

Also relevant: 20% of the fly balls Ricky Nolasco has allowed have been homers. That’s twice his career

average and it is not going to continue. The same goes for Jesse Chavez, to a lesser extent.

@pedromoura With Trout on the DL is a trade deadline sale possible? And if so, who?

Yes, a small sale is possible. As I detailed in this space a month or so ago, the Angels do not have a ton of

traditional rental types who will attract large returns. Here follows a list of their veterans on expiring

contracts: Yunel Escobar, Cameron Maybin, Ben Revere, Danny Espinosa, Cliff Pennington, Ricky

Nolasco, Yusmeiro Petit, Bud Norris, Huston Street and Andrew Bailey.

Of those, Maybin, Escobar and Norris seem likely to receive the most interest. Of course, in Escobar’s

case, his clubhouse comportment remains a concern.

@pedromoura Do you think the Angels will sign a big name player this offseason year?

Like most questions about the future I field here, it depends. In this case, it depends on several factors,

maybe chiefly the price for the premium players. J.D. Martinez is going to be a free agent, and he would

be a splendid addition. But he’s going to be 30 and he is going to sign for a lot of money. Given the Josh

Hamilton money that will finally come off their books at year’s end and the budgetary constraints the

Angels have operated under in recent seasons, it seems plausible they could sign an expensive player,

but not a guarantee.

@pedromoura Where would you put Gubi and Rojas on the list of MLB TV announcers? Objectively, if

possible.

I do not watch nearly enough baseball on television to accurately assess this. I’m usually watching the

Angels wherever they are playing. I will go back and watch broadcasts sometimes to review certain

things. Compared with other limited look-ins I’ve made, the Angels’ broadcasters seem more realistic

than many other teams’. That, I think, is good. Also, Mark Gubicza might be the most positive person

I’ve ever met. He is a treasure.

@pedromoura What would be your best guess for the roles of the Angels bullpen if (very hypothetically)

everyone was healthy?

June 6, 2017 Page 7 of 22

I like that qualifier in front of “hypothetically.” It really gets to the heart of the issue. My guess is they

would stick with Bud Norris as their closer, use Huston Street as their eighth-inning guy, and deploy Cam

Bedrosian and Blake Parker as fifth-, sixth- and seventh-inning firemen that would help them disguise

their starting-pitching issues. That, of course, assumes not only that those guys are healthy but that they

pitch well.

@pedromoura Did the guy who caught#600 get something in return for the ball? What? Thanks

He received television time alongside Albert Pujols on the field immediately after the game and in a

news conference. The Angels said they would take care of other compensation. I’m sure that involves

some autographed memorabilia of some sort. It’s not the sum he could’ve attracted had he auctioned

off the baseball, but it’s something.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Wi

Angels’ JC Ramirez rides new pitches to confidence in new starting role

By Jeff Fletcher

The adjustment that began to turn around J.C. Ramirez’s career was borne out of the frustration of his

catchers.

Shortly after the Angels claimed Ramirez on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds last summer, as he began

working out of the Angels bullpen, all parties involved realized he could not keep throwing his four-seam

fastball.

“It was cutting a lot, and Jett Bandy was going crazy,” Ramirez said of the former Angels catcher. “He didn’t

know if it was going to sink or cut or go straight.”

So the Angels had Ramirez abandon the four-seamer and switch to the more controllable two-seamer,

which reliably sunk. That turned out to be the first step toward Ramirez going from a journeyman reliever

with only fleeting success, to a dependable member of the Angels’ bullpen.

The next step was this spring, when he introduced the curveball that has made his transition to starter go

better than just about anyone could have expected.

In an Angels season in which much has gone wrong, with injuries or slumps infecting just about everyone

on the roster, one of the pleasant surprises has been Ramirez.

Out of nowhere — or everywhere, as his five previous organizations might suggest — Ramirez has become

the Angels’ most dependable starting pitcher.

In his 10 starts, he has a 4.01 ERA, a figure that jumped after he allowed seven runs last time out. It was his

worst outing, after a stretch in which he’d posted a 2.35 ERA over seven starts.

June 6, 2017 Page 8 of 22

As he talked to the media after that game, he was able to shrug it off as an isolated rough spot. He fully

expected to be sharp again the next time he took the ball, on Thursday in Detroit.

That confidence — more so than the two-seamer or the curve — is what has separated this version of

Ramirez, 28, from the guy who kept getting passed around other organizations.

The Seattle Mariners signed him in 2005 as a 16-year-old out of Nicaragua, a Central American nation that

has produced only 24 major leaguers. Boxing is king there, Ramirez said.

He started in the Mariners system, but then became a reliever as he passed through the Philadelphia

Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks and Reds. None had him pitch more than 33 big league

innings. None had him start a single major league game.

“The other teams, I’d get there for one month and then the guy who was injured would come back so I’d

go down,” he said. “I’d pitch four innings and give up one or two runs and get sent down. It’s hard to pitch

like that, to survive …

“Maybe they should have given me the confidence. They said ‘someone is hurt so you come up.’ No, I

earned coming up because I worked hard in the minors.”

Ramirez said the faith he felt from Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Billy Eppler paid

immediate dividends. Along with a two-seamer that routinely hit 97 mph, he posted a 2.91 ERA in 43

games out of the Angels bullpen last season.

The Angels, desperate for a starting pitcher, saw his velocity and size — he’s 6-feet-4, 250 pounds — and

figured he had the stuff and durability to start, so they told him over the winter they were going to stretch

him out.

Ramirez said he was actually disappointed by the news, because he didn’t think that was their ultimate

goal.

“I thought they wanted me to do this to be the long guy (in the bullpen),” Ramirez said. “I was kind of

frustrated, because I thought I had a good end of the year in the bullpen as a late-inning guy. I was kind of

frustrated a little, but I had to do it. I want to be in the big leagues.”

Even as Ramirez was starting spring training games, he said he still had one foot in the bullpen. He felt this

was just a temp job, a token “opportunity” before he would find himself pitching in long relief in the

regular season.

One day late in the spring, though, after acknowledging he was surprised to still be getting the chance to

start, he seemed to finally embrace a role he’d given up on since his last minor league start in 2011.

“I forgot about it,” he said. “I knew I had the stuff to be in the bullpen. It’s the easy way to do it. It’s just

one inning, battle for three outs. Making it through the fifth inning is hard.”

June 6, 2017 Page 9 of 22

Ramirez did, in fact, begin the season in the Angels’ bullpen, but after Garrett Richards got hurt in the first

week, he moved into the rotation.

Each of his first starts was clearly on-the-job training — learning how to prepare before the game, how to

approach hitters a second and third time and how to mix his pitches.

Ramirez said the first moment he truly felt comfortable as a starter was after he faced the Houston Astros

for a second time. On May 6, he held the Astros to one run in six innings, better than he’d done two weeks

earlier in Houston.

“Everyone said, when you face the lineup the second time, it’s tough,” Ramirez said. “And then facing a

team the second time, it’s tough. When I could pitch that way against the Astros, a pretty good team, that

made me feel pretty confident in myself.”

Scioscia, who has been trying to manage around a rotation with both Richards and Tyler Skaggs on the

disabled list, is impressed what Ramirez has done.

“He’s doing something that is extremely difficult to do, and he’s been meeting every challenge along the

way,” Scioscia said. “We used to say, ‘Where is he going to be after 75 pitches? Where’s he going to be

after 90 pitches? Where’s he going to be after start 5? Where’s he going to be after a rough first inning?’

“There are so many things that are markers as to what makes a successful starting pitcher, and J.C. is

wrapping his arms around and flying by them. That’s what impressed us all about J.C. He is taking this

challenge head on, and pitching his game and he’s been a big boost to our rotation.”

Vladimir Guerrero to be inducted into Angels Hall of Fame

By Jeff Fletcher

ANAHEIM — Vladimir Guerrero, who in January came up just shy of election into the Hall of Fame in

Cooperstown, will be inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame in a ceremony before the Angels’ game on

Aug. 26.

Guerrero will be the 15th individual in the club’s Hall of Fame. Induction into the team Hall of Fame is

separate from having his number retired. Guerrero wore No. 27, the same number that Mike Trout

currently wears.

Guerrero spent six of his 16 years with the Angels, including his MVP season in 2004. He helped the Angels

to playoffs five times. Guerrero hit .319 with 173 homers and 616 RBI with the Angels.

In January, he received 71.7 percent of the vote for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, coming up just

short of the 75 percent required for election.

June 6, 2017 Page 10 of 22

FROM ANGELS.COM

Vlad to be inducted into Angels' HOF in August

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

Earlier this year, Vladimir Guerrero fell just 15 votes shy of reaching the 75-percent threshold required

for election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While Guerrero will have to wait to get a second

shot at Cooperstown, he's set to join a distinguished club in Anaheim this summer.

Guerrero will become the 16th player/team to be inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame during a special

pregame ceremony at Angel Stadium on Aug. 26, the team announced Monday.

Guerrero played for the Angels from 2004-09, batting .319 with a .927 OPS, 173 home runs and 616 RBIs

over 846 games. He captured the 2004 American League MVP Award and earned four All-Star selections

during his six-season tenure with the Halos.

"Vlad brought a special excitement to the ballpark each and every time he stepped to the plate," Angels

owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. "He captivated not only our fans, but those throughout baseball

with his powerful swings and ability to hit to all fields on pitches in and out of the strike zone.

"One of the striking aspects of Vlad was the pure joy he showed while playing the game. I know he

enjoyed each and every moment he put on a uniform. His contributions to this organization were a key

to our success, and his Most Valuable Player Award in 2004 was one of the most memorable highlights

of our history. Vlad will be joining a distinguished group in our Hall of Fame and we are looking forward

to a very special evening in August."

Guerrero will join fellow Angels Hall of Fame inductees Bobby Grich (1988), Jim Fregosi ('89), Don Baylor

('90), Rod Carew ('91), Nolan Ryan ('92), Jimmie Reese ('95), Brian Downing (2009), Chuck Finley ('09),

Gene Autry ('11), the 2002 World Series championship team ('12), Bobby Knoop ('13), Dean Chance

('15), Mike Witt ('15), Tim Salmon ('15) and Garret Anderson ('16).

Inbox: Is Maldonado going to win a Gold Glove?

Beat reporter Maria Guardado answers fans' questions

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

Is Martin Maldonado the Gold Glove Award winner in the American League at catcher?

@Crudemeisters via Twitter

I think he'll definitely be in the conversation. Maldonado ranks second among AL catchers with three

defensive runs saved this season, behind only the Twins' Jason Castro (seven). He has thrown out 10 of

26 basestealers for a caught-stealing percentage of 38 percent, which is tied for ninth in the AL.

June 6, 2017 Page 11 of 22

But he's arguably produced his greatest defensive value for the Angels in the realm of pitch framing.

According to Baseball Prospectus, Maldonado has tallied the fourth-most framing runs (5.7) in the

Majors, trailing only the Dodgers' Yasmani Grandal (7.9), the Padres' Austin Hedges (6.3) and the

Braves' Tyler Flowers (6.2).

"One guy I think is out-catching everybody in baseball that we've seen is Martin Maldonado," Angels

manager Mike Scioscia said recently. "He's having a terrific run. He's been a big reason why you've seen

a pitching staff that everyone says is doing a great job -- which we feel they are. You're seeing them

achieve, I think, with his input, too, being a big part of that."

Will Bud Norris continue to close games when Cam Bedrosian returns?

@akallday22 via Twitter

It'll be an interesting call. I don't think the Angels will immediately move Norris from the ninth-inning

spot when Bedrosian or Huston Street return, because Norris has handled closing duties well in their

absence and deserves a chance to keep his role. But I think the increased back-end depth will mean that

Norris will have a shorter leash as the closer. If he starts to struggle and others are pitching well, I think

the Angels won't hesitate to make a change.

With Mike Trout out for an extended period of time, do the Angels become sellers this year?

@HymesTheGreat via Twitter

The Angels were long shots for the postseason even before Trout suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb,

so it's hard to envision them staying competitive without the reigning AL MVP Award winner in their

lineup for six to eight weeks. Entering Monday, the Angels were second in the AL West with a 29-31

mark, but they trail the Astros by a whopping 13 1/2 games. The Angels' only realistic path to the

postseason seems to be through a Wild Card berth, and if that's out of reach in late July, I think it would

behoove the Angels to sell in order to help add some talent to their relatively barren farm system.

The Halos don't have too many attractive trade chips, but Norris, Yunel Escobar and Cameron

Maybin (assuming he's healthy) are some players who could attract outside interest at the non-waiver

Trade Deadline.

What position are the Angels looking at in the Draft?

@ShuebBaafe2 via Twitter

As cliché as it sounds, I think the Angels will target the best available talent with the No. 10 selection

in next Monday's Draft. According to MLBPipeline.com, the Angels have been consistently linked to

outfielder Jo Adell out of Ballard High School in Louisville, Ky., though they've also shown interest in

Florida right-hander Alex Faedo, Virginia outfielder Adam Haseley, Missouri State third baseman Jake

Burger and Virginia first baseman Pavin Smith, among others.

Any word on Hutton Moyer and his status?

@sleagueneck via Twitter

June 6, 2017 Page 12 of 22

Moyer, the son of former Major League left-hander Jamie Moyer, is currently batting .207 with a .561

OPS in 24 games with the Angels' Double-A affiliate in Mobile. The 24-year-old second baseman was the

Halos' seventh-round pick in the 2015 Draft out of Pepperdine University.

Much more in store for Pujols after No. 600

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- This tells everyone what they need to know about Albert Pujols: Nearing midnight and long

after he had established another piece of Major League history by becoming the ninth slugger to smack

his 600th homer on Saturday at Angel Stadium, Pujols had some unfinished business.

For 20 minutes beyond a late-night news conference, Pujols signed baseballs for Scott Steffel and his

family. Steffel is the 23-year-old graphic artist from nearby Costa Mesa, Calif., who grabbed the first

grand slam to account for the coveted 600 milestone with his baseball glove as he tumbled over rows of

seats in the left-field corner.

There would be no auction. No sale to the highest bidder on eBay. The young man had been out there in

the same spot with his dad and brother for the entire homestand waiting for Pujols to hit the big homer.

"I just wanted him to have the ball," said Steffel, who presented it to Pujols on the field after the game,

a 7-2 win over the Twins, and asked for nothing in return.

Pujols was more than gracious.

"He can have anything he wants," Pujols said. "Maybe take him to batting practice, show him the

clubhouse. It's up to the Angels."

"We have it taken care of," said Tim Mead, the club's longtime vice president of communications.

The historic baseball in exchange for some signed baseballs. Fair deal. That's gratitude for you on both

sides of the plate. From fan to player and player back to fan.

The big question is how far Pujols will be able to take this? Beyond this season, he has four years to go

on his 10-year, $240 million contract. He's 37. His feet are battered and beaten from plantar fasciitis,

making him a designated hitter for the remainder of his career.

Pujols has trouble running, but he still can rake with power. Is 700 inconceivable? Is the all-time leader,

Barry Bonds at 762, unthinkable? Bonds had just turned 43 when he broke Hank Aaron's record of 755

on Aug. 8, 2007, nearly 10 years ago. In 2021, Pujols will be 41.

"That would be crazy, unbelievable," said Mike Trout, who has been sidelined after surgery to repair a

ligament in his left thumb. "Do I think he can do it? Oh, yeah. For sure. I wouldn't put anything past

Albert. He comes in, plays hard. He's a competitor. He's a great person off the field. He would do

anything for you.

June 6, 2017 Page 13 of 22

"It's pretty incredible. Each night he gets a hit or an RBI, he's passing somebody. The other day, he just

passed Babe Ruth in hits. It's pretty remarkable, his career so far. There's a lot of baseball left,

obviously."

Pujols has a slew of milestones directly ahead of him. Perhaps the most significant is 3,000 hits. He's 124

away, so later this season, he could conceivably become the 31st player to reach that milestone.

Aaron, Alex Rodriguez and Willie Mays are the only three players with at least 600 homers and 3,000

hits.

On the homer list, Sammy Sosa at 609, Jim Thome at 612 and Ken Griffey Jr. at 630 are all within reach

this season. Mays at 660 is probable in 2018. A-Rod at 696, Babe Ruth at 714, then Aaron and Bonds are

all possible, but they will be buffeted by the winds of time and the fates of injury.

A-Rod came into last season needing only 13 more homers to reach 700. When he hit a cluster of three

in four games at the end of April and early May at Texas and Boston, it seemed like that the lofty mark

was a certainty. He then injured his right hamstring running out a grounder in Baltimore on May 3 and

missed three weeks.

Rodriguez never got it back. When the Yanks released him on Aug. 13, he had nine in 2016 and had

fallen four short.

Pujols isn't slowing down and his numbers during the first 16 years of his career appear to sustain a push

toward more greatness. When calculated on the basis of 162 games, Pujols has averaged 188 hits, 39

home runs and 122 RBIs a season.

Though his on-base numbers and OPS have slipped considerably since his best years for the Cardinals,

he still amassed 31 homers and 119 RBIs last season, although his slash line of .249/.299/.410 and OPS

of .708 were far off his best.

Pujols said he's not concerned with the personal marks ahead of him, just adding to his collection of

rings that includes 2006 and '11 World Series wins in St. Louis.

"Five hundred, 600, I don't think about numbers," Pujols said. "We'll see how far I can get when I'm

done playing. I'm being honest. I don't think about that. I come here every day, thinking about what I

can do to help this ballclub win. This game is already hard enough. If you bring stuff in from outside and

start thinking about the guys you have to chase, it makes it even tougher.

"For me I try to block all those distractions. I know that if I stay healthy I'm going to be passing some

guys, which, don't get me wrong, is an honor and a privilege."

Steffel, who has been to hundreds of Angels games, says he will continue to sit in the stands, glove on

his hand, rooting Albert on, hoping to witness another milestone. He's fully vested now.

Like Steffel -- and hordes of other baseball fans -- we'll all be watching.

June 6, 2017 Page 14 of 22

FROM DETROIT FREE PRESS

Tigers' next foe: Hobbling Angels visit Comerica Park minus Trout, Maybin

By Vito Chirco / Special to Detroit Free Press

After splitting a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers May 11-14 at Angel Stadium, the Los Angeles

Angels (29-31) travel to Motown for a three-game set.

They’ll be without their five-time All-Star centerfielder Mike Trout, recently placed on the 10-day

disabled list with a torn UCL and a dorsal capsule in his left thumb. He is expected to miss six-to-eight

weeks.

The Angels player with the next-highest WAR is shortstop Andrelton Simmons (1.9, according to

Baseball-Reference.com). Simmons already has more home runs (six) through 59 games than he did all

of last year (four).

More: Justin Verlander (right groin) still on track to start in Boston, likely Saturday

Speaking of home runs, designated hitter Albert Pujols hit career long ball No. 600 on Saturday against

the Minnesota Twins. becoming just the ninth player in Major League Baseball history to do so.

Despite being third in the AL with 42 RBIs, the 37-year-old still only ranks sixth on the team in OPS

(.705). His OPS+ is 91, which is 9% below league average.

When you look at the Angels' roster, you’ll find that only two active regulars have an OPS+ above 100:

catcher Martin Maldonado (101) and third baseman Yunel Escobar (102).

Trout and former Tigers centerfielder Cameron Maybin, also on the DL with soreness in his left oblique,

are No. 1 and 2, respectively, in OPS+ on the Angels.

Pujols and the rest of the Angels’ healthy bats will battle Daniel Norris Tuesday.

Wednesday’s and Thursday’s starters for the Tigers have yet to be determined, although Michael Fulmer

is a shoe-in to start one of the two games.

Norris will be opposed by right-hander Jesse Chavez, who hasn’t allowed an earned run against the

Tigers in 11 2/3 consecutive innings.

Righties Alex Meyer, who allowed one earned run and struck out a career-high seven against Detroit on

May 14, and J.C. Ramirez, who allowed five earned runs to the Tigers on May 11, are scheduled to take

the mound Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

June 6, 2017 Page 15 of 22

FROM ESPN.COM

Power Rankings: Everyone is chasing the Astros

ESPN.com

With the Houston Astros' winning streak at 10 games and counting, is it any surprise that they were the

unanimous No. 1 choice with our voters? The question now is whether there's anything that can happen

this season that might upset their plans to run the table on the rest of the league en route to a division

title and more.

The main development in this week's elite tier was that the National League West trio of the Los Angeles

Dodgers, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, which all rate among baseball's best six squads,

has been joined in the top 10 by three American League East teams, as the Boston Red

Sox and Baltimore Orioles forced their way up in their pursuit of the division-leading New York Yankees.

And with the Rays and Blue Jays not far behind, the AL East might have a fourth team that could force its

way in sometime soon.

This week's single biggest move up was made by the Seattle Mariners, who climbed seven slots one

week after falling all the way down to the 27. The next largest moves upward were made by the

rebounding Toronto Blue Jays and a Miami Marlins team in the afterglow of Edinson Volquez's weekend

no-hitter, as both clubs made four-spot jumps upward. The biggest tumbles were taken by the

Minnesota Twins, who fell five spots, and the Atlanta Braves, who dropped by four.

This week's voters are Bradford Doolittle, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian, David Schoenfield and Mark Simon.

1. Houston Astros

Record: 41-16

Week 8 ranking: No. 1

The current 10-game winning streak pushed their season winning percentage to .719. Only three teams

since 1950 have played .700 for an entire season: the '54 Indians (.721), the '01 Mariners (.716) and the

'98 Yankees (.714). The best record in Astros franchise history was the 102-win team of 1998. This year's

club is on pace for 116 wins. -- David Schoenfield, ESPN.com

2. Washington Nationals

Record: 35-20

Week 8 ranking: No. 2

The Nationals will finally play a team that is their match when they face the Dodgers for the first time

since the 2016 NL Division Series. They haven't played a team with a winning record since May 10, and

they're not slated to play many the rest of the way. The Nationals not only have a massive lead in the NL

East, they have 49 games remaining against their divisional opponents, all of whom are well below .500.

-- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats & Information

June 6, 2017 Page 16 of 22

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 35-23

Week 8 ranking: No. 3

Whatever monkey business the Dodgers get up to with the series-to-series management of their non-

Kershaw starters, in the bullpen they're getting a regular relief performance every bit as dominant as

what they get from their ace every five days. On Saturday, closer Kenley Jansen notched his ninth save

and recorded his 40th strikeout, and he has yet to walk anyone. He's striking out a career-best 47.1

percent of all batters faced, easily the best mark among NL closers. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

4. New York Yankees

Record: 32-22

Week 8 ranking: No. 5

It isn't just the young sluggers who are getting in on the Yankees' offensive parade. Brett Gardner, at age

33 and in his 10th season on the team, has kicked it into gear. Since May 1, his .633 slugging percentage

ranks third in the majors. Gardner has homered every 12 at-bats in that span, better than any other

Yankee. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

5. Colorado Rockies

Record: 36-23

Week 8 ranking: No. 4

Starting pitching remains the key predictor for whether the Rockies sustain or gain momentum, as they

lost all four games last week in which they did not get a quality start and won all three when they did.

On Sunday, they swapped in rookie Jeff Hoffman for an ailing Tyler Anderson. The result of Jon Gray's

(DL) simulated game on Monday is something to watch. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

6. Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 34-25

Week 8 ranking: No. 6

The Diamondbacks head back to Arizona after losing some steam during a 5-6 road trip. Their 21-8

record at home is tied for best in the majors. More than a few players have struggled on the road this

season -- Brandon Drury's .453 road OPS is worst in the NL, and Yasmany Tomas at .548 has been little

better. Arizona will need better production than that from key lineup regulars to keep up in the NL West

race. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

June 6, 2017 Page 17 of 22

7. Boston Red Sox

Record: 31-25

Week 8 ranking: No. 8

David Price returned to the rotation, and after a so-so debut Monday when he battled his command, he

threw seven innings to beat the Orioles on Saturday, allowing just three hits and one walk with seven

strikeouts. That gives the Red Sox a rotation that might finally start firing on all five cylinders -- exactly

what they'll need to take charge in the AL East race. -- David Schoenfield, ESPN.com

8. Cleveland Indians

Record: 29-26

Week 8 ranking: No. 9

Corey Kluber was excellent in his return from the DL on Thursday, needing just 77 pitches for six

scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts against the A's. But after a brilliant April, Carlos Carrasco has not

pitched well lately, and the rest of Cleveland's starters have been disappointing (Trevor Bauer's 14-K

game aside). The good news is the Tribe's offense has been great over the past two weeks, and their

bullpen continues to be the best in the bigs. The surprise is that they might need to add a starter to push

them over the top. -- Michael Bonzagni, ESPN Stats & Information

9. Chicago Cubs

Record: 28-27

Week 8 ranking: 7

A go-ahead grand slam from Kyle Schwarber -- his first -- punctuated the Cubs' win Saturday against the

Cardinals. The outfielder has been the poster boy for the team's early-season struggles, though their

starting pitching is more to blame. The rotation owns a 4.64 ERA after posting the best mark in the

league by more than half a run in 2016. -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN Stats & Information

10. Baltimore Orioles

Record: 29-26

Week 8 ranking: No. 11

Manny Machado has 12 home runs, but he's hitting just .212, a far cry from his .294 batting average in

2016. Through 54 games last season, Machado was hitting .311 with a .975 OPS. Right now he has a .738

OPS. Machado actually cooled off the rest of the way last year, hitting .285 with an .824 OPS. This year,

the O's have to hope he does the reverse and heats up as the season goes on. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats

& Information

June 6, 2017 Page 18 of 22

11. Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 29-30

Week 8 ranking: No. 12

That Logan Morrison is flirting with a .900 OPS through about one-third of the season is rather

remarkable given that he hasn't finished a year above .800 since his debut season in 2010 when he hit

two home runs and 20 doubles in 62 games. If Morrison is going to get there, it will be in a different

manner, with his home run output exceeding his doubles total by a good margin. He already has hit

more home runs in 2017 than he did in all but two seasons of his eight-year career. -- Mark Simon, ESPN

Stats & Information

12. Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 30-27

Week 8 ranking: No. 14

The Brewers keep mashing at the plate, getting contributions from everyone. When Eric Thames hits a

slump, Travis Shaw keeps the offense running -- almost half of Shaw's hits have gone for extra bases this

season. And they continue to get excellent starting pitching. Exhibit A is Jimmy

Nelson outdueling Clayton Kershaw on Friday night, throwing eight scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts

and no walks. But the bullpen needs to step up and preserve some leads. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats &

Information

13. Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 28-29

Week 8 ranking: No. 17

Are we finally seeing the real Blue Jays? They went 8-17 in April, the second worst of any team in the

majors. But since the calendar flipped to May (and now June), the Blue Jays have been up there with

some of the league's best, going 20-12 since May 1. The only teams better in that span? The Astros (25-

7) and Dodgers (21-11). The Jays have a .797 OPS as a team since May 1, second best in the majors

behind only the Astros (.853). -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

14. St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 26-28

Week 8 ranking: No. 13

The Cards have struggled to score -- they hadn't scored more than four runs in a game in a week and a

half until Sunday, and that outage on the scoreboard has wasted some excellent starting pitching. They

have the best rotation ERA over the past three weeks but have won only five games in that stretch. This

week they face the Reds and Phillies, so a rebound could be ahead. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats &

Information

June 6, 2017 Page 19 of 22

15. Minnesota Twins

Record: 29-24

Week 8 ranking: No. 10

Two months into the season, the Twins are still maintaining their slender lead in the AL Central. Ervin

Santana is still in the top five in ERA in the majors, and Miguel Sano is eighth in the majors in OPS and

going 12.7 at-bats per home run. This team might actually maintain itself in the standings, but it will

need more than their singular contributions to do so. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

16. Texas Rangers

Record: 26-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 15

Three straight losses to the Astros dropped the Rangers to 2-10 in their past 12 games, but Thursday's

loss to Tampa was the toughest one as the Rays tied it in the ninth and then beat Sam Dyson in the 10th.

Dyson dropped to 1-6 with a 10.80 ERA and that would be his last game as the Rangers designated him

for assignment. -- David Schoenfield, ESPN.com

17. Detroit Tigers

Record: 28-28

Week 8 ranking: No. 18

Miguel Cabrera missed a few games in the middle of May with an oblique injury, but he's hitting over

.300 with an OPS of close to 1.000 OPS since he returned to the lineup. The Tigers' offense continues to

be one of the AL's best, but pitching is still a major concern -- the staff ranks in the bottom five in the

league in ERA, WHIP and just about every other major pitching category. They're still in the AL Central

race, but they need help. -- Michael Bonzagni, ESPN Stats & Information

18. Cincinnati Reds

Record: 25-30

Week 8 ranking: No. 19

Cincinnati starters registered a 5.94 ERA in May ("good" for 29th in MLB), which overshadowed an

offense that continues to exceed expectations. Zack Cozart has been the lineup's top performer, leading

the team with a .997 OPS. No shortstop has posted a mark that high over a full season since Alex

Rodriguez in 2002. -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN Stats & Information

June 6, 2017 Page 20 of 22

19. Los Angeles Angels

Record: 29-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 16

Life isn't as good without Mike Trout. The 25-year-old was having a career year before a headfirst slide

put him on the shelf for at least six weeks. Albert Pujols has picked up some of the slack, hitting three

homers last week including his 600th on Saturday. -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN Stats & Information

20. Seattle Mariners

Record: 28-30

Week 8 ranking: No. 27

The Mariners were on life support a week ago, but after taking three of four from the Rockies and

sweeping the Rays, they're closing back in on .500. James Paxton returned and threw 5⅓ scoreless

innings, Mike Zunino had a seven-RBI game Saturday, Danny Valencia tied a club record with nine

straight hits, and Ariel Miranda won his fifth straight decision with his first career complete game

Sunday. In the bad news department, Jean Segura suffered a severely sprained ankle and landed back on

the DL. -- David Schoenfield, ESPN.com

21. Chicago White Sox

Record: 24-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 20

The White Sox have been blistered for 49 runs during their current five-game losing streak as their early-

season success appears to have been a mirage (again). The biggest news coming out of the South Side

was Hawk Harrleson's announcement that next season will be his last in the broadcast booth. In other

words, after next year, "he gone!" -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN.com

22. Pittsburgh Pirates

Record: 26-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 21

The rotation has struggled lately, and the Pirates need Gerrit Cole to get right and lead the way. His

strikeouts are up and his walks are down, but he has to keep the ball in the park; he already has allowed

more than twice as many home runs as last year. Even worse, 11 of the 15 homers he has given up have

tied the score or given the other team the lead. But all is not lost as Andrew McCutchen is starting to

heat up. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats & Information

June 6, 2017 Page 21 of 22

23. New York Mets

Record: 24-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 22

Matt Harvey's inability to put away hitters when he gets to two strikes may be the hardest challenge he

has to overcome in his return from injury. Some math: Harvey has needed 313 two-strike pitches to

record 46 strikeouts. Two seasons ago, Harvey totaled 188 strikeouts and needed 838 pitches to do it. If

his goal was 188 strikeouts this season, at this rate, it will take him 1,279 pitches ... more than 400 more

than in 2015! -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats & Information

24. Miami Marlins

Record: 24-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 28

A former major league coach told me before last season that then-hitting coach Barry Bonds would be a

good teacher for Justin Bour. Whatever Bour learned from Bonds and Bonds' replacement Mike

Pagliarulo is working. Though he could stand to hit a few more doubles, Bour already has reached his

single-season best in wins above replacement, and there's still two-thirds of the season to go. He could

challenge Gary Sheffield's club record for home runs in a season (42 in 1996). -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats

& Information

25. Kansas City Royals

Record: 24-31

Week 8 ranking: No. 26

Since the calendar flipped to May, the Royals have played .500 ball and Eric Hosmer has been one of the

best hitters in baseball, erasing any "WBC participation hangover" concerns. The Royals are still

struggling to overcome an MLB-worst April (when they went 7-16), and they still need bullpen help if

they're going to make a push for the division. -- Michael Bonzagni, ESPN Stats & Information

26. Oakland Athletics

Record: 24-32

Week 8 ranking: No. 23

The A's may be the first team to be a seller this season, and that is probably a good thing because they

have some very attractive pieces to deal. Yonder Alonso, Jed Lowrie and Ryan Madson all have been

great and could help a lot of contenders. Ryon Healy has been a pleasant surprise, but the A's aren't

going anywhere as presently constructed. It's time to sell and let the kids get some big league

experience. -- Michael Bonzagni, ESPN Stats & Information

June 6, 2017 Page 22 of 22

27. San Francisco Giants

Record: 23-35

Week 8 ranking: No. 25

The Giants are hitting .231 as a team. The worst batting average for a season in franchise history is .233

in 1985. That team went 62-100, the only time the Giants have ever lost 100 games. This team is on pace

to go 64-98, which would tie for the second-most losses in franchise history and the most since that

1985 100-loss season. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

28. Atlanta Braves

Record: 24-30

Week 8 ranking: No. 24

Jaime Garcia has turned out to be a good offseason acquisition, posting a 3.18 ERA to become the

Braves' best pitcher. He just completed a three-start run in which he allowed one earned run in 21⅔

innings pitched. Garcia has shown that there is life after thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, a good

example for someone like Mets pitcher Matt Harvey to keep in mind. -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats &

Information

29. San Diego Padres

Record: 23-35

Week 8 ranking: No. 30

Last week's five-game winning streak was the product of a pitching staff that's getting stronger, as the

Padres have gone nine games between blowout losses (being outscored by five runs or more) while

posting a 3.19 ERA and a record of 7-2. That kind of pitching keeps games in reach for the power quartet

of Hunter Renfroe, Wil Myers, Austin Hedges and Ryan Schimpf. Now, can they sustain it, or was

sweeping the Cubs in Petco the highlight of their season? -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

30. Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 19-35

Week 8 ranking: No. 29

Nothing is working for the Fightin' Phils. They're in the bottom five in baseball in runs per game, OBP,

slugging and rotation ERA. Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera, two players who looked like building

blocks, have been inconsistent. Before beating the Giants on Saturday and Sunday, they hadn't won

consecutive games since April, something they might not do again soon with 17 of their next 21 games

coming against the Cardinals, Red Sox and Diamondbacks. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats & Information