Kotchman’s ‘blessing’

BOSTON -- Casey Kotchman wouldn’t come out and say it, but there appeared to be some lingering resentment between the first baseman and Mike Scioscia over the Angels manager’s benching of Kotchman against left-handers over the last two seasons.

Asked whether he felt jolted by Tuesday’s trade, considering the ties he has to an organization that drafted him in the first round in 2000 and has employed his father, Tom, as a minor league manager and scout for about 30 years, Kotchman barely flinched. “No, not at all,� he said. “I don’t have any ties here.�

He said he looked forward to playing for Braves Manager Bobby Cox. “You see how he handles players, how he pulls for his guys,� he said. “You have to believe it’s a blessing for me to start a new chapter in Atlanta.�

Chemistry lesson

As excited as the Angels were to get slugger Mark Teixeira, some players were concerned the move could disrupt the clubhouse.

“I don’t know,� center fielder Torii Hunter said. “Sometimes you don’t want to mess up chemistry. I hear Teixeira is a cool guy, but we’ll wait and see.�

Teixeira was a suspected target of critical comments this month by Texas Rangers closer C.J. Wilson.

In an interview with Dallas radio station KTCK, Wilson said the chemistry in the Rangers clubhouse improved markedly this season, saying a “dark cloud� was lifted from the club last July, when the Rangers traded Teixeira, Kenny Lofton and Eric Gagne. Wilson cited Gagne as a good teammate but did not mention Teixeira or Lofton by name.

“Some of the big-name guys weren’t exactly interested in being part of a team,� Wilson said. “They were just interested in bank accounts.�

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