Angels’ struggling Brandon Wood sits this one out
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Reporting from Chicago -- Brandon Wood’s season-long struggles have reached the point that Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said he had detected “some frustration start to mount” in the easygoing third baseman.
“At times you see him really start to grit his teeth a little too much and squeeze the bat a little too tight,” Scioscia said of Wood, who is hitting .162 with 35 strikeouts and only three extra-base hits in 117 at-bats.
Any aggravation was confined to the dugout Thursday with Wood out of the starting lineup during the Angels’ 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. And he could be on track for more excused absences.
“We’ll give him a day and if we have to give him more than one, it’s definitely something we’ll consider,” Scioscia said. “The long-term goal is to get Brandon productive, and that’s what we’re going to keep working toward.”
Wood acknowledged being discouraged by his performance but said it wasn’t carrying over onto the field.
“I don’t think you would be human if you weren’t frustrated and wanted to get yourself out of it,” he said. “But it’s not affecting what I’m doing out there. I’m not bringing frustration into at-bats or playing defense.”
The Angels replaced Wood on Thursday with Kevin Frandsen, who does not appear to be a viable long-term option. Maicer Izturis could take Wood’s spot, but Izturis is not expected to come off the disabled list for about a week.
Demoting Wood to the minor leagues is not the easy alternative it is for many young players on an extended slide because Wood is out of options, meaning he would have to clear waivers before going to triple-A Salt Lake. He probably would be claimed by another team because he hit at least 20 home runs in the minors for five consecutive seasons.
“He’s definitely a guy we’re going to try to unlock because he has so much potential,” Scioscia said.
Getting locked in
The more games Mike Napoli has caught this season, the better the Angels have pitched.
Angels pitchers have a 2.77 earned-run average in Napoli’s last six games behind the plate after giving up 6.04 runs per game in his first 18 starts.
“I definitely feel the best I’ve felt all year back there, comfort-wise,” said Napoli, who has handled the bulk of the catching duties since Jeff Mathis broke his right wrist last month. “I think being back there every day has helped a lot.”
Joe Saunders, who has compiled a 0.81 ERA in his last three starts with Napoli behind the plate, said the pitching staff’s struggles earlier this season couldn’t be pinned on Napoli.
“The issue with me was it wasn’t what he was calling, it was just a matter of me executing the pitch and getting ahead of hitters,” Saunders said. “I think he’s done a terrific job.”
Welcome back
Joel Pineiro pitches Friday against St. Louis, the team that helped him revive his career last year as he became a sinkerball specialist. He went 15-12 with a 3.71 ERA, his lowest since 2002, after pitching coach Dave Duncan retooled his pitching style.
“I guess he kind of made me a little bit what I am today,” Pineiro said. “I’m very grateful.”
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