OC Register: Mike Scioscia says Vladimir Guerrero didn’t just rely on talent when he was with the Angels

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — Just before Vladimir Guerrero was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Mike Scioscia sat in the dugout at Angel Stadium and cleared up a misconception about the former Angels slugger.

“Don’t be fooled by Vlad’s style that you think he was just up there playing Wiffle ball and whacking,” Scioscia said on Sunday. “He took a very scientific approach to batting practice to get his swing where it needed to be. He understood what pitchers were doing to him. He was great at adjusting.

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“He’s one of the all time greats, not just because of his natural ability but his ability to think the game and play the game it every day as hard as he did.”

Guerrero, who won the 2004 MVP and led the Angels to the playoffs in five of his six seasons in Anaheim, on Sunday became the first player to be inducted into the Hall representing the Angels.

The Angels sent a contingent of about two dozen club representatives to Cooperstown for the ceremony. Scioscia was not among them, although there was precedent for a current manager to leave his team for the ceremony. Giants manager Bruce Bochy, the longtime manager of Trevor Hoffman in San Diego, went to Cooperstown this year to honor Hoffman.

“We still have business at hand here,” Scioscia said. “I think we’re well represented. Vlad knows the way I feel about him. That’s not an issue.”

Guerrero will be honored by the Angels in Anaheim before their Aug. 10 game.

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UPTON GOING UP

Justin Upton had three hits, including a two-run homer, on Sunday, finishing off a four-game stretch in which he went 10 for 18. Going back further, Upton is hitting .378 with three homers and six walks in his last 52 plate appearances.

“He’s been working hard to get back to his real self,” Andrelton Simmons said. “I like how he’s showing results.”

Upton is vital to the Angels’ lineup because he bats behind Mike Trout, who is often walked in critical situations. Upton’s overall numbers have not been as much an issue as his .191 average with runners in scoring position.

ALSO

Shohei Ohtani has stretched his throwing out to about 110 feet. Ohtani then moved in to about 60 feet and threw from a pitching motion, still on the flat ground of the outfield. The Angels are proceeding cautiously with Ohtani’s throwing program as he tries to come back from a damaged ulnar collateral ligament without surgery. The best-case scenario is that he could be pitching by the start of September…

Blake Parker had words with Ben Gamel when he was at second in the seventh inning on Sunday. Scioscia said Parker suspected the Mariners of relaying pitches to the hitters while on second base. Scioscia said the Angels then changed their signs.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Tyler Skaggs, 8-6, 2.62) vs. Rays (RHP Ryne Stanek, 1-3, 2.43), Tuesday, 4 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM).

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