OC Register: Angels’ Andrew Heaney approves of new MLB drug policies

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. — Andrew Heaney has seen at least one positive come from the tragedy that struck the Angels last year.

As a reaction to the death of teammate Tyler Skaggs, Major League Baseball and the players’ union agreed to start testing for opioids this year. Skaggs died July 1 after overdosing on a mixture of opioids and alcohol in Texas.

Heaney, one of Skaggs’ closest friends and also the Angels’ union representative, said he fully supports the change.

“I like the way it’s structured where it’s not like you’re just gonna get suspended,” Heaney said. “You’re going to actually be put in a program where you get treatment, get help.”

Players who fail tests for opioids will be entered into a treatment program, and only disciplined if they don’t abide by the treatment program.

The second major change in the new drug program was to remove marijuana from the list of drugs of abuse.

“I think it’s a good thing to allow guys to smoke weed,” Heaney said. “Everyone has a different view. Marijuana and CBD use is very beneficial to people.”

Heaney said that he believes allowing marijuana while testing for opioids are related.

“People say (marijuana) is a gateway or whatever, I think it’s more like, ‘If you can’t do this, logically you’re going to jump to the next step,” Heaney said. “I don’t think that’s healthy for anybody.”

The loss of Skaggs was the most serious issue Heaney faced last season, all while dealing with the more mundane problems of injuries and his inconsistent performance.

He came out of spring training with an elbow injury for the second consecutive season. Instead of missing just a couple weeks, as he did in 2018, he missed two months.

Heaney said he changed his offseason routine to try to avoid that fate this year. He took less time off from throwing, and even when he wasn’t throwing he continued to do his arm-care exercises.

“I know I’ve put in the work,” Heaney said. “I know I’ve done the right stuff. Ultimately it’s about surviving spring training and getting off to a good start. That’s been my bugaboo, getting out of spring healthy.”

Heaney also tinkered with his delivery last season, at one point moving from the third-base side of the rubber to the first-base side. He had gone back and forth throughout his career. Now, he’s going to try pitching from the middle.

“Splitting the difference,” he said. “When I’m in the middle, it gave me that feeling of the cross angle that I naturally have, but also the ability to keep myself on line.”

He is hoping the conditioning and new position on the rubber can help him reach his potential. He was good in 2015 and for most of 2018, but in between those stretches he’s been injured and inconsistent.

“I know what I’m capable for long stretches,” he said. “It’s really hard when it’s off and on, off and on. Not only physically, but mentally. It’s tough.”

BUCHTER’S CHANCE

Left-handed reliever Ryan Buchter, who joined the Angels a day after agreeing to a minor-league deal, said he’s confident he can improve enough against right-handed hitters to be useful even with the new three-batter rule.

Last year with the Oakland A’s, Buchter allowed lefties a .728 OPS and righties a .904 OPS, which may have been one of the reasons a pitcher with a career 2.86 ERA couldn’t get a major-league deal.

“I can make an excuse and die off or I can adapt and try to get righties out,” Buchter said. “I think I can. I’ve done it in the past. Last year, I struggled with it, but my plan is to get hitters out whether they’re left-handed or right-handed.”

For his career, the 33-year-old Buchter has been better, allowing righties a .701 OPS and lefties a .596 OPS.

“I want to give him an opportunity vs. righties,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “I know he can get them out. He has in the past. He makes us better. He’s just a veteran pitcher with a tremendous history.”

ALSO

Brian Goodwin was scheduled to have his arbitration hearing Tuesday, the first Angels player to go to a hearing since Jered Weaver in 2011. The ruling is expected Wednesday. Goodwin was asking for $2.2 million and the Angels offered $1.85 million. …

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