Jump to content
  • Welcome to AngelsWin.com

    AngelsWin.com - THE Internet Home for Angels fans! Unraveling Angels Baseball ... One Thread at a Time.

    Register today to join the most interactive online Angels community on the net!

    Once you're a member you'll see less advertisements. Become a Premium member and you won't see any ads! 

     

IGNORED

OC Register: Angels’ Hansel Robles and his fastball might be missing the fans


Recommended Posts

It turns out that Hansel Robles’ fastball may have been a victim of the pandemic.

Indirectly anyway.

Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway said Saturday that he believes the demoted closer’s issues mostly are from losing some of velocity on his fastball, which is the result of reduced adrenaline pitching in empty ballparks.

“We’re trying to figure out how to how to really get him pumped up during the game,” Callaway said. “He’s a guy that feeds off the atmosphere. You see him out there having a having a great time, having fun with his delivery and going out there and competing. And I think the fans really help feed him when they’re present, so I think right now the biggest missing thing are the fans.”

Last season, Robles had a breakthrough to ascend to the Angels’ closer role. He posted a 2.48 ERA with 23 saves, on the strength of more liberal use of his changeup along with a fastball that averaged 97.2 mph. So far this season, his fastball has averaged 94.5 mph. He pitched so poorly already that he’s been shifted to a low-leverage role.

“All his success is going to be probably keyed off his velocity in my opinion,” Callaway said. “If he doesn’t have that 97-98, all of a sudden that changeup, the split doesn’t play as well, the slider doesn’t play as well.”

Robles isn’t going to be pitching in a full stadium anytime soon, so what do the Angels do?

Callaway said there are things they can do “nutritionally” to boost his energy, and they are also challenging him to ramp up the intensity even when he’s just playing catch.

MEANWHILE, IN LONG BEACH …

Jose Suarez, who missed the start of summer camp for reasons the Angels have not disclosed, has continued working out at the Angels’ alternate training site in Long Bech. He’s now caught up for the missed time, and available to be recalled if the Angels need him in relief, Callaway said.

“He’s been looking really good down there,” Callaway said. “That’s what the reports have been telling us. He’s stretched out to a couple innings.”

Callaway said Reid Detmers, the Angels’ top draft pick from this summer, continues to work out in Long Beach. Callaway said the immediate plan is to get Detmers as many intrasquad innings and as much coaching as they can this summer, and then see how he progresses.

“By the end of this summer, if he can help us at some point, I don’t think we’d hesitate to do that if it made a lot of sense,” Callaway said. “We understand that this guy can spin the ball. He has a great changeup, and has very good fastball command.”

ALSO

Joe Maddon said Andrelton Simmons (sprained ankle) “is getting better.” Maddon said he doesn’t have a timetable, but is hearing more about the need to “start making plans” for Simmons in his rehab. …

Jo Adell returned to the Angels lineup Saturday after missing two games with a tight quad. …

Callaway said the Angels don’t have a timetable for Cam Bedrosian’s return from a right adductor strain, but “it’s something that didn’t seem too serious.” …

The Angels optioned Luke Bard to make room for Patrick Sandoval, who was promoted to rejoin the rotation with a start Saturday.

View the full article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...