OC Register: Angels’ Chase Silseth looks to reclaim form before last year’s concussion

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. — Chase Silseth’s confidence was soaring last summer, after encouraging performances against some of the best teams in baseball.

The Angels right-hander was learning how to pitch, not just throw, and then it all came to a quick, frightening stop.

Silseth was hit in the head by a throw during a rundown, suffering a concussion that cost him most of the season’s final month.

“It sucked to get hit in the head,” Silseth said. “That whole September could have been a learning experience for me.”

Silseth came back to pitch one last game, allowing one run in four innings in the final weekend, but it wasn’t the same as the groove he had found before the head injury.

“That was a big, big, big, big confidence for me,” Silseth said. “When you pitch against one good team, you build confidence for the next good team. And I showed I could do it when I just stayed within myself, not to trying to blow it out. My stuff is good enough to get people out in the zone. Just have to get ahead in the count to get to all my nasty stuff.”

Before Silseth took the mound against the New York Yankees on July 19, his season had been a series of changes, from Triple-A to the majors and from starting to relieving.

The Angels had always believed in Silseth’s potential, but he had not shown that he could maintain his stuff beyond about 60 pitches. At times, there was an internal struggle within the organization over whether they should keep pushing him to get him to pitch deeper in games, or just settle with what he was and use him as a reliever.

Just after the All-Star break, though, Silseth returned from a trip to the minors for a start against the Yankees, and he struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run.

He then gave up one run in five innings of a victory over the Atlanta Braves, and then he gave up two runs in seven innings, with 12 strikeouts, against the Seattle Mariners. Silseth followed that by pitching five scoreless innings against the Houston Astros.

Silseth didn’t get a chance to keep rolling because of the freak accident Aug. 26 in New York. He was running from the mound toward third base when first baseman Trey Cabbage’s throw to third hit Silseth in the temple.

He said he didn’t realize what happened at first. After the initial disturbing diagnosis of a concussion, Silseth expected to have a quick recovery. He said he felt fine until he started to work out, and then symptoms returned. He didn’t pitch again until Sept. 29.

Now, Silseth is in line to be the Angels’ No. 5 starter, although he’ll face some competition from left-hander José Suarez and right-hander Zach Plesac in spring training.

Silseth, 23, comes into camp after a winter of extra work on his legs, which he said is vital to help him maintain his stuff deeper into games.

“Late in games last year, I was able to keep my stuff,” Silseth said. “It was a difference maker. Killing my legs (in the gym). Hopefully it’s working.”

NOTES

Infielder Luis Rengifo felt some tightness in his left hamstring during a baserunning drill Friday and was not available to play in the Angels’ first game of the spring on Saturday. Rengifo is expected to miss just a few days. “When he felt it, he took himself out,” manager Ron Washington said. “He didn’t try to work through it. He didn’t try to push it. He took himself out. That was very, very smart.” …

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Third baseman Anthony Rendon was not in Saturday’s lineup because he told Washington that he preferred to wait until Sunday to play his first Cactus League game. …

Right-hander Andrew Wantz is scheduled to start for the Angels at home Sunday, with left-hander Kenny Rosenberg starting against the Cincinnati Reds on the road. Right-hander Griffin Canning will start Monday, and he’ll be followed by right-hander Zach Plesac on Tuesday, left-hander Tyler Anderson on Wednesday, left-hander Patrick Sandoval on Thursday and left-hander Reid Detmers on Friday. Chase Silseth is scheduled to follow Sandoval on Thursday.

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[Spirit]

"Third baseman Anthony Rendon was not in Saturday’s lineup because he told Washington that he preferred to wait until Sunday to play his first Cactus League game."

 

[jsnpritchett]

Just now, Spirit said:

"Third baseman Anthony Rendon was not in Saturday’s lineup because he told Washington that he preferred to wait until Sunday to play his first Cactus League game."

 

Hey, he needs some rest.  Give the man a break!

[Angelsfan1984]

8 minutes ago, Spirit said:

"Third baseman Anthony Rendon was not in Saturday’s lineup because he told Washington that he preferred to wait until Sunday to play his first Cactus League game."

 

What happened to faith comes first? He’d rather play on the lords day?

[Spirit]

7 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

What happened to faith comes first? He’d rather play on the lords day?

Maybe he's one of those wacky Seventh-day ...

... you know what, never mind.

 

Hey @Tank ... countdown to retirement!!!
 

[AngelsLakersFan]

1 hour ago, Spirit said:

"Third baseman Anthony Rendon was not in Saturday’s lineup because he told Washington that he preferred to wait until Sunday to play his first Cactus League game."

 

I guess he's hurt already. Strad told me he'd play if he was healthy!

[Angelsjunky]

How about one catchall article:

OC Register: Every Angel player looks to (re)gain form of some point in their career, real or imagined, for whatever length of time they were good.

Edited February 24 by Angelsjunky