OC Register: Angels’ Kevin Pillar brings value on and off the field

[AngelsWin.com]

PITTSBURGH — Kevin Pillar said his two-homer game Tuesday was the moment when he finally felt like he was officially “an Angel.”

To manager Ron Washington, though, Pillar has been contributing since the day he walked in the door barely over a week ago, even when he wasn’t playing.

“Since he’s been here, he’s been doing a lot of talking with our young kids, something we didn’t have,” Washington said. “He’s talking baseball, he’s talking situations. He’s talking about mistakes. What you should do in certain situations, how you handle this. That’s what veterans do. We were lacking that. Now we’ve got a veteran presence here.”

Washington has always maintained that Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon also provide that leadership, but neither has been with the team on this trip because they are injured.

Pillar, 35, has played parts of 12 years in the majors. Among the currently active position players, the other most experienced players are infielders Ehire Adrianza and Brandon Drury. The Angels signed Pillar hours after learning Trout would be out with a torn meniscus.

“Pillar has had his career,” Washington said. “So what he wants to do now is make a difference by passing on his wisdom and knowledge. And that’s what veterans do. And these kids are gravitating toward him. He is a good find for us to bring here, because he doesn’t have an ego to the point where he wants to be on the field. Yes, he wants to be on the field because he’s a pro. But he understands what his role is here. And part of his role is to give. And he’s been giving since the day he arrived here and that’s going to be very beneficial to our young guys.”

On Tuesday, Pillar finally got a chance to make a contribution on the field, too. He hit a three-run homer that sparked the Angels to a nine-run, 15-hit outburst. He finished with a career-high six RBIs.

Pillar said Wednesday that Angels hitting coaches Johnny Washington and Tim Laker helped him make some adjustments that proved beneficial. Pillar had a history with both coaches, having worked in various hitting facilities in Southern California with each of them even before he was drafted.

“The conversations are easy when you have some familiarity,” said Pillar said, a product of Chaminade High and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Essentially, Pillar said he is trying to attack the ball so he can get out front and pull it. Many hitters are better when they’re using the whole field, but Pillar said it’s no secret that he’s at his best when he’s pulling line drives to left field.

“The majority of my damage is going to come to from center field over the left field side, so why would I necessarily go up there and try to drive the ball to the opposite field?” Pillar said. “That’s not really my strength. Those are some of the conversations we had, just understanding what my strengths are and getting back to them. Trying to be as consistent as possible and when in doubt, err on the side of being aggressive as opposed to passive.”

WORK IN PROGRESS

Utility man Cole Tucker misplayed two ground balls at third base Tuesday. One was ruled a hit and the other was an error.

Washington, known for his work with infielders, said that both mistakes were the result of Tucker’s poor technique.

Washington has been drilling all the Angels infielders on fundamentals since the start of spring training, but Tucker didn’t even join the organization until mid April. He had been in Triple-A until last week.

“I think he might be about February 28 right now,” Washington said, referring to where Tucker is in the progression of the work the other infielders started in Arizona.

They are still making such fundamental changes as correcting the way Tucker puts his hand in his glove. Washington said players today don’t put their hand deep enough into the glove.

“We’re trying to break his habits,” Washington said. “He’s going to catch up.”

NOTES

In contrast to Pillar’s approach, Logan O’Hoppe needs to focus on hitting the ball to right field, Washington said. O’Hoppe had been in a slump before collecting four hits Tuesday. Two of the hits were to right field. “When he was going through his little slump, he was trying to yank everything,” Washington said. “When he’s been getting his base hits, it’s been to right field.” …

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Washington provided some more clarity on the condition that has kept Luis Rengifo out of the lineup for the past five games. Rengifo developed a skin condition in the wake of the fever he had over the weekend in Cleveland, and that has manifested in blisters on the bottom of his feet. Washington said Rengifo can’t spend a whole game on his feet without making it worse. Rengifo could be able to play again Thursday.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 3-3, 4.24) vs. Royals (RHP Michael Wacha, 1-4, 5.50) at Angel Stadium, 6:38 p.m. PT Thursday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.

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[BTH]

35 minutes ago, AngelsWin.com said:

Pillar, 35, has played parts of 12 years in the majors. Among the currently active position players, the other most experienced players are infielders Ehire Adrianza and Brandon Drury.

I never really thought about it till this article, but the lack of veteran position players on this team likely plays some role in the team’s struggles.

Even most teams have a veteran backup catcher who has been in the league for a while, but the Angels don’t even have that.

They need a leader. Rendon and Trout can’t be that when they’re injured and not with the team.

[James]

To me, this is just another example of poor roster construction. This has been a known need as Trout is not that vocal leader even if on the field. 

[T.G.]

54 minutes ago, AngelsWin.com said:

“Since he’s been here, he’s been doing a lot of talking with our young kids, something we didn’t have,” Washington said. “He’s talking baseball, he’s talking situations. He’s talking about mistakes. What you should do in certain situations, how you handle this. That’s what veterans do. We were lacking that. Now we’ve got a veteran presence here.”

Mike Trout wasn't doing this?  Just curious.

[Jeremiah]

13 minutes ago, T.G. said:

Mike Trout wasn't doing this?  Just curious.

I’m pretty sure that didn’t come out the way Wash wanted it to. Fletch tried to clarify that by mentioning injured vets aren’t on the road trips. That comment certainly doesn’t make the team’s clubhouse leadership look good.

[Stradling]

7 hours ago, BTH said:

I never really thought about it till this article, but the lack of veteran position players on this team likely plays some role in the team’s struggles.

Even most teams have a veteran backup catcher who has been in the league for a while, but the Angels don’t even have that.

They need a leader. Rendon and Trout can’t be that when they’re injured and not with the team.

They had Hicks who was a veteran, at this point Drury is a veteran, playing parts of ten seasons. Ward has been in the league for parts of 7 seasons, Rengifo 6 years. Then you have Trout and Rendon. On the pitching side you have Anderson, Moore Garcia and Cimber.  

[Duren, Duren]

Isn't that what coaches are for? Technical help and practical advice. Trout and Rendon aren't coaches or technicians. They can add motivation and encouragement. And maybe some anecdotal advice.  But they have their own issues to work out when playing and preparing on the road. And giving technical advice seems to intrude and possibly conflict with what the coaches are doing. 

And do they have to be there physically all the time? They are in the dugout for home games presumably. Are young players so insecure that they need constant attention? Coaches are being paid to help on mechanics and technique. 

 

[T.G.]

14 minutes ago, Stradling said:

They had Hicks who was a veteran, at this point Drury is a veteran, playing parts of ten seasons. Ward has been in the league for parts of 7 seasons, Rengifo 6 years. Then you have Trout and Rendon. On the pitching side you have Anderson, Moore Garcia and Cimber.  

Plus Torii Hunter has been in the dugout, at least for some home games

 

[m0nkey]

Nothing like a good old fashioned veteran presence story

[Taylor]

These are the kinds of articles I'd write for the college newspaper.

[Taylor]

No offense, Jeff.

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, Taylor said:

These are the kinds of articles I'd write for the college newspaper.

Which is why you’ve been a great disappointment lately. 

[BTH]

2 hours ago, Stradling said:

They had Hicks who was a veteran, at this point Drury is a veteran, playing parts of ten seasons. Ward has been in the league for parts of 7 seasons, Rengifo 6 years. Then you have Trout and Rendon. On the pitching side you have Anderson, Moore Garcia and Cimber.  

They may have years of experience in the majors, but that doesn’t mean they’re a leader.

And, again, Trout and Rendon are injured and therefore not around the team all the time.

Do you view any of Hicks/Drury/Ward as a leader? I don’t.

And pitchers are kinda separate from this since they’re not going through the same grind as a position player.

[BTH]

9 hours ago, T.G. said:

Mike Trout wasn't doing this?  Just curious.

 

10 hours ago, AngelsWin.com said:

Washington has always maintained that Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon also provide that leadership, but neither has been with the team on this trip because they are injured.

 

[ScottT]

I'm interested in on field value.

[Jeff Fletcher]

2 hours ago, Taylor said:

These are the kinds of articles I'd write for the college newspaper.

I hear ya. 
 

When you’ve got to write 500 stories per season about one team they won’t all be interesting. 

[Stradling]

5 hours ago, BTH said:

They may have years of experience in the majors, but that doesn’t mean they’re a leader.

And, again, Trout and Rendon are injured and therefore not around the team all the time.

Do you view any of Hicks/Drury/Ward as a leader? I don’t.

And pitchers are kinda separate from this since they’re not going through the same grind as a position player.

I have no idea if they’re leaders, neither do you. What we see isn’t what the players see or experience.  

[Taylor]

8 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I hear ya. 
 

When you’ve got to write 500 stories per season about one team they won’t all be interesting. 

I'm just messing around. You do an excellent job keeping the content fresh and interesting, even when the product on the field isn't fresh or interesting.

[Angel Oracle]

On 5/8/2024 at 9:48 AM, AngelsWin.com said:

Washington provided some more clarity on the condition that has kept Luis Rengifo out of the lineup for the past five games. Rengifo developed a skin condition in the wake of the fever he had over the weekend in Cleveland, and that has manifested in blisters on the bottom of his feet. Washington said Rengifo can’t spend a whole game on his feet without making it worse. Rengifo could be able to play again Thursday.

Skin condition?

[SlappyUtilityMIF]