Michifan

Just having Wells gone to prevent a private meeting with Scioscia resulting in him playing regularly is good enough for me.

I'm sure it's an arch problem--that's what it is for me. It never completely goes away, but you get used to it. I'm sure the reason it's bothering him right now is for the same reason mine's bothering me. I had ankle surgery in early January and have just started rehab. I've been off my right foot for two months. Now that I'm starting to put weight on it, the fascia are screaming at me until I strengthen, stretch, and get them used to walking and running again.The knee's the bigger issue.

It does make sense. Thanks for the insight. I hope he is working on making contact.

Living in Michigan, I haven't seen any of the spring training games, so I can just look at stats. Last spring, Trumbo batted .328 with 6 HR and 16 RBIs in 58 plate appearances and turned that into a great start to the season. He batted .304 in April with 3 HRs and a fantastic .367 with 7 HRs in May. So far this spring in 36 ABs he's batting .250 with 0 HRs 1 RBI, and only 1 extra base hit. How has he looked at the plate? Morales on the other hand for Seattle in 35 ABs is batting .367 with 3 HRs including one yesterday from the right side, with 6 RBIs. Here's hoping Trumbo finds a groove. I do hope that Morales does well, except of course against the Angels.

Probably also why he hit so well in the minors. He's not seeing major league level pitching consistently in spring training.

Shouldn't it be a concern that even a marginal catcher doesn't improve with Scioscia as a tutor? Shouldn't he be a manager that can actually make catchers better? And yet Mathis seems to be the only catcher who suggests Scioscia made him better. Maybe what Scioscia actually wants is to be a player/coach.

I'm just amazed that Scioscia said something that almost sounded like encouragement about him.

I think he seems to have digressed since he was poised two years ago to be the regular catcher. I think Scioscia doesn't do a good job with catchers and is too much in Conger's head. He knows how Scioscia is and overthinks fundamentals trying not to make a mistake. Scioscia turns catchers into headcases.

It would be different if Bud had tried to take on the union over it and made it an issue earlier. It was very clear what was going on, and baseball did nothing until they had to. That said, now it is time to set it right--blood testing, tougher penalties, get it all actually cleaned up so that we're not all wondering when someone has a good year.

As I recall, he had a great spring training last year and then slumped in the season start. Maybe he'd start better without spring training? (tic in case anyone misses it)

Living in Jacksonville Florida, teaching at a small college and finishing my dissertation. Watched it with my wife and young daughters in our living room.

5'8", RIIIGGGHHT. From these pictures, then I guess Trumbo is also lying about being 6'4", Pujols lying about the 6'3" and Hamilton about the 6'4". If Trout's not even 5'8, then none of them are even 6'. Guess again. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/DH-Mark-Trumbo-tackles-new-challenge-with-Angels-4298622.php#photo-4231913

I hope he has a great year. I like him as a player and really appreciate what he did as an Angel, other than breaking his leg. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if he had a season to make the Angels wonder about what might have been.

Wasn't he supposed to prove that last year?