Spring Training: Angels vs. Athletics, Hello Albert

In retrospect, I’m sort of embarrassed to admit this since I’m such a huge baseball aficionado, but until Monday, I had never seen Albert Pujols play in person. (It must have been my Tony LaRussa bias) The first thing you notice about Albert is how large a human being he is for a baseball player. Television does not do him justice.

In his first at-bat of the spring with his new team, Albert delivered a ringing double down towards the left field corner, driving in the first run of the game. As another free agent signee for the Angels, C.J. Wilson, put it, "He came up in the first inning and knocked in a run. We're all laughing. That's Albert."

Pujols also had a single and in his last at-bat of the contest, with the bases loaded, he swung and missed at the second pitch with his entire controlled rage swing and if he would have connected, he would have sent it from Phoenix to Scottsdale.

Pujols admitted after the game that he had “nerves” realizing he was not in a St. Louis uniform anymore. It was really interesting to see the respect he had even in this one game environment, since all the Oakland players and umpires wanted to shake his hand, pat him on the back or just welcome him to the Cactus League.

Angels Notes—There was also an actual exhibition game, and Anaheim crushed the A’s 9-1, scoring all their runs in the first four innings with most of the regulars playing.

The aforementioned Wilson also made his debut in an Angels uniform and gave two good innings. Wilson might be on the right team since he does not have overwhelming stuff, but is nicely situated as a No. 2 or 3 starter in the Anaheim staff. That doesn’t suggest he isn’t expected to produce results like an ace, but Jered Weaver and Dan Haren can reduce the pressure.

If the top of the Angels lineup can get on base, this team will score runs with Pujols batting in his customary third slot. Though Pujols will see more curve balls and off-speed pitches in the American League, he will come through. Howie Kendrick is set to have career year, because teams will be desperate to keep him off the bases batting in the two-hole with Pujols batting next. This opens up the possibility for Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells to drive in more runners with runners on base from the four and five spots in the batting order.

If Los Angeles is to go over their projected total of 92.5 wins and be a serious AL and World Series contender, the bottom part of the lineup will have to come through on a fairly regular basis and that is still to be seen if they will happen.

Athletics Notes—One game in early March does not a season make, but Oakland is not impressive in almost any area. This was a split-squad game for the A’s, thus a complete assessment is even more impossible. Yet, it is apparent in surveying the roster that runs will be hard to come by again. Jemile Weeks has a clue at the dish, likes to spray the ball around and is slick fielder with excellent speed. Weeks is matched with his up the middle partner Cliff Pennington, who is an ordinary at best hitter but possess strong arm, which he is prone to trust too much.

When the game still mattered, not one A’s pitcher showed anything. Starter Brad Peacock was proficient at finding bats in allowing four runs in less than two innings. Closer Grant Balfour has no rhythm and was rocked for two runs, permitting three base hits and doling out three walks. One pitcher that caught my eye with his velocity and stuff was lefty Pedro Figueroa. He made several good pitches, but appeared uncomfortable in making a repeatable delivery.

Finally, we saw Manny Ramirez in his Oakland green shirt, and he went 0-3. At his age, it was clear that the L.A.A. pitchers were challenging him with heat upstairs to see if he could catch-up.

The Athletics are listed at 71.5 wins, and I will need further review to see if they surpass that total.