by ldh2013 » Mon Jul 11, 2016 8:45 am
TEMPE, Ariz. . -- Albert Pujols stepped inside the netted cage, clawed the dirt with his cleat and eyeballed left-hander Brad Mills, who was about to get rocked. Pujols exhaled and waited. Then, everything changed. With a few magnificent swings, Pujols sent Mills pitches screeching into the outfield of Tempe Diablo Stadium and delighted owner Arte Moreno, who is paying the superstar slugger $240 million over the next 10 years, and some spellbound teammates. "Unbelievable," right fielder Torii Hunter said in the clubhouse after witnessing Pujols session. "His bat was explosive. He said he hadnt hit outside in a while, but hes hitting the ball like hes been hitting it forever. Its amazing. Hes awesome." Pujols hasnt connected for his first homer with the Angels, and hes already had a powerful impact on them. After just one week of spring training, the man who helped St. Louis to a World Series title last year has shown his new team why hes the games best hitter. Pujols has been one of the first players at the teams complex each morning, arriving shortly after 7 a.m. to begin his regimented day. At least twice he has been the last to leave. On Monday, as the Angels prepared for their first full-squad workout of camp, Pujols tucked away some personal belongings when Hunter walked in. He immediately wrapped his arms around Pujols, his new next-locker neighbour. The two had spoken several times since December, when the Angels signed Pujols to the second-largest contract in history. But Hunter hadnt seen Pujols in two months and perhaps wanted to grab him and make sure it was truly him wearing Angels red. Hunter, on the eve of his 16th major league season, understands the addition of Pujols will dramatically influence what pitches all the Angels see at the plate. "It changes the dynamic of the lineup, man," said the 37-year-old Hunter, one of the majors most personable players. "Just him being in there is going to change everything. Not just for me, but for Vernon (Wells), for (Erick) Aybar, for everybody. The pitchers game plan has to change with us now because hes in the lineup. "Instead of pitching to him, you may have to come to me or you might have to come to Kendrys Morales or (Mark) Trumbo. "Im telling you, Im excited." Though not as outwardly enthusiastic as Hunter, Angels manager Mike Scioscia is thrilled to have Pujols around. It hasnt taken long for the two-time MVP to make a favourable impression on his new boss. "This guy works very hard," Scioscia said. "He understands where he needs to be when the season starts in all aspects of the game -- the defensive end, running, obviously swinging the bat and he works hard at it." But beyond his massive presence in the lineup, Pujols can have a positive effect on the Angels just by being around young, impressionable players on a daily basis. He exudes confidence in everything he does -- on and off the field -- and Scioscia believes some of it can rub off on the Angels. "Everybody in that clubhouse is confident," he said. "But its one thing in being confident and another thing having a deeper team thats going to be able to turn that confidence into some tangible wins. I think were a better team now. We have a clubhouse full of guys getting after it -- with a dominant piece in the middle of the lineup." It wont all be rosy for the Angels, who are expected to play into Octobers last days. Before some high winds from the desert kicked up some dust clouds near the stadium Monday, the club had already withstood a small storm of controversy -- for now. Outfielder Bobby Abreu, who last week said the Angels should trade him if hes not going to play every day, softened his stance after an early-morning meeting with Scioscia and general manager Jerry Dipoto. "We talked and they said they would find a way to get me about 400 at-bats, maybe more," Abreu said. "They said Im not going to be on the bench for the whole week. Thats fine with me. I just want to be on the field. It doesnt matter how its going to be -- in left field, right field, as a DH. "Just help the team win, and whatever way I can help, Im going to do it." There were reports last week that the Angels were close to trading the 37-year-old Abreu to the New York Yankees, his team in 2007-08. Abreus eyes lit up when he was asked about the possibility of again wearing pinstripes, but he insisted hes committed to the Angels. "Im an Angel right now, Ive been an Angel for the last three years, four years, and all the fans know the way that I feel, how I play the game," he said. "I throw everything on the field to try to just win the games, help the team, help the young guys. Its a business sometimes, and you dont know where youre going to be tomorrow. Right now, Im an Angel." Its going to be impossible for Scioscia to keep everyone happy, the price for having a talent-loaded team transformed by Pujols. Theres a cost that comes with expectations. Hunter wouldnt have it any other way. "I always wanted to be on a team with high expectations," he said "I didnt want to be on a team that didnt have expectations at all. Its your dream to be on a team like this, where you have a chance to win." With Pujols, that chance is heightened. Notes: INF Mark Trumbo, forced to move from first to third base to accommodate Pujols, will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday to have planned tests on the stress fracture that cut short his rookie season in 2011. ... DH Kendry Morales did some agility drills as he continues to recover from a broken ankle that sidelined him all last season. Scioscia thinks Morales will be running the bases within two weeks. . -- On an afternoon in which three Georgetown players fouled out and his team sent No. . Spoelstra said James was dealing with "the residual of a long season." "Just where we are right now, hes dealing with some minor ailments," Spoelstra said. "Nothing thats significant enough that will keep him out. . Toronto opened the campaign with a lopsided 45-21 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. On Saturday, the Argos host a Saskatchewan Roughriders squad that registered 10 sacks in a 31-10 dismantling of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in its season opener. TORONTO -- A wrist injury will prevent Rafael Nadal from defending his title at next weeks Rogers Cup in Toronto. The second-ranked player in the world withdrew Tuesday from the tournament as well as the following tournament in Cincinnati, another key U.S. Open prep event. Nadal suffered the injury to his right wrist in practice Tuesday. He won last years Rogers Cup in Montreal. "Im extremely disappointed that I am unable to defend my Rogers Cup title this year," Nadal said in a statement released by Tennis Canada. "I was looking forward to coming there and playing again in Toronto as I have always lovved to play in Canada and had great results in the past at a very important event. . " Nadal is left-handed, but the 28-year-old uses a two-handed backhand. In a statement, he said he would be out for a least two to three weeks. The Spaniard is also the defending U.S. Open champion, and the injury puts that defence in doubt. His 2013 title at Flushing Meadows is one of 14 Grand Slams, tied with Pete Sampras for second in mens tennis history behind only Roger Federers 17. Projected to be the No. 2 seed in Toronto, Nadal was set to be in town for Fridays draw. The tournament begins Monday. ' ' '
