April 3, 2015
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April 3, 2015 Page 1 of 25 Clips (April 3, 2015) April 3, 2015 Page 2 of 25 Today’s Clips Contents FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3) Can Josh Hamilton be disciplined? MLB waiting to hear from arbitrator Spring training Freeway Series: Angels 3, Dodgers 2 FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 5) MLB commissioner Rob Manfred: Decision on Angels' Josh Hamilton coming 'shortly after' opening day Smith: Out of the blue comes a familiar face at Angel Stadium Angels top Dodgers in Freeway Series opener, 3-2 Moura: It won't be easy, but Angels' Shoemaker takes aim at a repeat performance FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 11) Scioscia wants Richards to get at least two more rehab starts Trout picks up where he left off in first game at Angel Stadium Hamilton's suspension may come next week Weaver is an unheralded master craftsman FROM THE LA DAILY NEWS (Page 17) Manfred: Decision on Josh Hamilton’s could come ‘shortly after’ opening day FROM FOX SPORTS WEST (Page 17) Weaver to make 7th career Opening Day start for Angels Angels' Trout on follow-up MVP campaign: 'I'm a young kid just playing ball' Gronkowski and Trout team up for ceremonial first pitch and fun in Angels dugout Decision on Angels' Hamilton expected to come 'shortly after' Opening Day FROM YAHOO SPORTS (Page 22) Albert Pujols' touching gesture for brother of Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 24) RECAP: Trout helps Angels beat Dodgers 3-2 April 3, 2015 Page 3 of 25 FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES Can Josh Hamilton be disciplined? MLB waiting to hear from arbitrator By Bill Shaikin The arbitrator empowered to decide whether Josh Hamilton violated baseball's drug policy has yet to issue his ruling, forcing Commissioner Rob Manfred to wait and see if he has the authority to discipline Hamilton. Hamilton reported a relapse in his battle with substance abuse. If the arbitrator determines Hamilton has not violated his treatment program, Manfred would have no authority to suspend the Angels outfielder, and the matter would be considered closed under baseball's drug policy. The decision from the arbitrator is expected shortly, perhaps as soon as Friday. The pending nature of the decision was confirmed Thursday by two people familiar with the matter but not authorized to discuss it publicly. In an interview with Sirius XM, Manfred said a decision on discipline probably would come “shortly after” opening day. “I think that we'll have something on Hamilton in relatively short order — probably has been a little slower just because he's not available to play,” Manfred said. If the arbitrator rules that Hamilton violated his treatment program, Manfred is believed to be prepared to levy a suspension soon thereafter. Hamilton is recovering from shoulder surgery, and the Angels did not issue him a locker in spring training. When the team returned to Angel Stadium on Thursday, Hamilton's locker had been given to infielder Johnny Giovatella — a move explained by a club official as a way to accommodate the extra players in town for the Freeway Series against the Dodgers. Hamilton met with baseball officials in New York on Feb. 25. As The Times reported March 4, a four- person treatment board — with two members appointed by the commissioner's office and two by the players' union — had deadlocked on how to handle Hamilton's case, necessitating the appointment of the arbitrator. Under baseball's drug policy, a player can be found to have violated a treatment program if he does not cooperate with the requirements of the program or tests positive for a drug of abuse. The policy is silent on whether a player can be judged to have violated a treatment program if he reports a relapse, as Hamilton did. The policy also empowers the treatment board to consider the player's test history, his evaluation by medical professionals, and his willingness to consider “additional treatment options such as inpatient therapy.” April 3, 2015 Page 4 of 25 Hamilton is known to have failed at least six drug tests as a minor leaguer in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, and he was suspended from baseball from 2004 to '06. He is not known to have failed any tests since then. Hamilton is expected to be on the disabled list until at least May. Time on the disabled list counts as time served on a suspension, according to baseball's drug policy. Hamilton is scheduled to make $25 million this season, the third of a five-year, $125-million contract. If he is sent into a rehabilitation program, he would be owed his full salary for 30 days, then half his salary for the next 30 days — a total of $6.2 million. If he is suspended and not in treatment, he would not be paid. However, it is unclear whether the Angels would have to pay Hamilton at all if he previously entered a rehabilitation program that lasted at least 60 days. Hamilton, 33, has batted .255 with 31 home runs in his first two years in Anaheim. His primary replacement in left field is expected to be newly acquired Matt Joyce, with C.J. Cron and Collin Cowgill also getting at-bats that otherwise would have gone to Hamilton. “It's going to open up some opportunities,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We're deep enough on the offensive end we should be OK.” Scioscia declined to speculate on Hamilton's future before a resolution of the issue with MLB. “We're going to take it one step at a time,” Scioscia said. “Josh isn't ready to play baseball right now. We're kind of business as usual. You can't answer questions until you're sure exactly what is going to happen.” Spring training Freeway Series: Angels 3, Dodgers 2 By Bill Shaikin Angels 3, Dodgers 2 AT THE PLATE: In his first at-bat at Angel Stadium this season, Mike Trout launched a home run, deep to right-center field. Trout also tripled, walked, stole a base and scored twice. The Angels' star center fielder is batting .463 this spring. Designated hitter C.J. Cron (.426) also had two hits. For the Dodgers, veteran infielder Darwin Barney, trying to win a bench spot, doubled in his only at-bat to lift his average to .356. Barney has six doubles, second on the team to Jimmy Rollins. ON THE MOUND: The Angels' Matt Shoemaker gave up one run in 61/3 innings, wrapping up the spring with a 4.26 earned-run average. The Dodgers, on the turn that would have belonged to the injured Hyun-Jin Ryu, used eight relievers for an inning apiece. Adam Liberatore, a left-hander acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, struck out both of the left-handers he faced and maintained his 0.00 earned-run average this spring. Left-hander Paco Rodriguez also maintained a 0.00 ERA, with no walks and 12 strikeouts in 101/3 innings. EXTRA BASES: Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Shoemaker, in order, will face the Mariners in the Angels' season-opening series starting Monday in Seattle. Hector Santiago will start the home opener next Friday against the Kansas City Royals. … It is uncertain whether the Angels and closer Huston Street can April 3, 2015 Page 5 of 25 wrap up a contract extension before the season opener, but a club official said the Street talks are completely independent of the Josh Hamilton situation. Hamilton could face a suspension that would save the Angels millions in already-budgeted salary. … At the concession stand at the Angels' Class A Inland Empire affiliate this season: deep-fried, bacon-wrapped frog legs, sold as "Kermit and Miss Piggy." UP NEXT: The Angels and Dodgers play Friday at 7 p.m. at Angel Stadium. TV: Channel 13, SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 830. FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER MLB commissioner Rob Manfred: Decision on Angels' Josh Hamilton coming 'shortly after' opening day BY JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER Commissioner Rob Manfred said this week that a decision on Josh Hamilton's suspension would be coming "shortly after" opening day, meaning the case will remain in limbo at least until next week. Manfred had indicated in recent weeks that he expected to make a decision before opening day, but when he spoke to Chris Russo on Sirius/XM radio on Wednesday, he said the case has been "a little slow, because he's not available to play." Hamilton is out while rehabbing from right shoulder surgery, with no timetable for his return. Manfred reiterated that Hamilton's suspension could run concurrently with his time on the disabled list. Hamilton would still lose a pro-rated portion of his $23 million salary during the time he's suspended, though. Hamilton self-reported a violation of Major League Baseball's drug policy in February. He met with Manfred, and the case has been going through a process involving medical experts, an arbitrator and eventually Manfred. Manfred has the ultimate say on how long Hamilton will be suspended, with little precedent for the new commissioner. Most of baseball's suspensions under the drug policy have been for using performance enhancing drugs, not drugs of abuse. Also, Hamilton's previous violations and suspensions were under a previous drug policy, and while he was in the minor leagues. One of the difficulties for the Angels while they await the news is they are trying to negotiate an extension with Huston Street. The amount of money the club saves by not paying Hamilton during his suspension may factor into the negotiations for Street, who is seeking a new deal that would replace the $7 million he's owed in 2015 under his current contract.