Mike Napoli trying to make all the adjustments
There are benefits to playing every day, as Mike Napoli, who shared catching duties with Jeff Mathis for the past three years, has discovered this season.
“When you’re struggling, you can let it go a little easier when you’re in there every day,” said Napoli, who caught 31 of 35 games from April 20 to May 28, while Mathis was hurt, and took over for injured first baseman Kendry Morales in early June.
“Tomorrow is a different day, and you can get after it. You don’t think, ‘Oh, I went 0 for 4, am I going to be in there tomorrow?’ ”
There is one drawback, though, especially when you’re as streaky a hitter as Napoli: Some unsightly numbers can pile up with more playing time.
Napoli, who has always had decent plate discipline for a power hitter, entered Thursday’s game with a .249 average, 11 home runs and 27 runs batted in, but he ranked second in the American League with 73 strikeouts in 209 at-bats.
That would put Napoli, who strikes out once every three at-bats, on pace for a whopping 160 strikeouts.
“I’ve just got to really bear down with two strikes and stop trying to do too much,” said Napoli, who entered Thursday’s game with only 17 walks. “I’ve got to foul some pitches off instead of trying to hit a home run with two strikes. I’ve got to back off and hit it up the middle.”
Napoli, who had never played first base in the big leagues until this season, may take a similar tack on defense. Several times over the past week, he ranged far to his right for grounders that second baseman Howie Kendrick could have fielded.
“That’s the hardest play for a first baseman to read off the bat,” Napoli said. “Your first move takes you to the ball, and I’d rather get to the ball than it go through the hole.”
Manager Mike Scioscia said Napoli has nice hands and can handle balls in the dirt, but it could take weeks to master the nuances of the position.
“He has to be in tune with the second baseman’s range, and that takes time,” Scioscia said. “It doesn’t happen in one, two or three games.”
New twist
The Erick Aybar saga took another turn, this time for the better.
Tuesday, it appeared the shortstop, sidelined since June 15 because of cartilage damage in his left knee, was headed for the disabled list after he took a cortisone injection.
Thursday, it appeared Aybar was on the verge of returning after he ran wind sprints at full speed, took batting practice, fielded grounders to his sides and threw.
“He did great,” Scioscia said. “I think he’ll be available this weekend. Whether he comes off the bench or starts, we’ll see.”
Aybar’s last hurdle will be to run the bases at full speed Friday.
“I’m ready; I’m not in any pain,” said Aybar, the speedy leadoff batter who is hitting .272 with 41 runs and 11 stolen bases. “The shot helped. Maybe I’ll play [Friday].”
Short hops
The Angels will catch a break this weekend against Colorado — they won’t face Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who is 13-1 with a National League-leading 1.60 earned-run average. Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook and Jhoulys Chacin are scheduled to start for Colorado.
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