TEMPE, Ariz. — Spring training is, in many ways, meaningless.
But for the Angels, this much is true: it’s better to pitch well in meaningless games than to pitch poorly in meaningless games.
After their first 12 games of the spring, the Angels are leading the Cactus League with a 3.23 ERA. The two teams with lower ERA’s, the Washington Nationals and New York Mets, both play in the more pitcher-friendly environment in Florida.
“That means that they are progressing,” manager Ron Washington said before Wednesday’s split squad games. “I don’t think you can put any more on it. They are progressing. The best ERA in the Cactus League is a big deal. You’ve got to start somewhere.”
In the lockout-shortened spring training in 2022, the Angels had the second best Cactus League ERA. Although the Angels finished that season with 73 victories, the hitting was their primary problem. They finished the season with the ninth best ERA in the majors.
The deeper number that might be the most encouraging is that the Angels have issued 2.63 walks per nine innings, which is the best ratio in the majors, in the Cactus League or Grapefruit League.
Washington said that’s a credit to new pitching coach Barry Enright and bullpen coach Steve Karsay.
“They deserve a pat on the back for the way they have taken this young pitching staff and got it believing that they can throw the ball over the plate with their stuff, instead of trying to run away from being touched with with a bat,” Washington said. “We’re going right at them.”
NOTES
Right-hander Robert Stephenson (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and he’s scheduled for another in a few days. Although Stephenson had suggested that he might not have time to get in enough games to be ready by opening day, Washington pointed out that he’s started other seasons with fewer than six innings in the spring, and the Angels could still have time to get him that four or five this spring. …
Third baseman Anthony Rendon (groin) was scheduled to go through a workout, including batting practice, on Wednesday morning.