These Bees Haven't Lost Their Sting
Salt Lake's 23-2 start fueled in part by Angels' top prospects
SALT LAKE—On one of the few warm days of an unusually cold April, the red-hot Salt Lake Bees, comfortably ahead of Fresno, were within a few innings of improving their record to a remarkable 20-1.
"It was remarkable five games ago," said Pacific Coast League president Branch Rickey, who had flown into Salt Lake City for the day on business and to witness what had become the hottest story in professional baseball.
By the end of April, Salt Lake, the Triple-A affiliate of the Angels, was 23-2. The Bees improved to 24-2 before returning to Earth at Nashville.
Among the team's highlights was an 11-game road winning streak and overall 13-game winning streak, both franchise records. Salt Lake's April included eight wins in its last at-bat, seven one-run victories and five shutouts—and a few good bounces.
Midway through the 21-1 run, which, according to Minor League Baseball.com, is the best start ever in minor league history, Salt Lake manager Bobby Mitchell was attempting to explain the Bees' approach and attitude.
"It's been business as usual," he said. "We're pretty low key whether we win or lose."
Mitchell, realizing what he just said, laughed:
"Well, we've only lost one game."
The tone was set the very first game of the season at Las Vegas. Down 3-2 going into the top of the ninth, an attempted sacrifice bunt by Freddy Sandoval spun away from the fielder, hugged the first base line and stayed fair. Instead of one out and runners on second and third, the Bees had loaded the bases.
Adam Pavkovich and Bobby Wilson eventually singled in two runs and Salt Lake had a 6-3 victory.
On April 24, Fresno opened its series with Salt Lake by scoring six in the top of the first. The Bees respond with six in their half, eventually winning the game in the 10th.
"After we gave up six, it was like, 'I guess we have to go to work now,' " said Salt Lake catcher Ryan Budde, who's three-run homer capped the team's six-run first. "That's how I feel right now. We never panic. We knew it was going to happen.
"I've never seen anything like it."
Neither has professional baseball. Salt Lake has broken minor league and Pacific Coast League records set back in the days when minor leagues were a very different animal. In 1903, the Los Angeles Angels started 15-0; in 1939, the Angels went 19-2; and in 1943, those same Angeles roared out to 26-3.
In those days, the PCL was then seen as a third major league, and minor league teams weren't just waiting rooms for major league teams.
All Part Of The Plan
Even as Salt Lake was winning, eight players had been called to the majors by Los Angeles. Most were sent back, but ultimately the job of Mitchell, as well as the rest of the managers in the Angels organization is to develop players for the big leagues. If they win, well that's just icing on the cake.
Yet, "Winning is part of development," Mitchell said.
Salt Lake leads the PCL in runs (196) and is second in hitting (.308). The Bees' pitchers lead the league with a 3.62 ERA, which is half a run better than No. 2 Iowa. Salt Lake also has the PCL's best team fielding percentage.
Young righthanders Nick Adenhart, recently promoted to Los Angeles, and Nick Green were a combined 7-0. Closer Jose Arredondo, who also saw a few days this season with the Angels, has eight saves.
Los Angeles also lucked out on a couple of free agent pitchers. Righthander Shane Loux was out of baseball, coaching a high school team in 2007 after a contract squabble with Seattle left him out in the cold. Righthander Giancarlo Alvarado signed with the Pirates out of Puerto Rico in 1995 and was pitching in Mexico last year. They have six wins between them.
"I'm just trying to get through this year," said Loux, who saw limited big league action with the Tigers and has battled elbow trouble. "In the last three (years), I've played just one. Fortunately, I got a tryout. The Angels gave me a month to get in shape."
Taking After Their Parents
Aggression has spurred the Bees' offense by creating pressure on the opposition. They're not afraid to take the extra base or to go from first to third.
"It's the best way to play," Mitchell said. "It's so much more exciting."
Salt Lake has scored runs despite slow starts by shortstop Brandon Wood, now with Los Angeles, and right fielder Terry Evans. Yet, they also provided big hits. Wood's grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning in Portland on April 14, as the Bees rallied for a 9-4 win.
Evans' first home run of the season won a game in the bottom of the 11th on April 17. A week later, Evans drives in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.
However, it has been third baseman Matt Brown who has had the best start of any Bee this season. He's hitting .407/.451/.753 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 113 at-bats.
"Everyone is having fun," said Brown, who hit for the cycle in the first week of the season. "The pitchers have been outstanding. When we're not hitting, they're keeping us in games. Good things just keep happening.
"We're trying to take advantage of every opportunity. I'm trying to put myself in a state of just having fun playing baseball."
What's more fun than winning?
"What we're doing with the bat is pretty amazing," Wood said. "They always say the Angels have top prospects."
Martin Renzhofer covers the Bees for the Salt Lake Tribune.
Salt Lake's 23-2 start fueled in part by Angels' top prospects
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PrintSALT LAKE—On one of the few warm days of an unusually cold April, the red-hot Salt Lake Bees, comfortably ahead of Fresno, were within a few innings of improving their record to a remarkable 20-1.
"It was remarkable five games ago," said Pacific Coast League president Branch Rickey, who had flown into Salt Lake City for the day on business and to witness what had become the hottest story in professional baseball.
By the end of April, Salt Lake, the Triple-A affiliate of the Angels, was 23-2. The Bees improved to 24-2 before returning to Earth at Nashville.
Among the team's highlights was an 11-game road winning streak and overall 13-game winning streak, both franchise records. Salt Lake's April included eight wins in its last at-bat, seven one-run victories and five shutouts—and a few good bounces.
Midway through the 21-1 run, which, according to Minor League Baseball.com, is the best start ever in minor league history, Salt Lake manager Bobby Mitchell was attempting to explain the Bees' approach and attitude.
"It's been business as usual," he said. "We're pretty low key whether we win or lose."
Mitchell, realizing what he just said, laughed:
"Well, we've only lost one game."
The tone was set the very first game of the season at Las Vegas. Down 3-2 going into the top of the ninth, an attempted sacrifice bunt by Freddy Sandoval spun away from the fielder, hugged the first base line and stayed fair. Instead of one out and runners on second and third, the Bees had loaded the bases.
Adam Pavkovich and Bobby Wilson eventually singled in two runs and Salt Lake had a 6-3 victory.
On April 24, Fresno opened its series with Salt Lake by scoring six in the top of the first. The Bees respond with six in their half, eventually winning the game in the 10th.
"After we gave up six, it was like, 'I guess we have to go to work now,' " said Salt Lake catcher Ryan Budde, who's three-run homer capped the team's six-run first. "That's how I feel right now. We never panic. We knew it was going to happen.
"I've never seen anything like it."
Neither has professional baseball. Salt Lake has broken minor league and Pacific Coast League records set back in the days when minor leagues were a very different animal. In 1903, the Los Angeles Angels started 15-0; in 1939, the Angels went 19-2; and in 1943, those same Angeles roared out to 26-3.
In those days, the PCL was then seen as a third major league, and minor league teams weren't just waiting rooms for major league teams.
All Part Of The Plan
Even as Salt Lake was winning, eight players had been called to the majors by Los Angeles. Most were sent back, but ultimately the job of Mitchell, as well as the rest of the managers in the Angels organization is to develop players for the big leagues. If they win, well that's just icing on the cake.
Yet, "Winning is part of development," Mitchell said.
Salt Lake leads the PCL in runs (196) and is second in hitting (.308). The Bees' pitchers lead the league with a 3.62 ERA, which is half a run better than No. 2 Iowa. Salt Lake also has the PCL's best team fielding percentage.
Young righthanders Nick Adenhart, recently promoted to Los Angeles, and Nick Green were a combined 7-0. Closer Jose Arredondo, who also saw a few days this season with the Angels, has eight saves.
Los Angeles also lucked out on a couple of free agent pitchers. Righthander Shane Loux was out of baseball, coaching a high school team in 2007 after a contract squabble with Seattle left him out in the cold. Righthander Giancarlo Alvarado signed with the Pirates out of Puerto Rico in 1995 and was pitching in Mexico last year. They have six wins between them.
"I'm just trying to get through this year," said Loux, who saw limited big league action with the Tigers and has battled elbow trouble. "In the last three (years), I've played just one. Fortunately, I got a tryout. The Angels gave me a month to get in shape."
Taking After Their Parents
Aggression has spurred the Bees' offense by creating pressure on the opposition. They're not afraid to take the extra base or to go from first to third.
"It's the best way to play," Mitchell said. "It's so much more exciting."
Salt Lake has scored runs despite slow starts by shortstop Brandon Wood, now with Los Angeles, and right fielder Terry Evans. Yet, they also provided big hits. Wood's grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning in Portland on April 14, as the Bees rallied for a 9-4 win.
Evans' first home run of the season won a game in the bottom of the 11th on April 17. A week later, Evans drives in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.
However, it has been third baseman Matt Brown who has had the best start of any Bee this season. He's hitting .407/.451/.753 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 113 at-bats.
"Everyone is having fun," said Brown, who hit for the cycle in the first week of the season. "The pitchers have been outstanding. When we're not hitting, they're keeping us in games. Good things just keep happening.
"We're trying to take advantage of every opportunity. I'm trying to put myself in a state of just having fun playing baseball."
What's more fun than winning?
"What we're doing with the bat is pretty amazing," Wood said. "They always say the Angels have top prospects."
Martin Renzhofer covers the Bees for the Salt Lake Tribune.
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