Angels’ Matt Joyce on bench, may be on his way out

Matt Joyce did not start against a right-handed pitcher for the second straight game Saturday night, another indication the struggling left fielder’s days with the Angels are probably numbered.

Joyce is batting .179 with five home runs and 21 runs batted in, he is hitless in his last 22 at-bats, and starting ahead of him Saturday was a third baseman, Kyle Kubitza, who had all of one inning of big league experience in the outfield.

But Manager Mike Scioscia said Friday was a “mental” day off for Joyce, who was told not to pick up a bat the whole day, and on Saturday Joyce was “working on some concepts” with assistant hitting coach Dave Hansen.

What kind of concepts?

“It’s how you’re approaching a pitch, your swing,” Scioscia said. “Instead of thinking about mechanics, think of a concept like driving the ball through the middle or to left-center. That kind of visualization.

“That gets hitters back in sync more than thinking about a specific mechanic, because he’s swung the bat over the course of his career tens of thousands of times. He’s got the swing. He’s trying to find the timing and everything that comes with being a productive hitter.”

Scioscia wouldn’t say whether Joyce will play Sunday.

“We’re not going to pigeonhole ourselves into anything,” Scioscia said. “We’re trying to break the cycle for Matt, where he is really just banging his head against the wall.”

Kubitza worked out in left field during his stint with the Angels in June and played his last six games at triple A there before being called up Thursday.

His inexperience showed in the fourth inning Saturday night. With a runner on first and two outs, Ryan Rua lofted a double down the line. Instead of fielding the ball on a hop and holding the runner at third, he attempted a diving catch. The ball bounced about 20 feet past Kubitza, allowing the run to score.

The Angels have been actively pursuing a corner outfielder in a trade, but if they are unable to add a bat they will consider Efren Navarro, who is hitting .346 at Salt Lake and.260 in the major leagues, in left field.
Paternity leave

Closer Huston Street could miss one or two games Aug. 10-11 against the White Sox in Chicago for the birth of his third son. Street said if his wife, Lacey, hasn’t delivered by Aug. 10, labor will be induced that day. If there are no complications, Street will fly to Chicago on Aug. 11 and be available that night.
Short hops

Mike Trout’s steal of second in the first inning Saturday was the Angels’ first stolen base since July 1 Jered Weaver (left-hip inflammation) will throw another bullpen session, most likely Sunday, “and then we’ll see where he’s at,” Scioscia said. There is no rush for Weaver to return to the rotation because the current five starters have been pitching so well.

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