This Change Benefiting Schoeneweis

Scott Schoeneweis finally feels confident enough to make a change. And to throw one.

After two full seasons with the Angels, the 28-year-old left-hander recognized he needed more than a strong sinker to be successful. Schoeneweis has worked diligently this spring at incorporating a changeup into his repertoire.

“It’s not great, but it’s functional and something I can now throw consistently and comfortably,” Schoeneweis said.

It looked that way Wednesday, a day off for the rest of the Angels but a work day for Schoeneweis, who took his regular fifth-day turn against a team of Milwaukee Brewer triple-A players at the Angels’ minor league complex. Schoeneweis pitched five scoreless innings, gave up six hits, struck out two and did not issue a walk.

“I think I threw 21 changeups today,” said Schoeneweis, who threw 81 pitches. “That’s a record for me.”

Schoeneweis finished with a 10-11 record and a 5.08 earned-run average in 2051/3 innings last season and tied for the team lead with 32 starts. It was an improvement over the 7-10 record and 5.45 ERA he posted in 2000, but opposing hitters did not have to guess much when facing him.

“You can only get by on newness and guys not knowing you for so long,” he said.

Schoeneweis has given up four runs and 13 hits in 10 innings against major league teams this spring. It’s the first time he has felt comfortable enough to experiment without worrying about being sent down if he failed.

“The last three springs I’ve come in and was trying to make the squad,” Schoeneweis said. “If I had been giving up hits with changeups, that would not have helped me in having them say, ‘We need to keep this guy.’”

Angel pitching coach Bud Black said Schoeneweis was smart to rely on his sinker during his first seasons in the majors because, “You dance with who brought you.” Now, it’s time to take the next step.

“I went through the same process,” said Black, who pitched for 15 years in the major leagues. “I was a two-pitch pitcher when I came up. Over time, you have to develop new pitches to get major league hitters out.”

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Second baseman Adam Kennedy has gone 18 for 38 with two home runs and has driven in 13 runs.

Kennedy is intent on remaining in the lineup and showing Angel Manager Mike Scioscia that he can hit left-handers as well as right-handers and provide solid defense.

“I want to be on the field every day, especially at this point,” said Kennedy, a left-handed hitter who last season batted .270 with six homers and 40 runs batted in 478 at-bats. “I have things to iron out offensively and defensively. The way you do that is by being out there.”

Scioscia has been impressed.

“You have to come into spring training with a mind-set of winning a job,” Scioscia said. “You have to keep your edge. Adam is doing that.”

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Third baseman Troy Glaus is expected to be in the lineup today against the Colorado Rockies after sitting out five games because of a strained abdominal muscle. Left-hander Jarrod Washburn will start for the Angels.