Gregg Keeps Improving His Stock

For a team decimated by injury, the Angels have had surprisingly few replacements stake their claim to a spot in the major leagues. The opportunity might never again be this good for this many, and yet which minor league reinforcements have proven themselves as major leaguers?

Chone Figgins? So far, so good, but Manager Mike Scioscia said “there’s still some work he needs to do to establish himself” as an everyday center fielder. Jeff DaVanon? A platoon outfielder at best, at least the way Scioscia uses him. Derrick Turnbow? Maybe, but one cannot win a bullpen spot on a 98-mph fastball alone.

Before opening day, the Angels might well clear their roster of infielders Alfredo Amezaga, Wilson Delgado, Trent Durrington, Robb Quinlan and Adam Riggs, outfielder Barry Wesson, catcher Tom Gregorio and pitchers Chris Bootcheck, Gary Glover and Greg Jones.

That makes the story of Kevin Gregg all the more compelling. Gregg, discarded by Oakland last winter and dumped into double-A by the Angels this spring, has emerged from the wreckage of this season as an unlikely winner.

Gregg pitched brilliantly again Sunday, preventing the Seattle Mariners from overtaking the Boston Red Sox for the American League wild-card lead. With family and friends who drove north from Oregon sprinkled amid a raucous sellout crowd of 45,861, Gregg tamed the Mariners on three hits in seven innings in the Angels’ 2-1 victory.

“It’s fun,” Gregg said. “Too bad we aren’t in the hunt as well.”

Over the last 13 games, no Angel starter besides Gregg has recorded a victory. In the first three starts of his major league career, he is 2-0 with a 1.35 earned-run average.

In front of the largest audience to watch him pitch, Gregg worked with the efficiency and confidence of a veteran.

“His composure on the mound was unbelievable,” shortstop David Eckstein said.

Mike Cameron homered against Gregg in the second inning, and the score stayed 1-0 until the eighth. With one out, Eckstein doubled. After another out and an intentional walk to Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon dropped a single into right field.

The Angels had scored one run in their previous 16 innings, so third base coach Ron Roenicke sent Eckstein home, against Gold Glove outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and his power arm.

In fairness to Roenicke, Suzuki had to move laterally to field the ball.

“If he’s charging there, that’s scary,” Roenicke said.

Suzuki’s throw was off line. Scott Spiezio doubled to right, scoring Anderson with the winning run, and Suzuki’s throw was even farther off line.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him throw a ball off line,” Roenicke said.

Players do not win roster spots on September performances, but Scioscia said Gregg has put himself on the Angels’ depth chart. He is unlikely to join the rotation next spring, but he has won the confidence of the coaching staff as a qualified replacement for an injured or ineffective starter.

Gregg, 25, pitched in the Oakland organization for seven seasons, never reaching the majors and bouncing between double-A and triple-A in the final four. He asked for his release twice, he said, and the A’s refused both times. After seven seasons, minor leaguers can become free agents, and Gregg signed with the Angels.

“It’s nice to feel valued,” he said. “In Oakland, I felt like I wore out my welcome and they didn’t care how I did. It wasn’t fun to come to the park knowing it didn’t matter how well I did.”

The A’s wanted him to vary the speeds of his pitches more. He didn’t listen then, he acknowledged, but he did this year. It works. Since the Mariners are chasing the A’s in the AL West, Gregg did his old team a favor Sunday.

“That’s too bad,” he said, smiling broadly.