Angels sound off on drug cheaters a day after facing Bartolo Colon
News of Ryan Braun’s suspension from baseball hit at an interesting time for the Angels — the day after they faced Bartolo Colon.
Like Braun, Colon tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug last season. Braun successfully appealed his case; Colon served a 50-game suspension, then negotiated a new contract with the Oakland Athletics.
Now Colon, 40, reportedly is being investigated by Major League Baseball because he has been linked to the same Biogenesis laboratory in Miami that ultimately sank Braun.
On Sunday, Colon improved his record to 13-3 and lowered his earned-run average to 2.52 by shutting out the Angels, 6-0.
C.J. Wilson didn’t veil his distaste for players who cheat, saying, “Whether it’s this year, last year, a couple years ago — whatever it is, they got away with it for a certain time,” while making it clear he considered Colon one of those players.
Mark Trumbo was more diplomatic, saying, “It’s tough. It’s a tough draw. You just do the best you can on a personal level and let things play out” after going 0 for 3 with a strikeout against Colon.
Trumbo said he hopes and expects cheaters will continue to be caught in testing. Meanwhile, he won’t change the approach he takes at the plate.
“As a hitter you go in ready to attack, take it to someone, [regardless of] if they’re going about it the right way,” he said.
Hamilton hobbled
Josh Hamilton’s right ankle “locked up” on him after the Angels’ loss to the Athletics on Sunday, Manager Mike Scioscia said.
Hamilton was scratched from Monday’s lineup less than a minute after the initial posting. He is now listed as day to day.
Asked when Hamilton suffered the injury, Scioscia said it was after Sunday’s game and not a baseball-related injury. “He wasn’t playing pickup basketball,” Scioscia said. “He was walking around the house.”
Hamilton tested the ankle Monday, Scioscia said, but quickly decided he needed the night off.
Hamilton has only three hits in 23 at-bats in his last six games, with two runs batted in and eight strikeouts.
Short hops
The Angels signed independent league outfielder Cyle Hankerd, who hit .322 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs in 81 games for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. He was assigned to double-A Arkansas. Hankerd, who played at West Covina South Hills High and USC, was a third-round pick of Arizona in 2006. He played five years in the Diamondbacks’ system and also spent time with affiliates of the Philadelphia and Chicago White Sox systems.
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