Los Angeles Angels have barely broken camp at Spring Training in Tempe, but there is certainly no shortage of intrigue or storylines to watch through the first week.
Bill Plunkett at the Orange Country Register provided an update on Kendrys Morales on Thursday, who is attempting to return from a broken ankle that has kept him out of action since May of 2010.
"No pain, no soreness," was his response this morning when I asked him how his ankle was feeling.
After taking batting practice today, Morales ran a handful of low-intensity sprints on the outfield grass of one of the minor-league fields. The Angels trainers have him doing that every other day. Morales said he runs inside on the treadmill on the days when he doesn't run outside.
Earl Bloom, also of the Register, posted another update on Thursday running down the few bits of Angels Spring Training controversies that have come out in the past week. On the first point, that of Albert Pujols objecting to billboards proclaiming him "El Hombre," Bloom admits it will blow over in short order and will be a quick fix.
As to the other point, that of Bobby Abreu requesting a trade if he will not be a regular in 2012, well...that one is not so easily remedied. Here's Bloom's take:
But for him to be 2012 regular, Kendrys Morales' latest comeback has to fail, along with one of the following: A disabling injury to (pick one) Pujols, Mark Trumbo, Torii Hunter or Vernon Wells.
Otherwise, no matter how Manager Mike Scioscia styles it, Abreu is not going to be a regular this season.
He could have been for the Yankees again, if Mrs. A.J. Burnett could handle flying. So, in the event of twin disasters already mentioned not hitting the Angels, they're going to have to find another team for Abreu, if he can't come off the bench.
It seems that with the stacked roster this year -- and provided the early news doesn't put Morales out for yet another year -- Abreu may soon find a new home.
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