ST. LOUIS — Baseball players being the competitors that they are, it’s no surprise that the so-called “torpedo bats” that got so much attention this weekend will soon be coming to the Angels.
Interviews with a few Angels hitters on Monday left little doubt that orders were being placed for the new bats by curious players.
“Absolutely,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said when he asked if he’d try one.
Infielder Nicky López, who briefly experimented with one when he was in spring training with the Chicago Cubs earlier this year, said he thinks he and his teammates will give them a shot.
“I think there’s probably going to be more guys,” López said. “It takes a little time to get used to. … Who knows, maybe I’ll get a couple bat companies to make me one and I’ll try it again.”
Three-time American League MVP Mike Trout said he’s not inclined to switch, but he’s interested nonetheless.
“I’m going to stick with my bat, but I’ll definitely check it out, for sure,” Trout said.
The buzz began over the weekend when the New York Yankees scored 36 runs in three games, with 15 homers, with several players using the new bats.
They have come to be called “torpedo bats” because of the shape, which is slightly different from a regular bat because they are narrower at the end of the barrel. The tradeoff is that they are wider closer to the handle.
Simply enough, the bat puts more wood in the places where the hitter is more likely to hit the ball. The bats are legal as long as the widest point is not more than 2.61 inches in diameter.
“It makes sense,” Trout said. “If a guy is getting jammed all the time, move the barrel down. I think you get a lot more balls on the barrel or the label than you do off the end.”
The exact distribution of the weight, however, depends on each individual player. That’s why players won’t necessarily be able to order one of the new bats and use it right away.
“They need to figure out where to put the biggest diameter on the barrel,” d’Arnaud said. “It takes time to figure out where that spot is. It’s not something you can just call in and hope it’s a magic fix.”
HONORING FIRE FIGHTERS
When Kyren Paris hit a tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning on Sunday, he became the first player to get the opportunity to feature this year’s celebratory home run headgear.
It’s a fire helmet, which Trout said was to honor the firefighters who battled the devastating fires over the winter in Southern California.
Trout said the players will eventually sign the helmet and auction it off, with the proceeds going to charity.
“I know a firefighter personally, and I know what they go through,” Trout said. “I know what their families go through, and you see what people go through losing their house. I can’t even imagine what they’re going through. So anything we could do to give back, to show them support.”
Paris hit the Angels second homer of the season, but he got the first shot to wear the helmet because the Angels first homer of the season came when they were down by eight runs on Opening Day.
NOTES
Center fielder Jo Adell (left hip tightness) said he was feeling better on Monday, and he did a little running to test it. “He’s ready to go, but coming in here in the cold (in the 50s), we’ll give him one more day,” Manager Ron Washington said. “He’s ready to go. He’s available to pinch-hit. Tomorrow, I’ll have him back in center field.” …
When Adell is back, it means that Paris won’t be in center field. Paris can also play shortstop, but Washington said they don’t want to use him there unless there’s an emergency. They have Kevin Newman and Tim Anderson as their shortstops. “We want him to concentrate on the outfield,” Washington said. “We have guys to play shortstop right now.” …
Washington said on Sunday that Newman would play two games and Anderson would play two games, but he clarified on Monday that he wasn’t strictly talking about shortstop. Anderson started at second on Thursday at shortstop on Sunday, and Newman played shortstop on Thursday and Saturday. He said Anderson will still play some shortstop, though. …
Washington pulled his starting pitchers after 86, 73 and 64 pitches in the first three games. All were effective in the innings before they were removed. Yusei Kikuchi and Jack Kochanowicz went six innings apiece and José Soriano went seven. “It’s early in the season,” Washington said. “Especially when you’re playing a tight game, sometimes you’ve got to make a decision, and I’d rather make a decision earlier than have to make it later, to leave them out there and then something happens and I can’t stop it right there. Whoever we’re bringing in, we’re bringing them in to start the inning, and they have a fresh start, instead of having to bring them in with people all over the bags.” …
Left-hander José Quijada cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A. The Angels designated Quijada for assignment last week. …
The Angels acquired left-hander Jake Eder from the Chicago White Sox, in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. Eder was optioned to Triple-A. Eder, 26, pitched just two innings in the majors in his career, last season. He has a career 5.09 ERA in 53 minor league games, all of them as a starter. The Angels designated right-hander Michael Peterson for assignment to clear a spot for Eder on the 40-man roster.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Kyle Hendricks, 4-12, 5.92 ERA in 2024) at Cardinals (LHP Matthew Liberatore, 3-4, 4.40 in 2024), Tuesday, 4:45 p.m. PT, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM