作者hlpascer (HL)
看板Angels
標題A brand "NEW" Angel in the outfield
時間Sun May 15 13:39:25 2005
A brand 'new' Angel in the outfield
It took Prieto 12 years to make it to the Majors
By Mike Scarr / MLB.com
DETROIT --
It was worth the wait.
In his 13th Minor League season, Chris Prieto got the call that every
prospect dreams of getting: He's going to the show.
With the placement of Kelvim Escobar on the 15-day disabled list, the Angels
opted for Prieto to fill the spot on the roster and provide coverage in the
outfield.
At 32, it's a stretch to be referred to as a prospect, but Prieto would be
happy at 42 or even 52 to get the call. He's just glad it came.
"It is just amazing; it is an unbelievable feeling," Prieto said. "It is a
dream come true."
Prieto was hitting .279 with six doubles, two triples and a homer over 25
games at Triple-A Salt Lake. But over the last few days, Prieto had been
mostly sitting around as two games were rained out in Tacoma and a third in
Salt Lake.
The call was an unexpected, yet welcome one, and he immediately phoned his
wife, Kara, who became so emotional Prieto said he told her that he would
Through it all it kept his dream alive.
"If you love to play the game, you're not going to hang them up because of
the way your career is working out," Prieto said. "You have to remember why
you're playing this game and the love you have for it at any level."
Prieto said his greatest fear was later on, during one of those
taking-stock-of-one's-life moments, if he didn't follow through.
"I'd be sitting around in some bar four, five years from now and asking
myself why I didn't stick it out," Prieto said. "You have to keep playing and
keep playing and make them pull the uniform off, [so] at the end you don't
have any regrets."
His trip to the Majors may seem providential, but manager Mike Scioscia
believes all of the credit should be given to Prieto.
"You always like to see guys achieve, but the bottom line is he achieved
himself," Scioscia said.
Prieto had his best season in 2001 with Triple-A Las Vegas when he hit .291
with 27 doubles, 19 homers and 58 RBIs. He also swiped 25 bags that year, and
has stolen 314 bases in his Minor League career. With Steve Finley nursing a
sore groin, Prieto adds depth in center and provides speed off the bench.
The Angels will have a decision to make in their rotation when Escobar's turn
comes up Tuesday. Scioscia has said he's considering reliever/spot starter
Kevin Gregg, but that also Chris Bootcheck, Dustin Moseley in Triple-A Salt
Lake and even Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders in Double-A Arkansas are under
consideration.
But Prieto is not looking that far ahead. He's not even waiting to see what
tomorrow brings. The one thing he wants to do is put on the uniform, go out
for stretch and then sit on the bench and hope his number is called.
"The affection these guys have been showing toward me has been great," said
Prieto, who was forced to wait an extra day when Friday's game in Detroit was
rained out. "While I'm here I'll try to do the best I can."
Give our oldest rookie a big hand! :)
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※ 編輯: hlpascer 來自: 218.184.24.52 (05/15 13:42)
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