PHOENIX — The winter story: Infielder Brandon Wood was sent home from Dominican Winter League ball after a slow start.
The story behind the story: The Angels say the winter ball club broke its promise to give Wood and their other prospects a long leash.
The aftermath: Angels coach Alfredo Griffin, the general manager of the Estrellas club, said he resigned in protest. Tony Reagins, the Angels' general manager, said he would be unlikely to send players to Estrellas in the future.
"We had the word of the club that, if we sent our players there, they would be more patient," Reagins said. "They started to lose games and got some external pressure, and they folded under pressure."
Winter ball is serious business in the Dominican Republic, where the short season commonly leads teams to cut players rather than wait out their slumps. Griffin, in his capacity as Estrellas general manager, and Reagins each said he received assurances from Estrellas ownership that Angels players would get a long look -- about 75 at-bats, Griffin said -- before anyone would be cut.
Wood got 48 at-bats, hitting .167. Catcher Bobby Wilson got 26 at-bats, hitting .154. Outfielder Reggie Willits got 26 at-bats, with one hit.
"We were losing, and they wanted to make changes," Griffin said. "I was disappointed. I didn't stay."
Reagins called it "very disappointing" that the Angels players were sent home so soon.
"We had the word of the owner that scenario would not take place, and it did," Reagins said. "We'll take steps to make sure that doesn't happen again."
Loux is back
Shane Loux last started in the major leagues six years ago, for the Detroit Tigers team that lost 119 games. Yet he is one of four candidates for the lone vacancy in the Angels' starting rotation, and he made his first spring start on Saturday. He pitched two shutout innings in a 5-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
"I got a special feeling when I was walking from the bullpen to the dugout," he said. "That's what it's like to start a major league game. There's nothing like it."
Loux said he thought his career was over when the Seattle Mariners cut him two years ago. He was coaching young players last year when a friend persuaded the Angels to give him a tryout. He was the Pacific Coast League's pitcher of the year, and now he has a second chance at the job he thought was gone forever.
