Maicer Izturis

  CLEVELAND -- The Angels can't hit, most of their relief pitchers can't get anyone out, and now it seems they can't catch a break. With two on, two outs and no score in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday, Angels right fielder Torii Hunter lost Asdrubal Cabrera's routine fly in the sun, the ball dropping for a two-run error that sent the Cleveland Indians toward 4-0 victory in Progressive Field. Cleveland right-hander Derek Lowe went through the Angels lineup like a chainsaw through kindling, giving up three hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings, striking out one and walking two. The Angels threatened in the eighth inning, loading the bases with two outs when Maicer Izturis walked and Chris Iannetta singled off Lowe, and reliever Vinnie Pestano walked Mike Trout.

CLEVELAND -- The Angels and Bobby Abreu parted ways Friday night when the 38-year-old outfielder was released following a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians, but Manager Mike Scioscia doesn't think the game has seen the last of the 17-year veteran. “I don't believe it's the end for Bobby,” Scioscia said Saturday. “One thing he really has is a passion for the game. If he gets in a situation where he can get some playing time and perform at a little higher level, by the time it's said and done, this guy is going to get Hall of Fame consideration.” Abreu, a native of Venezuela, is one of four players with at least 500 doubles, 250 home runs and 350 stolen bases.

Too much of a good thing is not a good thing. Too much hot fudge can spoil the sundae. A current case in point is your Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. We have been giddy since owner Arte Moreno and his TV partners bought Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. Baseball fans and sportswriters love to win World Series on paper, and these two seemed to put the Angels under the bright lights in late October. But did they? Pujols is not the problem. Waiting for his first homer as an Angel is a sideshow.

The Angels position players took the field Thursday night with an old-school, slump-busting kind of look, their bright white uniform pants pulled to their kneecaps and their red socks worn high. Considering how that worked, they may resort to sacrificing a live chicken or tossing their bats into a pile and starting a bonfire Friday. Albert Pujols mashed three doubles, but the Angels failed to cash in on too many chances, stranding two runners in five of nine innings and going three for 12 with runners in scoring position in a 4-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium.

It's not typical baseball strategy to reduce the playing time of a 26-year-old, second-year major leaguer who accounted for 29 homers and 87 runs batted in as a rookie. But that seems to be what's happening to Mark Trumbo . The Angels sat Trumbo for a second straight game Tuesday, starting Alberto Callaspo at third base and underlining the point that the slugger's conversion from first base to third is still a work in progress. "I understood I wouldn't be playing every day, and that's what's playing out," Trumbo said after an extended practice session of fielding ground balls as infield coach Alfredo Griffin and Manager Mike Scioscia watched.

NEW YORK — Jerome Williams did a great job Sunday night of blocking out all the distractions he knew would come with making his Yankee Stadium debut on Jackie Robinson Day in a prime-time game televised nationally by ESPN. Then the second inning started. The Angels right-hander breezed through the first inning, needing 15 pitches to retire Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez, but he took a nose-dive over the next 12/3 innings, giving up five runs, five hits and three walks.

NEW YORK -- The Angels got some good news regarding their bullpen Friday. General Manager Jerry Dipoto said an MRI test on Scott Downs' injured right ankle showed no significant damage, and the team's best reliever will not have to go on the disabled list. Downs, who twisted the ankle and had it stepped on while covering first base in the seventh inning of Thursday's 10-9 loss to the Minnesota Twins, was listed as day to day, and the left-hander is doubtful for this weekend's series in Yankee Stadium.

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Downs hobbled out of the visiting clubhouse on crutches Thursday, symbolic of an Angels bullpen that was battered and bruised in a 10-9 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. With veteran right-handers LaTroy Hawkins and Jason Isringhausen unavailable because they were sore after pitching the night before, Hisanori Takahashi, Kevin Jepsen and Rich Thompson were tagged for seven runs and 10 hits as the Angels coughed up a six-run, fifth-inning lead. The last time the Angels surrendered a six-run lead and lost was on May 14, 1994, when they had a 7-0 lead against Seattle and lost, 10-7.

TEMPE, Ariz. - After the final out in their final Cactus League game Sunday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium, an 8-1 exhibition loss to the Chicago Cubs, Angels players deserted the clubhouse, packed bags in tow. They're off to the Southland for a three-game Freeway Series with the Dodgers that begins Monday and for opening day Friday at home against Kansas City. Ace Jered Weaver probably will start against the Royals. Against the Cubs, in his final tuneup, Weaver gave up eight hits and three runs in six innings, with all the runs coming in his final inning.

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — Maybe it's because he's in a contract drive, or maybe he's feeling a little heat from below, but Angels shortstop Erick Aybar is off to a strong start this spring. Aybar had two hits, including a leadoff double in the first inning, and scored a run in the Angels' 6-3 exhibition loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The leadoff batter has four hits in eight at-bats in three games. Aybar, 28, will become a free agent after this season unless the Angels sign him to a long-term contract, but negotiations, which began in January, have not yielded an agreement.