ANAHEIM – When Mark Trumbo saw the newest novelty item being sold in the Angels’ team store appear in the dugout before the Angels played the Dodgers on Friday night, he laughed. As reporters and players passed around a foam hat in the shape of a trout with Mike Trout’s signature on it, Trumbo even grabbed it and inspected the new item.
While Trout is surely the biggest story on the Angels at the moment and the biggest reason for their turnaround, Trumbo has been every bit as important but he totally understands if he doesn’t get any foam hats or fingers with his signature on it in the team store any time soon.
“That’s fine,” said Trumbo, who is batting .324 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs this season.
Trumbo’s season may have come as a surprise to some but not Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who saw the potential of the 26-year old left fielder when he was in Triple-A.
“I think Mark even in the minor leagues showed the potential to do some of the things he’s been able to do in the major league,” Scioscia said. “Last year the power showed up. He’s a guy who can be a game-changer with one swing of the bat and that’s an important part of anybody’s lineup. I think this season he has taken it a step further with understanding the league a little better and understanding different situations. I think he has grown as offensive player but what he is doing right now is something he’s always had the potential to do. He’s been as good as anybody in our league.”
Here are lineups for Friday’s game, with the Angels facing Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley.
Dodgers
Dee Gordon SSJerry Hairston Jr. 2BAndre Ethier RFBobby Abreu DHJuan Rivera LFJames Loney 1BAdam Kennedy 3BA.J. Ellis CTony Gwynn Jr. CFChad Billingsley RHP (4-5, 3.75)
Angels
Mike Trout CFTorii Hunter RFAlbert Pujols 1BKendrys Morales DHMark Trumbo LFAlberto Callaspo 3BHowie Kendrick 2BErick Aybar SSBobby Wilson CDan Haren RHP (4-7, 3.97)
