Angels' preaching patience to struggling Wood

Mamba · Apr 19, 2010

Two weeks into his first season as a big-league regular, Brandon Wood has found frustration much easier to handle than major-league pitching.

Even after committing two errors on consecutive plays Saturday and watching his batting average shrink to .088, Brandon Wood said he is dealing with disappointment just as well as he was a week ago when he told reporters amiably, "It might be hard to believe, but my head's not all jammed up with a bunch of negative stuff."

"Nothing's changed," Wood said before Sunday's game, in the lineup again despite his struggles. "Yesterday was frustrating. Joe (Saunders) had a chance to throw a shutout, looking back on it, and you hate to let your team down, let your pitcher down. But I tried to take that frustration into my at-bats as far as really trying to compete up there and do something to help the team.

"But I wasn't sitting there with those negative thoughts, 'Oh, my career is over.'"

That career is off to an awfully rocky start, though. Angels manager Mike Scioscia resisted the urge to bench Wood after Saturday's troubles on offense and defense (even as Maicer Izturis quietly chafes on the bench). Wood was back in the lineup and went 1 for 4 Sunday with an infield single and a fly out to the warning track in straightaway center field – enough to raise his average to .105.

"Sometimes, there's a patience that's needed," Scioscia said. "There are some things Brandon brings even when he's not killing it with the bat and we think he will contribute in ways we need – maybe not to the fullest of what his potential says he can right away. But this guy is going to break through.

"We're going to try to maintain that balance to where he's moving forward, maintaining his confidence but we'll let him take a breather mentally if it gets to the point where it's too much of a grind."

As he did throughout spring training, Scioscia continues to insist there is "no finite number" of games or at-bats that represents a breaking point for that patience.

"Brandon's career isn't going to be defined in 100 at-bats – where you would say, 'He's 50 for 100 he's going to be terrific' or 'He's 5 for 100, he's not going to be the player you thought. That's absolutely wrong," Scioscia said.

Wood's teammates continue to support him but veteran Torii Hunter said there has to be some distance because "It can get into his head – just let him play his game and take his lumps."

"I'm getting advice from guys here and there who have gone through their own struggles," Wood said. "Other guys give me space to let me figure it out for myself.

"I've got to figure it out on my own. This is my career and my opportunity. I'm still confident I can go out there and play the game. This isn't the end of the world for me."
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http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=244622

Mamba · Apr 19, 2010

Wood has been struggling, but it is going to take time for him to adjust to the MLB level. If you look @ his career, he has always struggled at every level @ first. If he is still struggling come the end of June, we might have a problem. Outside of 1 game, his defense has been pretty damn good. As long as he is playing good D, let him get comfortable @ the plate, please.

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Angels' preaching patience to struggling Wood

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Angels' preaching patience to struggling Wood

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