Now don't everyone line up for his services ...
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The struggling Los Angeles Angels placed veteran infielder Edgardo Alfonzo on waivers Saturday for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release, and recalled right-hander Jason Bulger from Triple-A Salt Lake.
The 32-year-old Alfonzo, an NL All-Star with the New York Mets in 2000, batted only .100 in 18 games for the Angels, going 5-for-50. He was acquired from the San Francisco Giants last December for outfielder Steve Finley.
"Edgardo still can play. He's an extraordinary professional," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before his team faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a three-game series.
"It was tough on him, his role wasn't something he was used to," Scioscia said. "It was tough to produce. I'm sure he's going to get an opportunity to play elsewhere."
Alfonzo went 0-for-2 Friday night in his final game with the Angels, hitting a grounder to shortstop in the ninth to drive in a meaningless run in a 16-3 loss. That turned out to be his only RBI this year.
"I don't think it makes sense for them to pay me that kind of money to go down to Triple-A," Alfonzo said. "They've been good to me. They gave me an opportunity to try to find a team that would like to have me.
"I felt like part of this team and I tried to keep guys positive here, even when I wasn't in the lineup. It's a great group of guys here."
Alfonzo said he was under the impression he would get an opportunity to play more than he did.
"But they have a lot of great players here, so it was kind of hard at the beginning to see action," he said. "It's too bad it didn't work out the way it was supposed to.
"I still believe in myself and I still believe I can play. But it's tough when you're used to playing every day, and then you're playing every five or six days or sitting there for seven innings and then coming in to hit. My body is used to playing every day."
The Angels had lost 15 of 20 to fall eight games below .500, and were batting just .247 as a team -- the third-lowest average in the majors. They've had to play extended stretches without first-stringers Darin Erstad, Juan Rivera, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman.
The pitching has been shaky as well, with the two-time defending AL West champions having to go without reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon most of the year. They've gotten a string of poor performances from free-agent acquisition Jeff Weaver.
"It's obvious the last three weeks the level of our play wasn't where it needs to be," Scioscia said. "The results just aren't there. We have to keep going. If you're going to get through a schedule, you have to have depth. Our depth hasn't emerged.
"Our goal hasn't changed this year. We're still capable of reaching our goal."
Scioscia said the Angels tried to improve their offense during the offseason.
"The things that were proposed were going to be idiotic for us to move forward with," he said. "We're still looking for a bat."
The 27-year-old Bulger, a first-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, was 1-1 with 1.53 ERA in 14 games with three saves for Salt Lake. He appeared in nine games for the Diamondbacks last season.
"Right now, we might just need some innings from him in the middle," Scioscia said. "He has the upside to pitch at the back end of the bullpen. He's got that kind of stuff."
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The struggling Los Angeles Angels placed veteran infielder Edgardo Alfonzo on waivers Saturday for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release, and recalled right-hander Jason Bulger from Triple-A Salt Lake.
The 32-year-old Alfonzo, an NL All-Star with the New York Mets in 2000, batted only .100 in 18 games for the Angels, going 5-for-50. He was acquired from the San Francisco Giants last December for outfielder Steve Finley.
"Edgardo still can play. He's an extraordinary professional," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before his team faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a three-game series.
"It was tough on him, his role wasn't something he was used to," Scioscia said. "It was tough to produce. I'm sure he's going to get an opportunity to play elsewhere."
Alfonzo went 0-for-2 Friday night in his final game with the Angels, hitting a grounder to shortstop in the ninth to drive in a meaningless run in a 16-3 loss. That turned out to be his only RBI this year.
"I don't think it makes sense for them to pay me that kind of money to go down to Triple-A," Alfonzo said. "They've been good to me. They gave me an opportunity to try to find a team that would like to have me.
"I felt like part of this team and I tried to keep guys positive here, even when I wasn't in the lineup. It's a great group of guys here."
Alfonzo said he was under the impression he would get an opportunity to play more than he did.
"But they have a lot of great players here, so it was kind of hard at the beginning to see action," he said. "It's too bad it didn't work out the way it was supposed to.
"I still believe in myself and I still believe I can play. But it's tough when you're used to playing every day, and then you're playing every five or six days or sitting there for seven innings and then coming in to hit. My body is used to playing every day."
The Angels had lost 15 of 20 to fall eight games below .500, and were batting just .247 as a team -- the third-lowest average in the majors. They've had to play extended stretches without first-stringers Darin Erstad, Juan Rivera, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman.
The pitching has been shaky as well, with the two-time defending AL West champions having to go without reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon most of the year. They've gotten a string of poor performances from free-agent acquisition Jeff Weaver.
"It's obvious the last three weeks the level of our play wasn't where it needs to be," Scioscia said. "The results just aren't there. We have to keep going. If you're going to get through a schedule, you have to have depth. Our depth hasn't emerged.
"Our goal hasn't changed this year. We're still capable of reaching our goal."
Scioscia said the Angels tried to improve their offense during the offseason.
"The things that were proposed were going to be idiotic for us to move forward with," he said. "We're still looking for a bat."
The 27-year-old Bulger, a first-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, was 1-1 with 1.53 ERA in 14 games with three saves for Salt Lake. He appeared in nine games for the Diamondbacks last season.
"Right now, we might just need some innings from him in the middle," Scioscia said. "He has the upside to pitch at the back end of the bullpen. He's got that kind of stuff."
