There are many ways to press a panic button and it appears that Angels manager Mike Trout pressed it when he made out the lineup card before Thursday night's game.
The batting order:
- Alberto Callaspo 3B
- Mike Trout LF
- Albert Pujols 1B
- Josh Hamilton RF
- Mark Trumbo DH
- Howie Kendrick 2B
- Chris Iannetta C
- Peter Bourjos CF
- Andrew Romine SS
...and Jason Vargas SP
In addition ot the radical departure from the preseason script that this indicates, a few other noticeable tweaks appear. Switch-hitting Callaspo means a lefty bat is leads off but the Scioscia preference of Righty-Lefty-Righty is gone, as this lineup against a right-handed pitcher would be L-RR-L-RR.
Additionally, Peter Bourjos is out of the #9 hole and elevated up to the eighth spot with infield replacement Andrew Romine at the bottom of the order. Romine is only in the lineup because of Erick Aybar's bruised heel. Romine switched his jersey number to #7 prior to this season (he wore 18 last year), previously worn by ex-batting coach and Scioscia confidant Mickey Hatcher.
Tonight will be the first time an Angels player starts a game wearing jersey #7 since Andy Sheets was in the starting lineup for the final game of the season - October 3, 1999. His manager that night: Joe Maddon.