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Smith’s focus on regaining form, not trade talk
- Updated: July 19, 2016
ANAHEIM — When Angels reliever Joe Smith came on to handle the ninth inning of an 8-1 series-finale victory over the White Sox on Sunday, it looked to be an innocuous appearance in a meaningless situation.
It was much more than that. Smith is still trying to find his way back after coming off the disabled list July 1. His left hamstring, which held him out for most of June, feels fine. His performance since coming off the DL — a 7.94 ERA in six appearances entering Monday — indicates that he’s a work in progress. To get back on track, he’ll have to find his way in outings much like Sunday.
“I don’t care if it’s 8-1 or 11-0 and we’re winning or we’re losing, I need to pitch,” Smith said. “I need to figure out what the [heck]’s going on… I just need to get back to being me.”
When Smith came back, the club opened its 10-game road trip with an exhausted, inexperienced bullpen. Smith was fresh and has plenty of experience, though the results weren’t what he expected.
“I felt good,” Smith said of the decision to come off the DL. “I felt healthy. I just figured that if I’m healthy and the bullpen’s kind of gassed, maybe I can come in and help. I’ll …
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