Life Steps Foundation Inc. – 2013 Life Steps Foundation's Doodle for Disabilities
Auction Ends: Oct 20, 2013 11:59 PM EDT

Memorabilia

Game-used signed baseball by Michael Roth

Item Number
132
Estimated Value
50 USD
Opening Bid
13 USD

Item Description

Michael Roth made 15 appearances for the Angels this year.

Michael Roth made 15 appearances for the Angels this year. (Mark Wagner/Arkansas Travelers)

Left-hander Michael Roth and Arkansas pitching coach Mike Hampton spent the month of August trying to clean up the pitcher's mechanics. After a month of bullpens and instructions, the tweaks stuck for Roth -- which turned out to be convenient timing for the postseason.

The Angels prospect was stellar in his second playoff start Wednesday, helping the Travelers even the Texas League Championship Series at a game apiece with a 1-0 Game 2 win over San Antonio.

Roth logged seven four-hit innings, striking out two and walking one. He was pulled after 84 pitches and lowered his postseason ERA to 0.64. The hurler threw first-pitch strikes to 11 consecutive batters at one point betwen the first inning and the fourth.

"He's cleaned up his mechanics quite a bit," Arkansas manager Tim Bogar said. "He was working with our pitching coach here ... on staying over the rubber a little longer, giving him a chance to get his arm extended toward the plate to execute better.

"He's been working hard on that, and the last two starts have been exactly what he's been looking for. I give him all the credit in the world for being open to what Mike was trying to teach him."

Bogar tabbed Roth for the opener of Arkansas' first-round series against Tulsa, and the southpaw pitched seven innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with five strikeouts and a walkin an 8-3 victory.

The Angels' 2012 ninth-round Draft pick began the season with the Travelers, but was called up to the Major Leagues in June. He made 15 appearances -- 14 in relief -- with the Angels, logging a 7.20 ERA with 17 strikeouts and six walks in 20 innings.

He returned to Double-A on July 27 and that's when he and Hampton went to work on correcting his mechanics. For the season, Roth made 17 appearances -- 15 starts, compiling a 4.20 ERA for Arkansas.

"The more consistent he gets with it, the more times he goes out there, he's going to be able to repeat everything," Bogar said. "I feel like if he continues on that development path that he's on right now, he can help a Major League team as a starter."

 

 

www.travs.comLAA

The Arkansas Travelers Team is the Double-A Team of the Los Angeles Angels. For more information on The Travelers, go here.

Item Special Note

Item will ship within five days after the close of the auction to the address you provide.  Shipping and handling is additional $5.75. This cost is not included in the final bid and will be applied separately.