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Saunders makes his mark
Joe Saunders won eight games in 18 starts for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the 2007 Major League Baseball season, but he was never able to cement his spot in the rotation, making several trips down to triple-A Salt Lake throughout the year. He entered this past offseason with a renewed focus, determined to show manager Mike Scioscia that he belonged with the big league club."My mindset was to work my tail off in the offseason," said Saunders, who graduated from West Springfield High School in 1999. "I started working out and throwing earlier. In my mind, I said, 'Hey, this is your year. Do everything you can to get it in [the coaches'] minds that I should be on this team.'"
Saunders' workout regimen included a stint at the Athletes' Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., which prepared the 6-foot-3, 210-pound left-hander to battle for the Angels' fifth starter position in spring training. Injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar thrust Saunders into the spotlight earlier than expected, however, and it does not appear that he is eager to relinquish his starting role.
As of Monday, Saunders was 12-5 with an ERA of 3.05 in 19 starts in 2008, having struck out 64 batters in 127 innings. His 12 wins led the American League at the All-Star break and earned Saunders his first selection to the All-Star team.
"It was an amazing feeling," said Saunders, who held the National League scoreless in his one inning of work last Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. "Once I got over the nerves of the whole atmosphere, it was a great experience."
It's been a long road for Saunders, who began as a catcher in Little League before moving to the mound and going 11-0 as a junior to lead West Springfield to a state title in 1998. He went on to star at Virginia Tech, developing a changeup along the way, and was drafted 12th overall by the Angels in the 2002 MLB first-year player draft.
"The key for Joe was that he just continued to get better every year," said Ron Tugwell, who coached Saunders both in youth leagues and at West Springfield. "He's had to earn it. He takes everything in stride. That's what makes him so good."
Tugwell described Saunders as "unflappable" on the mound, a characteristic that the pitcher admits has helped him get through tough times early in his professional career.
"My attitude is that regardless of whether I'm pitching well or awful, you're not going to get to me or know how I'm feeling," said Saunders, who grew up idolizing fellow left-hander Tom Glavine. "I try to stay as even keel as I can. Emotions are running through my blood, but on the outside I try to be a rock."
Saunders has had a lot on his mind lately off the field – he and his wife Shanel had their first child, daughter Mattea, on July 13 – but he has not lost sight of his ultimate goal.
"I want to stay healthy and help my team win a world championship," he said.
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