It is being reported around the sports media today that the Los Angeles Angels have announced their 2011 Opening Day Roster. The Halos will open up the season Thrusday night against the Kansas City Royals. The announcement of Jered Weaver as the opening day pitcher would only be surprising if it surprised anyone at all. What did surprise me and pleasantly surprise me is the Return of King Conger to Anaheim. Like any good blogger, I have a story about Conger from last year. I have a friend who is a friend to the Conger family and shared with me some plans that fell through. Last year, Hank Conger along with Mark Trumbo, were scheduled to meat up with Hank's father in Las Vegas to celebrate a successful season in Salt Lake. With reservations finalized and transportation planned, a phone call changed all that. Both Conger and Trumbo had to post-pone their post season vacation to report to Anaheim as they were called up when the roster expanded in the Fall. Needless to say it was a proud moment for the Conger family to see their son playing in the big league, in Anaheim. Conger's contribution in the late fall wasn't anything awe inspiring, but was nice to see a home grown prospect, a local boy, getting his shot. Conger, was first introduced to the Angels, as their first-round pick in 2005. In reality, Conger could be expendable when one of the six players starting the season on the disable list return. Because of his brief time in the Minors, Conger still has plenty of options that make him a likely candidate to be moved back to Salt Lake when Morales or Pinerio return to the line ups. But in the mean time, I'll be rooting hard for King Conger to give Scioscia another difficult question to make. Conger joins Bobby Wilson and Jeff Mathis, both have had very respectable Springs. Last year Scioscia ran the team with three catchers, which was a blessing when Mathis and later Wilson both spent time on the DL, while Napoli filled in at first for Morales.
