Michael Roth knew exactly what to expect a year ago.
Last May, he was getting ready for another run through the NCAA Tournament with South Carolina. Roth, a 23-year-old left-hander, helped lead the Gamecocks to three consecutive trips to the College World Series, winning it twice.
The week leading up to an NCAA regional usually involved two-a-day practices because he and his teammates never seemed to have good finishes to the regular season or in the SEC Tournament.
“We normally were coming off a really crappy weekend,” he said.
This year he’s learned not to set expectations, or even plan more than a week in advance.
Roth’s first two months in the Los Angeles Angels organization - he was a ninth round pick last June - have been about as unpredictable as anything he’s gone through.
He broke spring training at Class AA Arkansas thinking he’d probably spend most of the year with the Travelers. Then he made one start with Arkansas, pitching five scoreless innings April 9, before being called up to the Angels four days later.
He spent 17 days with the Angels, making seven appearances and one start before being sent back to Arkansas. He pitched twice for the Travs, then went back to the Angels when reliever Scott Downs suffered a rib injury. He pitched twice more for the Angels before returning again to Arkansas on May 15.
“It was very much of a surprise,” he said of the early call-up. “Then I was all back and forth.”
He can’t really be sure, but Roth thinks he’ll be in Arkansas for at least a few weeks this time.
Travelers Manager Tim Bogar said he thinks Roth has handled it about as well as could be expected, considering he’s been moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen at both places in addition to his swapping between levels.
“He’s had a lot thrown at him, from pitching in [Class A] last year to going to pitch in the big leagues, but I think he’s done a good job with it,” Bogar said. “He’s got the personality that I think can handle it.”
Bogar said he believes Roth will stick with the Angels eventually - “This guy can get some big-league hitters out,” he said - but his task now is mixing his fastball, change-up and slider effectively enough to do so consistently.
In his nine appearances with the Angels, he had four scoreless outings. But he gave up five runs in his lone start against the Rangers, three runs in a relief appearance against the Athletics and four runs against the Royals.
That’s why he’s back in the Travs’ rotation. His future might be in the bullpen, but he’ll get more innings as a starter, allowing him work on using his fastball to set up his change-up, and his change-up to set up his fastball or slider.
“He gets it,” Bogar said. “He understands there was a role for him, there was a need, he went and filled it, and he knows that he’s here to work now.”
Class AA, where he is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 18 innings, can at times seem a long way from the big leagues. He’s now on the Angels’ 40-man roster, which brings a bigger salary, and he was even given a suit by slugger Albert Pujols on one road trip (he left it in Los Angeles when he came back to Arkansas).
It can seem a long way from where he’s been the past three years, too, pitching in front of big crowds in the College World Series for the Gamecocks. His postseason success garnered him a bit of celebrity status not bestowed on many college pitchers.
Bogar knew who Roth was before the Angels drafted him and before he was even employed by the organization.
“Yeah, there are ESPN cameras in your face playing college baseball,” he said. “And not much here, obviously.”
He said he’s signed a couple of autographs this year for Gamecocks fans, but he’s OK with being somewhat of an unknown for now. He’s more worried about finding a path back to the Angels and sticking there.
“I knew who Michael was, and I know what he does,” Bogar said. “But the bottom line is, it’s a different ball game, different bats, different hitters, and once you get here there’s adjustments to be made.
“That’s part of the growing process, and he’s doing a good job with it.”
Today’s game ARKANSAS VS. CORPUS CHRISTI WHEN 7:10 p.m.
WHERE Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas WEBSITE travs.com PITCHERS Travelers: Brandon Hynick (RHP, 4-3, 3.46 ERA); Hooks: Bobby Doran (RHP, 6-1, 3.56) or Nick Tropeano (RHP, 1-3, 3.93).
TICKETS Gates open 1 hour before game. Tickets are $12 box, $8 reserved ($5 children); $6 general admission ($4 children).
PROMOTIONS Fireworks show following the game.
SHORT HOPS Thursday’s game with the San Antonio Missions was cancelled because of rain and will not be made up.
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.
SUNDAY Corpus Christi, 2:10 p.m.
MONDAY Off TUESDAY at Springfield, 7:09 p.m.
WEDNESDAY at Springfield, 7:09 p.m.
THURSDAY at Springfield, 7:09 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES Frisco 1-0, Springfield 0-6 Midland 5, Tulsa 4, 10 innings Corpus Christi 5, NW Arkansas 0 San Antonio at Arkansas, ccd., rain
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central San Antonio at NW Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Springfield at Midland, 7 p.m.
Tulsa at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Springfield at Midland, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at NW Arkansas, 7 p.m.
Tulsa at Frisco, 7:05 p.m.
Corpus Christi at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 25 on 05/31/2013