Die Macht » The Angels havent won a playoff game since Pujols arrival and

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols had surgery on his right foot Friday, possibly sidelining him past opening day.Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Pujols had the procedure Friday in North Carolina to release his plantar fascia, the ligament connecting the heel to the toes. The three-time NL MVP was bothered by plantar fasciitis repeatedly during the season, but played through the pain in arguably the strongest year of his half-decade with the Angels.Eppler said the surgery typically prevents players from participating in baseball activities for three months, along with another month before theyre ready to resume playing in games. Opening day for Los Angeles is April 3, and the Angels hope Pujols can be ready.Hes at that point in his career where hes keenly aware of whats happening with his body, Eppler said in a phone interview. I dont put the timetable on Albert like you would with your younger players. Well just see in Alberts case, as he progresses, what his timetable is.Pujols, who turns 37 next month, batted .268 last year with 31 homers and 119 RBI, the fourth-most in the majors -- although his .780 OPS was among the worst of his career. He largely served as a designated hitter instead of playing first base due to problems with his hamstrings and feet.Pujols heads into 2017 with 591 career homers, ranking him ninth in major league history. He is 18 homers behind Sammy Sosa for eighth place.After playing in pain until the final week of the Angels disappointing season, Pujols began shock wave therapy on his foot early in the offseason, believing he wouldnt need surgery.But Pujols foot became more painful in recent weeks despite the therapy, and he huddled with the Angels top brass to decide on surgery after his most recent trip to see Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina. Continuing with conservative care would have required 10 more weeks, forcing Pujols to miss the first half of the 2017 season if he still required surgery.He just felt that the pain had gotten to a point where he was comfortable having surgery, Eppler said. If we did delay it, youre just looking at 2 1/2 more months into the season.Pujols had a different type of surgery on his right foot last winter, but recovered in time for opening day. He also had plantar fasciitis in his left foot during the 2013 season, eventually forcing him out for the year when his fascia snapped.Pujols has five years and $140 million remaining on the 10-year, $240 million free-agent contract that pried him out of St. Louis, where he won two World Series and became a nine-time NL All-Star.The Angels havent won a playoff game since Pujols arrival and Mike Trouts concurrent emergence as one of baseballs best players. They went 74-88 last season, the injury-plagued clubs worst record since 1999. Mike Bibby Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Marvin Bagley Kings Jersey . JOHNS, N. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/ . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Buddy Hield Kings Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Harry Giles Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night.The Washington Capitals signed unrestricted free agent forward Brandon Segal to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 30-year-old dressed for one game with the New York Rangers last season and spent his season with the AHL Connecticut Whale. In 73 games there he had 24 goals and 220 assists along with 82 penalty minutes.dddddddddddd The native of Richmond, B.C. will be joining his fifth NHL club. He has skated in 103 career games for Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Dallas and the Rangers. Segal was a fourth-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2002. ' ' '