Mike Butcher's recovery from cancer boosts Los Angeles Angel’s confidence – MLB News
Mike Butcher, pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels is reported to be feeling good after recovering from a cancerous growth on the thyroid gland. The 45-year-old Butcher appeared confident after starting his fifth season as the pitching coach to the
Angels.
Butcher expressed his gratitude for the support and care that he was given by the fans and the organisation. His recovery from cancer has fired up the Angels and brought some much needed confidence into the team before the regular season begins.
Mike said, "The cancer is gone. The [thyroid] margins were negative, all clear. They took 14 lymph nodes and examined them and they all came back clear. My energy feels good. I feel normal for the most part."
The Angels are taking Butcher’s recovery as a good sign for them during Spring Training. His impact on the team is enormous and his return is being welcomed by the club. The team understands his importance if they are to get anywhere during Spring Training
and the subsequently the regular season as well.
Los Angeles is a tremendously talented team which has the capability and the players to go all the way to the World Series this year. As most of the emphasis of the team’s performance can be attributed to their pitching line-up, Butcher can take credit for
their good performance.
The team is very excited that Butcher has returned healthy and cancer-free. Butcher is also excited to be back and in good spirits.
"Seeing the guys was the big thing. I couldn't wait to get back out here," Butcher said. "Everybody here has been great about letting me work myself back ... Mike [Scioscia, manager], Tony [Reagins, general manager], Tim [Mead, vice president, communications].
They all said, 'Just chill, it'll all be all right.'”
It will be interesting to see what impact the return of Butcher will have on the Angels as they are getting set to start Spring Training. His dynamic coaching skills and fierce competitive spirit is an inspiration for the team. The Angels will be looking
to put in a decent performance during the spring session to get some valuable game-time for some of their younger players.
The Angels are a top tier team with some immense talent in their line-up. Spring Training will give ample opportunity for the team to finalise their pitching rotation and take their game to the next level. The return of Butcher will help build some confidence
in the team and be a source of inspiration as they take on the top teams in the league.
With Opening Day a few weeks away, the Angels will be looking to dominate early and win as many games as they can.
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