http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/players/hank_conger/41228 Recent articles about Hank Conger en-us From Little League up through the professional ranks coaches always tell their players to run it out; to never say die. You never know when fate and luck (good for you or bad for the other team) will intervene and give you that extra second or two needed to make it down the base line. Angels catcher Hank Conger must have listened, because even though he stumbled on this play he was still able to make it! Your browser does not support iframes. Mon, 06 May 2013 12:42:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/los_angeles_angels_catcher_hank_conger_proves_why_you_never_say_die/13560092 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/los_angeles_angels_catcher_hank_conger_proves_why_you_never_say_die/13560092 Los Angeles Angels Catcher Hank Conger Proves Why You Never Say Die http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/los_angeles_angels_catcher_hank_conger_proves_why_you_never_say_die/13560092 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f22db439e18e24114935e01f2d201c5ec0b0cb06/mini/6013188.jpg via MLB.com video You know variations of the line, “He could have fallen down, gotten back up and still beaten it out”?  Well, Angels catcher Hank Conger did just that.  On Sunday, the Orioles were defending the left-handed hitting Conger with a hefty infield shift swung around toward first base.  Manny Machado, the O’s third baseman was playing where the shortstop is normally positioned and the other three infielders were set up on the right side of second base. Awesomely (and intelligently), Conger dropped a bunt down the third base line.  Knowing he had no shot at throwing him out, Machado putzed in and picked up the ball to stop Conger from stretching it into a double.  (Of course he wasn’t going to stretch it into a double.) Anyway, check out Conger tumbling, getting up and still getting to first without a throw. Mon, 06 May 2013 12:01:40 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/angels_catcher_hank_conger_falls_down_and_goes_boom_still_beats_out_infield_single_video/13559573 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/angels_catcher_hank_conger_falls_down_and_goes_boom_still_beats_out_infield_single_video/13559573 Angels catcher Hank Conger falls down and goes boom; still beats out infield single (VIDEO) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/angels_catcher_hank_conger_falls_down_and_goes_boom_still_beats_out_infield_single_video/13559573 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/5/d5f269252973e134a5befe71355acba3e5fbaccc/mini/5547812.jpg Hank Conger is in his fourth MLB season, but has hardly made a name for himself. The Angels catcher has been with the team his entire big-league career, but Saturday’s game against the Orioles might stick out in his mind in the future. Conger showed his graceful nature in the bottom of the eighth inning of Saturday’s game. The Orioles were playing a shift defensively, and Conger dropped a bunt toward third base. On his way to first base, Conger was tripped up by an invisible dirt monster, did a forward tumble and still made it to first base safely. Check out the play in the GIF below. Photo via MLBGifs Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Hank Conger Sun, 05 May 2013 22:31:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/angels_catcher_hank_conger_stumbles_tumbles_on_way_to_first_base_animation/13556663 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/angels_catcher_hank_conger_stumbles_tumbles_on_way_to_first_base_animation/13556663 Angels Catcher Hank Conger Stumbles, Tumbles on Way to First Base (Animation) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/angels_catcher_hank_conger_stumbles_tumbles_on_way_to_first_base_animation/13556663 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/5/358d79662a149f6d2619db71b1bfb2b99d324660/mini/5547872.jpg With his team down two late in their Saturday game against the Orioles, Angels DH/C Hank Conger knew he had to get on base any way possible in order to generate some a scoring chance. With Baltimore playing the shift against the lefty pull hitter, Conger did what most ballplayers should do against the shift but choose not to…he bunted. Beautifully I might add, a for sure single to the empty left side of the infield. Except that Conger muddled things up a tad with his bumbling, stumbling, nearly fatal base running to first. He was safe, but damn if he didn’t make it interesting. Here’s Conger’s hilarious base running gaffe  (via MLB.com)… Gravity can be a ***** sometimes. The post Angels’ Hank Conger had the most awkwardly hilarious bunt single ever appeared first on Last Angry Fan. Sun, 05 May 2013 22:15:32 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/angels_hank_conger_had_the_most_awkwardly_hilarious_bunt_single_ever/13556606 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/angels_hank_conger_had_the_most_awkwardly_hilarious_bunt_single_ever/13556606 Angels’ Hank Conger had the most awkwardly hilarious bunt single ever http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/angels_hank_conger_had_the_most_awkwardly_hilarious_bunt_single_ever/13556606 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f22db439e18e24114935e01f2d201c5ec0b0cb06/mini/6013188.jpg Hank Conger somehow still made it safely to first on the below video, and we have no clue how. Conger put down a perfect surprise bunt down the third-base line, but as he took off to first he tripped and fell to the ground. In a very athletic move he did a double barrel roll and continued to first base. We are unsure what Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was doing to allow Conger to reach base safely, but we will just leave that alone. Your browser does not support iframes. [Cut 4] Article found on: Next Impulse Sports Sun, 05 May 2013 11:52:56 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/when_baserunnning_goes_wrong/13554071 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/when_baserunnning_goes_wrong/13554071 When Baserunnning Goes Wrong http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/when_baserunnning_goes_wrong/13554071 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Your browser does not support iframes. Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Hank Conger laid down the perfect bunt for a single in the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, but almost didn't make it to first base after he stumbled and fell halfway there. The Orioles infield was playing Conger to pull the ball towards the right side of the infield, so Congers took advantage with a bunt down the third base side. That allowed Congers to make it to first base easily despite stumbling about five steps out of the batters box. To Congers' credit, he was able to roll forward as he fell to keep his momentum going as he got up and ran the rest of the way to first base. Congers got a good chuckle out of it, as did his teammates. To top it off, the Angels sent a trainer to check out Congers at first base, even though he was perfectly fine, except for a bruised ego. The wild bunt single by Congers started a two-run rally by the Angels which tied the game, but the Oriole Sun, 05 May 2013 09:01:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hank_conger_takes_spill_on_bunt_single_video/13553324 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hank_conger_takes_spill_on_bunt_single_video/13553324 Hank Conger takes spill on bunt single (Video) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hank_conger_takes_spill_on_bunt_single_video/13553324 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f22db439e18e24114935e01f2d201c5ec0b0cb06/mini/6013188.jpg The Angels lost another game yesterday. That was not surprising the way things have been going over there. But something did happen in the game that made me have a new hero. Hank Conger beat the shift. And he provided one of the sillier moments of the season while doing so. Here is the video in case you missed it. Click this link if the video does not work: Your browser does not support iframes. Every team is now doing the shift thing against hitters known to pull the ball. Rarely if ever do you see a player just put a ball down the third base line to beat the shift. It drives me crazy. Do that five times or so and make the defense pay for their positioning. They are basically giving you a free hit. Why not take it? Hank Conger did. And it figured it would be Conger. He is not a big power guy. His slugging percentage is never going to wow anyone. So there is no pride that gets in the way. The argument against a power guy trying to beat a shift is that you could get four bases... Sun, 05 May 2013 07:07:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hank_conger_is_my_new_hero/13553126 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/hank_conger_is_my_new_hero/13553126 Hank Conger is my new hero http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/hank_conger_is_my_new_hero/13553126 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/1/31f39ed5f23e984d80dc722b2ee20f3bb6e5ad78/mini/6098728.jpg Tweet   Unless you’re a diehard Los Angeles Angels fan there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Hank Conger. The 25-year old catcher is in his fourth big league season, all with the Angels, and had 91 games under his belt heading into Saturday. His 92nd was one Conger will surely remember. In the [...] Sat, 04 May 2013 22:16:34 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/video_hank_conger_stumbles_and_falls_on_way_to_first_base_after_bunt_still_makes_it_safely/13552262 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/video_hank_conger_stumbles_and_falls_on_way_to_first_base_after_bunt_still_makes_it_safely/13552262 Video: Hank Conger stumbles and falls on way to first base after bunt; still makes it safely http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/video_hank_conger_stumbles_and_falls_on_way_to_first_base_after_bunt_still_makes_it_safely/13552262 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Let Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Hank Conger serve as an example as to why defensive shifts don't always work.Conger essentially legged out a bunt single in the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles despite tripping while running to first base. No, I'm not kidding.Watch as Conger laid down a bunt toward the left side of the pitcher's mound, proceeded to sprint toward first, but somehow got his feet tangled up, and suffered a terribly inopportune tumble.However, the Orioles had shifted so far to the opposite side of the infield that Conger still had time to rise to his feet and make it to first base safely.If you listen closely, you can almost hear the sound of "Yakety Sax" playing softly in the background as the whole play develops.Via Hardball Talk Sat, 04 May 2013 21:13:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/video_hank_conger_bunts_trips_still_manages_to_be_safe/13552007 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/video_hank_conger_bunts_trips_still_manages_to_be_safe/13552007 Angels catcher bunts, trips, still gets hit http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/video_hank_conger_bunts_trips_still_manages_to_be_safe/13552007 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/6/16f25b636c360a715c66d951d0beb4abe6b0522c/mini/cong.jpg WEEK FIVE --  March 22nd, 2010 My last journal entry of spring training and as it winds down, there is still lots of time to get at-bats and work in behind the plate. This week, several players got sent down to minor league camp, including myself, as we continue to get our work in. We also had the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes booster club come out and cook a fantastic barbecue for us on Saturday. Some people don't know what the host family and booster club actually do throughout the year for the players to help accommodate them. When i was at Rancho Cucamonga in 2007, we would have road trips early in the morning and they would be out there just as early, providing us with breakfast and snacks and drinks for the trip. They also helped make my family and friends who attended games feel comfortable watching the games. Playing in Cedar Rapids and Rancho, I really do appreciate all the host families that welcomed us players into their homes as treated us as one of theirs for the ye... Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:59:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/hank_congers_spring_journal_5/13276789 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/hank_congers_spring_journal_5/13276789 HANK CONGER'S SPRING JOURNAL #5 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/hank_congers_spring_journal_5/13276789 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png A bit of spring training humor occurred recently involving Los Angeles of Angels of Anaheim pitcher Jared Weaver and his evident — albeit perhaps only temporarily –  unfamiliarity with the common practice of a catcher making a warmup throw of his own to the second base bag  following a pitcher’s warmup tosses. Anyone who has ever played baseball, even all the way back to little league, let alone just watched a baseball game is well-aware of this routine and traditional throw-to-second rehearsal that takes place before the beginning of every inning. But for at least a split second, Jared Weaver was wholly lost on the entire process. After Weaver throws his last warmup pitch, Angels catcher Hank Conger proceeds to complete his customary throw to second base. Weaver reacts like it’s something he has never seen before in his entire life, scrambling out of the way while dropping to the ground, completing the needless evasive maneuver with a near-fully backwards somersault. What makes i... Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:20:16 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/jered_weaver_appears_unfamiliar_with_catchers_practice_throw_to_second_base_gif/13087195 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/jered_weaver_appears_unfamiliar_with_catchers_practice_throw_to_second_base_gif/13087195 Jered Weaver appears unfamiliar with catcher’s practice throw to second base (GIF) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/jered_weaver_appears_unfamiliar_with_catchers_practice_throw_to_second_base_gif/13087195 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f22db439e18e24114935e01f2d201c5ec0b0cb06/mini/6013188.jpg It seems as if the ripple-effect made by the Kendrys Morales trade has stretched farther into the roster than many might think.  A lot of Angel fans were unhappy, or I could say outright pissed, that Kendrys was traded for some third-rate inning eating starter from the lowly Mariners. I mean, not only did the Angels trade away one of their biggest power bats for a mid-tier starter, they gave him directly to a division rival! Oh crap! Only thing is that move isn't as bad as people would like to think. This article isn't going to be another "analyzation" of the Kendrys trade by some college-aged wannabe sportswriter in his underwear, but I do want to talk about it a little to set up what I really have to say. The biggest gripes Angel fans have had with the trade is that: 1) It takes away a potent left-handed power bat out of a lineup that was lacking left-handed power to begin with (prior to the Hamilton signing) 2) The short-lived idea of the Angels havi... Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:59:28 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_hidden_factor_of_2013_hank_conger/12569617 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_hidden_factor_of_2013_hank_conger/12569617 The hidden factor of 2013: Hank Conger http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_hidden_factor_of_2013_hank_conger/12569617 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/2/7209268b41d672702815e648ba25e38200f12309/mini/mlb-cleveland-indians-los.jpg Hank Conger must perform with some consistency in the big leagues or risk going from prospect to suspect. Catcher Hank Conger, a 2006 first-round pick who spent much of last season with the Angels, showing potential but also looking overmatched at times, isn't quite at that point. But he can see it from here. "Coming up through the minors, you're given numerous chances, but once you get up here, it's either produce or you don't play," said Conger, a former Huntington Beach High star. "It's pretty simple. Right now, I feel like I'm at a point where I have to start producing, or changes might happen." Nine days away from the exhibition opener, that sense of urgency can already be seen in spring-training drills. "At first glance," Manager Mike Scioscia said of Conger, "he looks like he has more of a purpose." But it is not reflected in the voices of the team's primary two decision makers, Scioscia and General Manager Jerry Dipoto. They se Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:26:04 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/conger_working_to_be_a_finished_product/10130509 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/conger_working_to_be_a_finished_product/10130509 Conger working to be a finished product http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/conger_working_to_be_a_finished_product/10130509 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png