Paul Is Traded by the Angels to Tampa Bay

Josh Paul, who will live in Angel infamy for being the catcher who rolled the ball back to the mound while the eventual winning run reached base for the Chicago White Sox in Game 2 of the American League championship series, was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday for minor league infielder Travis Schlichting.

Paul, a seldom-used third-string catcher who batted .224 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in for the Angels in 2004 and 2005, was designated for assignment Dec. 9 to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever J.C. Romero.

Most veteran players who are designated for assignment are released and become free agents once they clear waivers, but there was enough interest in Paul that the Angels were able to get something for him.

Schlichting, a 21-year-old third baseman, batted .252 with three homers and 39 RBIs for Class-A Southwest Michigan of the Midwest League last season and, according to Baseball America, had the best infield arm in Tampa Bay’s organization.

Paul’s most memorable act as an Angel was his last, a mental gaffe that swung the momentum of the championship series toward the White Sox. With two out in the ninth inning of a 1-1 tie in Game 2, Kelvim Escobar struck out A.J. Pierzynski, but umpire Doug Eddings ruled Paul trapped the ball before rolling it back to the mound.

Pierzynski took off for first, and Eddings, in one of the most disputed calls in recent postseason history, ruled the runner safe. Pinch-runner Pablo Ozuna stole second and scored on Joe Crede’s double to give Chicago a 2-1 victory and tie the best-of-seven series, 1-1.

The White Sox won the next three games in Anaheim to clinch the AL pennant and went on to sweep the Houston Astros for their first World Series title since 1917.