ANGELS: TIME RUNNING OUT ON WORLD SERIES VETS SALMON, ERSTAD AND KENNEDY MIGHT NOT RETURN.Byline: DOUG PADILLA Douglas ("Doug") Padilla (born October 4, 1956 in Oakland, California) is a former middle and long distance runner from the United States, who won the overall Grand Prix 1985 and the World Cup 5000m race in 1985. Staff Writer KANSAS CITY Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). , Mo. -- The clock ticks One increment, or pulse, of the CPU clock. See clock speed and clock. louder now for three members of the Angels who were so vital to the team's run to the 2002 World Series title. Darin Erstad Darin Charles Erstad (born June 4, 1974 in Jamestown, North Dakota) is a first baseman/center fielder in Major League Baseball currently with the Chicago White Sox. Prior to 2007, he had played his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise (1996-2006). , Adam Kennedy For other people with the same name, see Adam Kennedy (disambiguation). Adam Thomas Kennedy (born January 10, 1976 in Riverside, California) is a Major League Baseball player. He currently plays second base for the St. Louis Cardinals. Kennedy attended J.W. and Tim Salmon Salmon is done for sure after already stating this would be his final season. He might already be well into retirement had he not made the roster by turning back the clock in spring training. With a final summer in uniform, Salmon gave himself the chance to get some closure. As he left venues like Yankee Stadium • • [ and Fenway Park • • [ for the final time, Salmon looked around one last time and locked away the memories. His final game at the Texas Rangers' Ameriquest Field on Sunday will be most memorable after he hit a pinch-hit home run in a ballpark where he had dominated most of his career. He batted .378 in his career at the Rangers' ballpark with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs over 75 games. ``I was talking the inning before (the home run) with (John) Lackey and we were talking about how this place had been good to me,'' Salmon said. ``I wasn't sure I would get another at-bat. I got one more at-bat and hit a home run and they were like, `It's still good to you.' '' With the Angels not likely to reach the postseason, 2002 will stand out as Salmon's only championship season. He batted .288 that postseason with four home runs and 12 RBIs. Two of those homers came in a victory in Game 2 of the World Series. For Erstad and Kennedy, the situation isn't so clear. While their contracts expire at the end of the season, neither has heard the definitive word that the Angels no longer are in need of their services. Erstad will undergo surgery on his injured ankle immediately after the season ends and begin the road to recovery. He has been told he should be ready to play again by spring training. If he is unable to find a major-league deal over the winter, it is possible he could find himself in the same situation as Salmon. The possibility exists that the Angels could offer Erstad a non-roster invitation to spring training. That would put the veteran's fate in his own hands to either make the roster or prove his value to convince another team to take a chance on him. Erstad left a huge mark on the 2002 postseason when he batted .352 and delivered a hit in 15 of 16 games, including 12 consecutive. He batted .300 in the World Series, hit a clutch home run as the Angels rallied in Game 6 and caught the final out of the team's only title. Kennedy's exit seems a little more definitive. He said his agent has not had any conversations about signing a contract with the Angels for next season. With Howie Kendrick Howard Joseph (Howie) Kendrick (born July 12, 1983 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American Major League Baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He bats and throws right-handed. Kendrick Attended West Nassau High School where he played baseball. set to take over at second base, there simply is no room for him to return. ``You think about it a little bit but I'm not sentimental quite yet,'' Kennedy said. ``We're still fighting a battle here. Even though we've talked about it a little bit, the focus is here on the field.'' Kennedy has value to other teams as a dependable fielder. He batted .300 as recently as last season, and Angels fans won't forget the three home runs he hit in the deciding game of the American League Championship Series
Kennedy isn't dreading the free-agent process, instead looking at it like an opportunity. His priority is to be on a winning team rather than simply taking the best offer. ``It has its pros and cons pros and cons Noun, pl the advantages and disadvantages of a situation [Latin pro for + con(tra) against] ,'' he said about being a free agent. ``As a player, you look forward to free agency because there are some options out there for you. You have that as a positive thing. But it's not a positive thing when you have to leave a place where you love or there is a chance you could be leaving.'' doug.padilla@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2731 CAPTION(S): 3 photos, box Photo: (1) Tim Salmon, one of three players left from the 2002 World Series championship team, will retire at the end of the season. Christian Petersen/Getty Images (2 -- 3) Darin Erstad, above, and Adam Kennedy's futures with the Angels are in doubt. Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images John Williamson/Getty Images Box: ANGELS at KANSAS CITY - Doug Padilla |
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