ANGELS NOTEBOOK: `HOMEWORK' PAYS OFF.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer CHICAGO - With the injuries to catchers Bengie Molina Benjamin José ("Bengie" or "Ben") Molina (born July 20 1974 in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico) is the starting catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. After being initially regarded as a "good glove, no hit" catcher, Molina has developed into one of the better and Jorge Fabregas, Jose Molina has gone from minor-league catcher to starting major-league catcher in the span of just a few days. Jose believes he's ready for the challenge. In fact, it was Jose who taught his older brother Bengie how to catch when the two were teen-agers in Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (pwār`tō rē`kō), island (2005 est. pop. 3,917,000), 3,508 sq mi (9,086 sq km), West Indies, c.1,000 mi (1,610 km) SE of Miami, Fla. . Bengie was an outfielder when a scout suggested he learn to play catcher. And Jose was there to help. ``I was a catcher all my life,'' said Jose, 25. ``Bengie was an outfielder, so I talked to Bengie. I worked with him. Bengie knows what to do in there because of what I taught him.'' ``I feel like I did my homework for him,'' said Bengie, 26. ``I thank him a lot for what he's done.'' Now, it's Bengie who is guiding Jose. Bengie is with the club on the trip and is helping Jose every step of the way. ``I talk to him about the pitchers, what they like to throw, what their main pitch is,'' Bengie said. ``And just stay focused. Be in the game all the time. I'm trying to make him feel comfortable. I know that because the first time I came up, I felt kind of weird.'' Jose said he knows the Angels pitchers pretty well, having caught them in spring training. Where Jose needs the most help is how to work opposing hitters. ``Going over hitters, how to pitch to hitters, that's the biggest thing,'' Jose said. ``But I feel real comfortable right now because I know they (Angels pitchers) trust me. They believe in what I know behind the plate. That feels good.'' Bengie is expected to miss at least three weeks, but when it happened last Friday night, he thought it was much worse. ``I just thought, 'Why? Why is this happening? Why me?' '' Bengie said. ``I stretch so much, exercise every day, drink lots of water. I'm thinking this should happen to anybody else, not me.'' Fabregas, who has an inflamed right elbow, should be ready to return when he's eligible to come off the disabled list on May 21. Jamie Burke Jamie Burke (born September 24, 1971 in Roseburg, Oregon) is a professional baseball player, currently playing catcher for the Seattle Mariners. He played 73 games in the Major Leagues for the Chicago White Sox from 2003-2005. , who can play first, third and catcher, replaced Fabregas on the roster and joined the team Tuesday. --DiSarcina surgery: Shortstop Gary DiSarcina Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure to visualize, diagnose, and treat joint problems. The name is derived from the Greek words arthron, which means joint, and skopein, which means to look at. on his right shoulder Tuesday at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Dr. Lewis Yocum trimmed the fraying of the infraspinatus tendon in the shoulder, which was injured during spring training as he was rehabilitating from rotator cuff rotator cuff n. A set of muscles and tendons that secures the arm to the shoulder joint and permits rotation of the arm. Also called musculotendinous cuff. surgery. There is no timetable for DiSarcina's return and it's possible he won't play at all this season. He has returned home to Massachusetts and will resume his rehab next week. --Hill might return this weekend: Designated hitter designated hitter n. Baseball Abbr. DH A player designated at the start of a game to bat instead of the pitcher in the lineup. Noun 1. Glenallen Hill CAPTION(S): box Box: ANGELS vs. WHITE SOX |
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