ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANDERSON CONFIDENT HIS NUMBERS WILL COME.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer ANAHEIM - Garret Anderson Garret Joseph Anderson (born June 30, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball left fielder who has played his entire career for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. is the first to admit he's not the prototypical cleanup hitter In baseball, the cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Strategy Cleanup hitters often have the most power on the team and are typically the team's best all-around hitter; their job is to "clean up the bases", hence the name. , but his numbers speak even louder than his words. Anderson was put in the No. 4 spot for good by manager Mike Scioscia cleanup position, cleanup , he hit .255 (24 for 94) with one homer and nine RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in . Of his 24 hits, only two went for extra bases. Anderson, though, said he is trying to maintain the same approach in the fourth spot that he had last year in the fifth spot, when he had career bests in homers (35) and RBI (117). ``I don't (change my approach) because I know what type of hitter I am,'' said Anderson, a career .297 hitter going into this season. ``I don't try to be the prototypical fourth hitter. Why they put me there is because they know I know how to drive in runs over the course of the year. And obviously, because Mo (Vaughn) is not here.'' Opposing pitchers have chosen to pitch around No. 3 hitter Tim Salmon ``Sometimes I'm not as patient as I could be and it can get me in a little trouble,'' Anderson said. ``But I'll be there.'' Anderson's numbers going into Thursday's game - four homers, 18 RBI - project to 17 homers and 75 RBI for the season. He said he typically is a slow starter, so he's not concerned. ``Personally, I don't think pitchers are doing anything different with me,'' he said. ``I still get fastballs, I'm just not hitting them.'' --Holtz to DL: Left-handed reliever Mike Holtz Michael James (Mike) Holtz (born October 10, 1972 in Arlington, Virginia was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels (1996), Anaheim Angels (1997-2001), Oakland Athletics (2002[start]), San Diego Padres (2002[end was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 11) with an inflamed left elbow. Holtz's elbow was sore and tender after he tried to throw in the bullpen before Thursday's game, prompting a visit to Dr. Lewis Yocum. Holtz is 0-0 with a 5.56 ERA in 14 games. The Angels will call up a roster replacement today, but because they have 11 pitchers Anaheim, they will call up a bench player, most likely infielder Jose Nieves, who's hitting .366 with four homers and 14 RBI at Triple-A Salt Lake. As for who will take Holtz's role in the bullpen - getting left-handed hitters out - Scioscia said he'll rely on game situations to help him decide. Mark Lukasiewicz is the only other lefty in the bullpen. ``It's a very rare commodity to have a lefty who can get a lefty out,'' he said. ``With that curveball, that's what's made (Holtz) effective. And he also has the ability to challenge guys with his fastball.'' ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field. TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish). Matchup: Pat Rapp Patrick Leland Rapp (born July 13 1967 in Jennings, Louisiana) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1992 to 2001. Teams
- Joe Haakenson CAPTION(S): box Box: ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND (see text) |
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