ANGELS NOTEBOOK: BACK FORCES OUT ERSTAD AGAIN.Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer SEATTLE - With 20 games left entering Monday and the Angels poised on the cusp of first place, it is the time of year, manager Mike Scioscia So that means Darin Erstad's back must really be bothering him. Erstad sat out Monday's game against Seattle with lower back spasms that have dogged him the past couple weeks, and forced him from Sunday's game after the fourth inning. Rookie Casey Kotchman Casey John Kotchman (born February 22, 1983 in St. Petersburg, Florida) is a Major League Baseball first baseman for Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He hit his first Major League home run on August 5 2005. In 47 games in 2005, Kotchman had 7 home runs and 22 runs batted in. replaced Erstad and his .312 average in the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes , and while Erstad was in a chipper chipper Drug slang An occasional user of illicit drugs. See Recreational drug use Tobacco A popular term for a person who smokes < 5 cigarettes/day, who may be resistant to nicotine dependence or addiction, and often born to non-smoking parents. mood, he knew words couldn't justify how annoyed he was to sit out. ``You can answer that for me, I think,'' said Erstad, who upon arriving at Safeco Field • • [ tried to convince Scioscia he could play. ``A couple hours later, I think I agreed with (Scioscia). I'm just trying to deal with it.'' Erstad said he hoped to be back in the lineup today, but if he can't go, there's a chance 43-year-old Andres Galarraga could get his first start as an Angel. The Mariners are starting rookie left-hander Bobby Madritsch Robert Allen Madritsch (born February 28, 1976 in Oak Lawn, IL) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Baseball career Madritsch was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 6th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft out of Point Park University. and Galarraga could get the nod ahead of Kotchman, a left-handed hitter. --Ichiro overload: Monday's game marked the first of seven in a 10- game stretch against the Mariners, which means the Angels' pennant race will collide with Ichiro Suzuki's bid for George Sisler's single-season hit record of 257. He entered Monday with 231 hits, on pace for 264, which would shatter Sisler's 84-year old record. The Angels know a thing or two about chasing Sisler. In 2000, Erstad set a club record with 240 hits and stayed in the hunt for Sisler's record into September. He finished hitting .355 with 25 home runs, 100 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 and 28 steals out of the leadoff spot. Suzuki is hitting .374, with eight homers, 54 RBI and 34 steals. ``As far as an individual season, as far as driving in runs and doing everything you need to win, I've never been around a player who had a better season than Darin in 2000,'' Scioscia said. Not that the Angels are thrilled to try to contain Suzuki. ``The difference with Ersty was he was getting so many RBI - 100 - and 25 jacks,'' closer Troy Percival Troy Eugene Percival (born August 9, 1969 in Fontana, California) is a Major League Baseball reliever on the St. Louis Cardinals. Percival came out of retirement on June 8, 2007 when he signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals[1]. said. ``But Ichiro, he's going to beat out so many hits and steal second base. He brings the dimension that you better pitch to him because if you walk him, it's a double.'' --Sele stays put: Despite Aaron Sele's 1 2/3 inning, eight-run effort Saturday, the right-hander will remain in the rotation for Thursday's game here. In his past two starts, Sele has recorded 15 outs and given up 15 runs, 11 earned, and Scioscia pondered inserting Ramon Ortiz or Kevin Gregg Kevin Marschall Gregg (born in Corvallis, Oregon on June 20, 1978) is a Closing pitcher with the Florida Marlins. High school career Gregg attended Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon and starred in football, basketball and baseball. for Thursday's start. But after Thursday, the Angels will only have one more start remaining for a fifth starter anyway, as they plan to start Kelvim Escobar on three days' rest, if necessary, on the final day of the season. CAPTION(S): box Box: ANGELS at SEATTLE - Gabe Lacques |
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