ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ECKSTEIN MOVED TO LEADING-MAN STATUS.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer CLEVELAND - The play and hustle of infielder David Eckstein David Mark Eckstein, (born January 20, 1975 in Sanford, Florida), is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is noted for his size, as he is a small (for professional sports) 5' 7", but weighs 175 pounds. has impressed the Angels enough to move 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). out of the leadoff spot to No. 2 in the batting order Noun 1. batting order - (baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat; "the managers presented their cards to the umpire at home plate" lineup, card . And it seems Eckstein, who will share the leadoff duties with Orlando Palmeiro Orlando Palmeiro (b. January 19, 1969, in Hoboken, New Jersey) is a Major League Baseball outfielder, currently with the Houston Astros, who went to the University of Miami. His better known cousin Rafael Palmeiro was also a Major League player. , is perfectly suited for the role. The 5-foot-7, 160-pound Eckstein went into Wednesday's game against the Indians with a .424 on-base percentage, best on the team among regulars. ``He's a little scrapper,'' Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher Michael Vaughn Hatcher (born March 15, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball player and a current coach. Most notably, he was Kirk Gibson's replacement for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 World Series, batting .368 (7/19) with two home runs and five RBI. said. ``He's been an inspiration to a lot of people. He's become one of our key guys in the lineup. Nothing bothers him and I think players feed off him.'' Eckstein said hitting leadoff and hitting ninth aren't much different - in either spot his job is to get on base. He'll do it any way he can, including getting in the way of an inside fastball. He has been hit by a pitch four times this season when no one else on the team has been hit more than once. It includes Tuesday night, when he was nailed just above the left elbow by a 95-mph fastball thrown by Bartolo Colon. But that was nothing, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. manager Mike Scioscia During spring training, Scioscia said Eckstein was hitting in the batting cage Noun 1. batting cage - a movable screen placed behind home base to catch balls during batting practice cage baseball equipment - equipment used in playing baseball and Derrick Turnbow was throwing. Turnbow hit Eckstein in the left side with what Scioscia said was a 97-mph fastball. ``But he just tapped the plate and got ready for the next pitch,'' Scioscia said. ``I've loved the guy from day one,'' Erstad said. ``If there's a definition of a team player, it's that guy. He knows his role and maximizes his ability in that role.'' --Meeting time: Scioscia held a closed-door meeting with pitcher Ramon Ortiz before Wednesday's game ``to make sure we're on the same page,'' Scioscia said. Ortiz has been criticized by both of his catchers (Bengie Molina and Jorge Fabregas) after his last two starts for losing focus and misreading MISREADING, contracts. When a deed is read falsely to an illiterate or blind man, who is a party to it, such false reading amounts to a fraud, because the contract never had the assent of both parties. 5 Co. 19; 6 East, R. 309; Dane's Ab. c. 86, a, 3, Sec. 7; 2 John. R. 404; 12 John. R. signs. ``It happens to all pitchers, he's not the only guy to cross a catcher up,'' Scioscia said. ``We do know on the mound at times maybe he forces some things and the (catchers) get frustrated. But it's not a major thing and we don't anticipate it being a major thing.'' In four starts, Ortiz is 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA. ``Every day, Mike Scioscia and Buddy Black talk to me,'' Ortiz said. ``If I'm pitching good or not pitching good, they talk to me. I like it like that.'' Ortiz also said he has no problem with his catchers' comments. ``I'm not worried about it,'' he said. ``I get along very good with them.'' ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND Time: 4:05 p.m., at Jacobs Field. TV/Radio: Fox Family; 1540-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish). Matchup: Pat Rapp (0-3, 6.75 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Cleveland's Chuck Finley (1-2, 6.45 ERA). - Joe Haakenson CAPTION(S): box Box: ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND (see text) |
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