ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ECKSTEIN PUT AT END OF ORDER.Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer ANAHEIM - Deciding they no longer could languish while leadoff hitter In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. Strategy Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. 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. worked through the worst stretch of his career, the Angels took action Tuesday, moving Eckstein to the No. 9 spot, 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). to the leadoff spot and power hitter Troy Glaus Troy Edward Glaus (born August 3, 1976 in Tarzana, California) is a Major League Baseball player who plays third base for the Toronto Blue Jays. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels (1998-2004) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (2005). to the No. 2 spot for the foreseeable future. Eckstein's average was down to .231, and he entered Tuesday's game in a 1-for-25 free-fall. Tuesday was the first time since Oct. 6, 2001, that Eckstein started a game at anything but the leadoff spot, a span of 236 games. Given his track record of getting on base and creating offense, the Angels waited as long as they felt they could before making the switch. ``If you ask me what our best lineup is, it's Eck and Erstad 1-2,'' manager Mike Scioscia The Angels hope the move will have a ripple effect ripple effect Epidemiology See Signal event. throughout the lineup. With 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. hitting eighth, the Angels still line up speedy Kennedy, Eckstein and Erstad together, which they hope will create runners on base for Glaus in the No. 2 hole and, down the line, 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. in the cleanup position. Scioscia also envisions greater production out of Nos. 5-6 hitters Brad Fullmer and Scott Spiezio, assuming the new-look top of the lineup provides more baserunners. Eckstein seemed to take the news in stride, noting Scioscia told him he will return to the top of the lineup if and when his fortunes turn. ``That's fine,'' said Eckstein, who batted .293 and .285 his first two big-league seasons. ``We've got to go win. In that spot, I've done nothing at all.'' --Special guest: New owner Arte Moreno hung out around the batting cage for the first time Tuesday, chatting up Scioscia, front-office employees and even the groundskeepers. The Angels have gone 14-15 since Moreno assumed control of the team, but he insists he will remain a patient owner. ``It's a learning process,'' Moreno said. ``Someone told me an owner should go into a one- or two-year incubation process before they say anything. I'll be in that incubator for awhile. I look at things over a very long term.'' Except when it comes to ballpark matters. In his most sweeping move yet, Moreno has done away with charging higher ticket prices for so-called premium games, a system the Angels instituted this season. They charged an extra $5 for view-level seats and more for better seats for games against popular opponents such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets, and also for holiday and Friday night fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to games. Moreno also offered same-day prices of $5 (cut from $10) for right-field pavilion seats for games Monday through Tuesday. Tuesday home games will feature $3 upper view seating for children. --Minor-league report: Mickey Callaway was scheduled to pitch two innings Tuesday night for Triple-A Salt Lake in his first rehabilitation start. ... Pitcher Ervin Santana and catcher Jeff Mathis, members of the Angels' Single-A Rancho Cucamonga affiliate, have been selected to participate in the Futures Game on July 13 in Chicago, two days before the All-Star Game. CAPTION(S): box Box: SEATTLE vs. ANGELS - Gabe Lacques |
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