ANGELS NOTEBOOK: KENDRICK COMPARED TO GREATS.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

DETROIT -- Howie Kendrick has heard all the comparisons about how his game resembles that of Kirby Puckett, Ray Durham and even a right-handed hitting Tony Gwynn.

Growing up an Atlanta Braves fan, Kendrick said he attempted to model the swings of Chipper Jones and David Justice during Wiffle Ball games, and sometimes even copied Darryl Strawberry or Gary Sheffield.

But the finished product -- the swing that had him batting .299 heading into Sunday night's game -- is an original.

``I never really watched a lot of baseball growing up because I was playing it more than watching it, so I developed my own swing,'' Kendrick said.

He credits a high school hitting coach by the name of Mitch Purvis for helping to develop his skill of hitting up the middle and to the opposite field, a trait that has helped make baseball people think of him as a future winner of a batting title.

Kendrick said he isn't bothered by expectations that can occur when new players are compared to past greats.

``I don't think about anything,'' he said. ``I just take it for what it is. I can't help it who people compare me to. I can only play the game of baseball.''

No winter ball: Although Kendrick is still learning to play first base and has gotten a little bit of time at third, he won't be asked to play this winter in order to refine some defensive skills.

``I think the amount of at-bats he's gotten and the experience he's getting up here is something that will help him,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We've touched enough on the bases on the corners and at second, where he has made a tremendous amount of improvement.''

The decision on what position Kendrick will play next season will come once the front office narrows down available players this offseason.

Injury update: Garret Anderson was a late scratch with a left quadriceps strain that isn't deemed serious. Tim Salmon took his place at designated hitter.

Maicer Izturis was kept out because of a tight hamstring. Izturis re-injured his leg in the late innings Saturday but said he could have played Sunday if necessary.

Early departure: Jered Weaver, who will start for the Angels tonight in the first game of a home series against the Baltimore Orioles, was not with the team Sunday. He flew home in order to get enough rest for his start. The Angels' charter flight from Detroit was not expected to arrive until 3 a.m. PDT.