ANGELS NOTEBOOK: TAKING IT EASY PLAYING ERSTAD.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer Angels manager Mike Scioscia Erstad gave way in the lineup to Jeff DaVanon Jeffrey Graham DaVanon (born December 8, 1973 in San Diego, California) is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Oakland Athletics. DaVanon came up through the Oakland Athletics system before being traded to the Anaheim Angels as a minor-leaguer in 1999. for Saturday's game against the Dodgers and Erstad was ``fine with it.'' Erstad still has lingering soreness in his right hamstring tendon, the same injury that cost him 42 games. But Erstad, who has always been a player willing to play through pain, said he wants to be smart about it. ``I tried blowing through this thing before, and I suffered the consequences,'' he said. ``I'll try the other way this time.'' Erstad said a switch from the outfield to first base would not help his leg. ``Playing outfield is not a problem, it's not an issue,'' he said. ``(Running the bases) is the one thing I'm not as confident as I'd like to be.'' Erstad also is trying to find his rhythm at the plate. In 10 games since returning from the disabled list, he is hitting .195 (8 for 41) with only two extra-base hits and one 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 . ``Ersty's still in spring-training mode after missing so much time,'' Scioscia said. ``Obviously, if this was a World Series game, he'd strap it on and go. But we want to make sure he can stay at a level for him to bring his game to the park, which is very important to this club, and not risk losing him for an extended period.'' Erstad got a pinch-hit single off Dodgers closer Eric Gagne in the ninth Saturday and represented the tying run with two outs. But he motioned for a pinch runner pinch runner n. Baseball A substitute base runner. and was replaced by Eric Owens. ``He was concerned about his ability to score from first on a double,'' Scioscia said. --Staying focused: Scioscia held a brief team meeting before Saturday's game in an effort to get his players to relax and maintain their one-day-at- a-time focus that was so successful for them last year. ``I talked to them a little bit and bounced some things off them,'' Scioscia said. ``Their mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. is good. ... The last five or six games I've noticed a real problem on the offensive side. You're going to go into lulls. Right now, the pitching has picked up a little bit, and we're lagging offensively. We need guys to settle into a more consistent type of play.'' --Full speed ahead: First baseman Brad Fullmer Bradley Ryan Fullmer is a major league baseball player who bats left handed and throws right handed. He was born January 17, 1975 in Chatsworth, California. Fullmer last played at the Major League level during the 2004 season with the Texas Rangers. sat in the trainer's room with ice packs on his knee and ankle, but nothing on his head even though he was hit on the bill of his helmet by a fastball from Wilson Alvarez Fullmer got up immediately and ran to first base. He stayed in the game and singled off Gagne in the ninth inning. ``I didn't feel anything,'' said Fullmer, who homered in the fifth inning. ``If it did hit the bill, that's pretty close to doing some damage.'' --Looking Ecky: 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's slump continued Saturday with a 0-for-5 performance, including a groundout with the tying runs on base in the ninth inning to end the game. In his past five games, Eckstein is 1 for 24, and in June he is hitting .157 (8 for 51), dropping his season average to .232. --No Glaus: Third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker 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). was not 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 Saturday. Glaus suffered back spasms after avoiding a pitch that nearly hit him Friday. Glaus, who said he had trouble sleeping Friday night, was replaced at third Saturday by Scott Spiezio. Glaus is listed as day-to-day. --Not enough Wash: Pitcher Jarrod Washburn pitched at least six innings in his first 13 starts but has failed to last six in each of his past two starts, including Friday's loss to the Dodgers. In his past two starts, he's given up 12 runs and 14 hits (including seven homers) in 10 1/3 innings. ``Yeah it's frustrating,'' said Washburn, who is 6-8 with a 3.87 ERA. ``My last two games I haven't thrown well. I've had good stuff, but I haven't thrown well. Anytime you allow seven homers in two games, you're making mistakes and not doing something right. ``I'm not walking people, that's not my problem. Basically I'm missing within the strike zone.'' Joe Haakenson, (626) 962-8811 joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): box Box: DODGERS vs. ANGELS - Jill Painter |
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