ANGELS NOTEBOOK: VAUGHN'S RETURN TAME AT FENWAY THIS TIME.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer BOSTON - It wasn't quite the same as last year, and that was just fine with first baseman Mo Vaughn Vaughn returned to Fenway Park • • [ last season for the first time since leaving the Red Sox after the 1998 season. But on Tuesday there wasn't nearly the same hoopla hoop·la n. Informal 1. a. Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement. b. Extravagant publicity: The new sedan was introduced to the public with much hoopla. 2. that surrounded his return last season on May 7, when dozens of reporters swarmed Vaughn on the field during batting practice. Aside from interviews with some local reporters and a few catcalls cat·call n. A harsh or shrill call or whistle expressing derision or disapproval. v. cat·called, cat·call·ing, cat·calls v.tr. To express derision or disapproval of with catcalls. v. from the fans, it was pretty tame. Last season Vaughn was hindered by a severely sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. , and went 3 for 20 with eight strikeouts and only two 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 in five games at Fenway Park. ``I was hurt, now I'm healthy,'' Vaughn said. ``I might not get any hits in the series, but now at least I can walk up to the plate and feel good in the batter's box.'' In his second at-bat Tuesday, Vaughn hit a liner high off the green monster in left field for a long single, but said before the game he didn't plan to alter his approach at the plate to take advantage of the short porch. ``I just want to get a pitch to drive,'' he said. ``I want to keep this game as simple as possible. It doesn't count for five home runs if you hit one against this team. I'm not trying to get back at them. I just want to help my team win.'' Vaughn even chatted with a former nemesis of his, Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette, before the game. ``You've got to work hard not to speak to somebody,'' Vaughn said. ``That's negative energy.'' --Erstad wants in: Outfielder Darin Erstad did not play for the second consecutive game because of tightness in his left ribcage ribcage Noun the bony structure formed by the ribs that encloses the lungs . His status is still day-to-day, but manager Mike Scioscia said Erstad probably won't play today either and that the Angels miss him. ``In our lineup he's the most important hitter,'' Scioscia said. ``He sets the table and drives in runs. In my estimation he's done it better than anybody in the league.'' Not playing is driving Erstad crazy, even before games when he goes through a regimented routine. ``I'm lost,'' Erstad said while sitting on the dugout steps, watching his teammates take batting practice. ``I don't do "I Don't Do" was the debut single by glamour model Michelle Marsh, released on 6 November 2006. The single reached 27 in the UK in its first week, selling only 9,000 copies and over 16,000 copies as of January 2007. The single spend a total of four weeks in the Top 75. this. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what to do.'' ANGELS vs. BOSTON --Time: 4:05 p.m., at Fenway Park --TV/Radio: Channel 9; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish), 103.9-FM --Matchup: Kent Mercker (0-2, 5.17 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Boston's Tim Wakefield (6-7, 5.03). Mercker pitched part of last season with the Red Sox, going 2-0 with a 3.51 ERA in five starts. - Joe Haakenson CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1) JACKSON (2) GLAUS Box: (1) Chasing Reggie (2) Angels vs. Boston (see text) |
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