American League

Sporting News, The, April 16, 2001

Anaheim

2-3: T 2nd

Fill-in play at second might gain Eckstein a shot at short

There is no second-base controversy in manager Mike Scioscia's mind. When Adam Kennedy is fully recovered from a hand injury, he will replace David Eckstein, who has filled in admirably. But there could be a shortstop controversy if Eckstein keeps playing the way he did in a 5-4 victory over the A's last week. Eckstein had three hits and two RBIs; SS Benji Gil went hitless in five at-bats, including three strikeouts, in the same game and is vulnerable. Eckstein has been working out regularly at shortstop, and he likely will remain on the team as a utility player when Kennedy returns. Gil is a more accomplished defensive shortstop than Eckstein, but if Gil struggles offensively--especially against righthanders--Eckstein could get plenty of action at short ... Scioscia didn't single out anyone when he said some players were "trying too hard" in the first two losses, but DH Glenallen Hill obviously was one of them. He was 0-for-8 with three strikeouts in the games, swinging at several pitches outside the strike zone.

SCOUTING REPORT: 1B Wally Joyner, 38, won a roster spot by hitting .370 with eight RBIs in spring training, but it wasn't just the numbers that impressed Scioscia. Joyner showed excellent bat control, executing several hit-and-run plays with grounders through vacant infield holes, and an ability in advance runners with ground-ball outs. Joyner, who is splitting time at first with Scott Spiezio, is unlikely to win a Gold Glove, but he is an above-average defensive player who positions himself properly, anticipates well and makes the plays he should.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: LHP Scott Schoeneweis used much of the spring to work on a changeup to add to his sinking fastball and slider, but he threw the change only once in his first, start. The reason: He isn't confident enough in the pitch to use it in tight spots, of which there were plenty in a 3-2 loss to Texas. But Schoeneweis knows he eventually will have to trust his changeup "l know I can't survive in the big leagues with two pitches," he says. --Mike DiGiovanna

Dugout Signals

Manager Mike Scioscia debated using an 11- or 12-man pitching staff all spring, then decided on 11 with a sixman bullpen, it looks like the right choice. The starters went seven innings twice, six innings twice and five innings once in the first week, putting little burden on the bullpen.

STATISTICS         AVG    G     AB   R   H    HR   RBI

(*)Eckstein       .412    5     17   1   7     0     2
Spiezio(#)        .400    4     10   3   4     0     0
Glaus             .333    5     18   4   6     3     4
Erstad( )         .316    5     19   1   6     0     2
Fabregas( )       .286    2      7   1   2     1     3
Molina            .273    3     11   2   3     0     3
Joyner( )         .250    3      8   2   2     1     2
Anderson( )       .211    5     19   2   4     0     2
Palmeiro( )       .200    4     10   3   2     1     3
Hill              .176    4     17   2   3     0     0
Gil               .167    4     12   0   2     0     0
Salmon            .118    4     17   1   2     1     1
Nieves            .000    4      5   0   0     0     0
(*)Wooten         .000    1      1   0   0     0     0

STATISTICS         OBP   SB      K   BB   E

(*)Eckstein       .412    1      3    0   1
Spiezio(#)        .500    0      2    2   0
Glaus              478    0      5    5   2
Erstad( )         .435    0      3    3   0
Fabregas( )       .286    0      2    0   1
Molina            .333    0      1    1   0
Joyner( )         .250    0      1    0   0
Anderson( )       .286    1      3    2   0
Palmeiro( )       .273    0      0    1   0
Hill              .176    0      5    0   0
Gil               .167    0      4    0   0
Salmon            .167    0      7    1   0
Nieves            .000    0      2    0   1
(*)Wooten         .000    0      1    0   0

GRAND SLAMS: None

PITCHERS           ERA   W-L    IP   H   R

Hasegawa          0.00   0-0   2.2   3   0
Holtz( )          0.00   0-0   1.1   0   0
Levine            0.00   0-1   2.0   2   2
Percival          0.00   0-0   1.0   0   0
Ortiz             2.57   1-0   7.0   4   2
(*)Green          3.00   0-0   6.0   4   2
Schoeneweis( )    3.86   0-1   7.0   8   3
Pote              4.50   0-0   2.0   1   1
(*)Weber          4.50   0-0   2.0   1   1
(*)Wise           6.00   1-0   6.0   6   4
Rapp             10.80   0-1   5.0   6   6

PITCHERS            ER   HR      K   BB   SV   AVG.

Hasegawa             0    0      4    1    0   .300
Holtz( )             0    0      0    0    0   .000
Levine               0    0      1    1    0   .222
Percival             0    0      2    0    1   .000
Ortiz                2    1     10    2    0   .160
(*)Green             2    0      4    6    0   .190
Schoeneweis( )       3    0      5    3    0   .333
Pote                 1    1      2    0    0   .143
(*)Weber             1    1      1    0    0   .125
(*)Wise              4    1      7    0    0   .250
Rapp                 6    1      2    4    0   .316

SHUTOUTS: None

COMPLETE GAMES: None

(*) Rookie

( ) Lefthanded

(#) Switch hitter

League leaders in bold

Statistics provided by STATS Inc. through Saturday, April 7