A.L

Sporting News, The, Sept 3, 2001

Anaheim Angels

www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels

Molina's surge doesn't eliminate his disappointment

C Bengie Molina set a club record last week with hits in nine straight at-bats, but he remains unhappy about his offensive performance this season. Molina says his recent upturn is the result of seeing the ball better and getting some breaks. He has lamented the number of spectacular plays made against him by opposing outfielders, but two hits during his streak were grounders to third that weren't fielded cleanly. Molina is given a lot of credit by manager Mike Scioscia for helping mold the pitching staff, particularly the young starters, into one of the best in the league. ... The team doesn't have a regular designated hitter. Scioscia uses the spot to give regulars a "semi" day off or to give bench players some at-bats. Production from the spot has been poor. Scioscia has used 15 different players at DH, including three players no longer with the team (Glenallen Hill, Jose Fernandez and Wally Joyner). Shawn Wooten has started at DH more than any other player--21 times.... 3B Troy Glaus, who has been hitting third, continues to slump. He has had most of his success in the No. 2 spot, from which he is hitting close to .300. Scioscia might put Glaus back in the No. 2 spot against selected lefthanders. ... Last season, RHP Shigetoshi Hasegawa was closer Troy Percival's primary setup man. But when Hasegawa went to the D.L. with a shoulder problem in May, the Angels were forced to find other options. Both RHPs Al Levine and Ben Weber have pitched well in the setup role, and now that Hasegawa is back and relatively healthy, the Angels have three relievers they trust in that role.

SCOUTING REPORT: RHP Pat Rapp is the epitome of a journeyman pitcher; the Angels are his sixth team in the last five seasons. But he makes his starts and eats up innings. Rapp doesn't throw hard, topping out at about 90 mph but usually is in the 87-mph range. He also throws a cutter and relies on movement, but location is the most crucial aspect of his pitching. Rapp's bad games have been similar in that he gets behind in the count and opposing hitters tee off on his mediocre fastball. Rapp, though, usually gives the team a chance to win. He has given up more than four earned runs only three times in his 26 starts.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: David Eckstein has been the short-term fix at shortstop, but Scioscia won't rule out Eckstein becoming the long-term answer. Eckstein (5-7, 170) doesn't have the tools many other big-league shortstops have, but Scioscia is quick to point out that Eckstein has gotten the job done at every level. He has been a solid hitter this year and is a pest from the leadoff spot. Defensively, he doesn't have the arm many shortstops have, but he's steady. --Joe Haakenson

68-62

3rd West

AUGUST GRADES

OFFENSE: C Averaging 4.7 runs a game and hitting .275 this month.

PITCHING: B The starters have continued to pitch deep into games.

DEFENSE: B 3B Glaus, CF Erstad consistently make spectacular plays.

BATTERS         AVG     G    AB    R     H    HR

Gil             .319    86   226   31    72    8
(*)Wooten       .316    76   212   23    67    8
Kennedy( )      .293   109   382   41   112    5
(*)Eckstein     .290   122   465   66   135    4
Spiezio(#)      .281   108   342   48    96   10
Anderson( )     .280   130   543   61   152   24
B. Molina       .274    69   234   27    64    4
Erstad( )       .268   128   515   73   138    8
Palmeiro( )     .255    85   184   25    47    2
Glaus           .238   129   483   84   115   33
Salmon          .221   107   371   51    82   13
(*)DaVanon(#)   .220    23    50    6    11    4
Fabregas( )     .218    44   124    5    27    1

BATTERS         RBI    OBP   SB    K    BB    E

Gil              39   .339    3    46    8   12
(*)Wooten        32   .336    2    39    5    2
Kennedy( )       35   .349   10    57   27    9
(*)Eckstein      35   .362   18    46   38   13
Spiezio(#)       43   .343    5    51   29    2
Anderson( )      98   .302   11    83   19    2
B. Molina        27   .324    0    37   14    4
Erstad( )        56   .340   22    88   50    1
Palmeiro( )      20   .325    6    19   18    1
Glaus            81   .348    8   130   81   16
Salmon           37   .359    8   103   74    2
(*)DaVanon(#)     8   .286    1    17    5    0
Fabregas( )      14   .233    0    12    3    3

GRAND SLAMS: Anderson (1)

PITCHERS             ERA   W-L      IP     H    R

Levine              2.24   7-7     64.1    55   20
Percival            2.54   3-2     49.2    34   16
Pote                2.88   2-0     72.0    63   24
(*)Weber            3.21   6-2     61.2    58   24
Washburn( )         3.51   11-6   156.1   159   69
Hasegawa            3.70   4-4     41.1    39   19
Valdes              4.03   8-8    129.2   130   58
Ortiz               4.08   11-7   163.1   171   84
Rapp                4.37   5-10   156.2   150   82
Holtz( )            4.45   0-1     30.1    31   19
Schoeneweis( )      4.98   10-9   162.2   177   92
(*)Lukasiewicz( )   6.04   0-2     22.1    21   17

PITCHERS            ER   HR    K    BB   SV   AVG.

Levine              16    5    39   17    2   .240
Percival            14    2    57   15   36   .189
Pote                23   11    54   21    2   .227
(*)Weber            22    4    35   29    0   .247
Washburn( )         61   17   108   44    0   .262
Hasegawa            17    5    30   17    0   .250
Valdes              58   14    78   34    0   .261
Ortiz               74   16   107   57    0   .269
Rapp                76   15    76   63    0   .254
Holtz( )            15    4    33    9    0   .265
Schoeneweis( )      90   14    80   61    0   .278
(*)Lukasiewicz( )   15    6    25    9    0   .247

SHUTOUTS: None
COMPLETE GAMES: Ortiz, Rapp, Schoeneweis, Valdes, Washburn (1)

(*) Rookie
( ) Lefthanded
(#) Switch hitter
League leaders in bold
Statistics provided by STATS Inc. through Saturday, Aug 25.