If Glove Fits, Hollins Will Drink Beer

Reporter to Angel third baseman Dave Hollins: “You might win a Gold Glove Award if you keep this up.”

Hollins to reporter: “Yeah, and you’re gonna be president.”

Yes, it sounds absurd, any sentence that includes Dave Hollins and Gold Glove. This is a guy who committed more errors (29) than any other American League third baseman in 1997, and who has delivered his share of souvenir baseballs to fans in the first base box seats.

But numbers don’t lie, and going into Saturday night’s game against the Twins, Hollins had only two errors in 42 games. His fielding percentage of .980 ranked second in the league behind Detroit’s Joe Randa (.984), and just ahead of Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. (.979).

With 1997 AL Gold Glove winner Matt Williams in the National League, third base is not the marquee AL defensive position it has been in recent years.

Hollins, who has mixed in spectacular plays while making almost all the routine ones, is still a longshot, but if ever there was a year for him to garner Gold Glove votes, this could be it.

The key for Hollins has been good health--winter knee surgery corrected a nagging injury--and a mechanical overhaul. Hollins has slowed his motion by rocking slightly from one foot to the other before throwing and has switched from an over-the-top motion to more of a three-quarter delivery.

And what if the work results in a Gold Glove for Hollins?

“I’d have a huge keg party,” he said. “I don’t really care about the Gold Glove. I’m more concerned about my hitting. I’m happy to make the plays behind our pitchers, but the Gold Glove has never been an aspiration.”

*

Todd Greene, recovering from shoulder surgery, caught nine innings for triple-A Vancouver on Friday night and threw out the only runner who tried to steal against him. He was scheduled to catch Saturday night and Monday, and if he responds favorably, the Angels probably will activate him for Wednesday’s game against Kansas City.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (4-1, 2.56 ERA) vs. TWINS’ BRAD RADKE

(5-3, 3.18 ERA)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090), KIK-FM (94.3).

* Update--For 13 years, batters have known Finley’s best pitch is his forkball. They know what to expect. And still they have trouble hitting a pitch that starts at their knees and then dives into the dirt. “It’s hard to identify because he’s so consistent with his release point and arm speed,” said Twins’ designated hitter Paul Molitor, who has a .323 average (21 for 65) with two homers and seven RBIs against Finley. “When you break down hitting, the two most important elements are identifying the pitch and knowing where it’s going to end up. Finley makes that part tough, and I’m sure it won’t be any easier starting the game at 5 p.m. and in the shadows.”

Tickets--(714) 634-2000.