Walbeck Facing a New Challenger

Catcher Matt Walbeck can look across the Angel clubhouse and see where the Angel future may be. Ben Molina, the team’s 25-year-old rookie catcher, has lived up to expectations thus far.

It makes Walbeck wonder what his future holds. He knocked in the winning run Monday with an eighth-inning single, but he hasn’t had an impressive year. He is hitting .240 with 18 runs batted in.

Still, after two years of platooning, Walbeck hopes to have one more shot at winning the job outright.

“I hope to start,� said Walbeck, who is signed through next season. “I don’t really have any complaints. This is a pretty good job that I have. But if you ask anybody in my situation, they would tell you they want to play on a regular basis.�

That might be difficult with the way Molina has played since being called up from triple-A Edmonton on Aug. 3. Molina was hitting .255 before Tuesday’s game. His defensive skills and the way he has handled pitchers have impressed Angel officials.

It leaves Walbeck with another challenger, of which there have been many the last two seasons--Phil Nevin (now with San Diego), Todd Greene, Charlie O’Brien, Steve Decker, Bret Hemphill and now Molina.

Earlier this season, Greene, Walbeck and O’Brien rotated. Greene was moved to designated hitter after suffering minor injuries in a collision at home plate. Later, O’Brien suffered a foot injury and was released soon after recovering.

Still, Walbeck platooned, as Hemphill and Decker were called up to fill the void.

“It’s been confusing, especially when Charlie was here,� said Walbeck, who hit .257 and drove in 46 runs last season. “It seemed like there was always a new catcher coming in.

“I don’t have any control on what Ben does. All I can do is come to spring training ready to play.�

And what might make the difference?

“It’s all offense,� Walbeck said. “It’s all offense.�

*

Collins said Darin Erstad, on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained knee, probably will be activated Friday, when the Angels play in Boston.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (8-10, 4.92 ERA) vs. BLUE JAYS’ JOEY HAMILTON (6-7, 6.47 ERA)

Edison Field, 1 p.m.

Radio--KLAC (590), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Finley hasn’t lost since the non-waiver trade deadline passed, going 3-0 with a 1.19 earned-run average in four starts. He has struck out 31 in his last 31 1/3 innings. Reliever Mike James suffered a minor setback in his return from elbow surgery. He gave up five runs in one-third of an inning in a rehabilitation start for triple-A Edmonton on Monday. As a result, his pitch count will be reduced from 40 to 20 for his appearance tonight.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.