He Stays on Feet, and in the Lineup

L.A. Times Archives

April 22, 2002 12 AM PT

OAKLAND — First Jim Edmonds, now Darin Erstad: The Angels’ center fielder dives all over the outfield, throwing his body in every direction, and inevitably gets hurt at some point. The left fielder remains standing; Garret Anderson rarely dives for a ball and never gets hurt.

The Angels moved Anderson to center field Sunday to replace Erstad, out until at least Friday after suffering a mild concussion while diving for a ball three days ago.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Anderson would return to left field when Erstad returned to the lineup, raising two questions: How much does Anderson’s oft-derided playing style help explain his consistent production on offense? And would the Angels be smarter to play Anderson in center field--his preferred position--and Erstad at first base?

In his eight years in the major leagues, Anderson never has been on the disabled list and has emerged as the Angels’ most dependable hitter. He has played in 334 of the Angels’ last 338 games, and he said his reluctance to dive for balls has “a lot to do with” his durability.

Said Anderson: “That’s not saying I don’t play hard. But I’m not going to hit the ground just to hit the ground and prove something to anybody. If I wasn’t playing well in the outfield, I wouldn’t be out there. I don’t hit 55 home runs, where that would validate my playing out there every day regardless of my defense.”

Ron Roenicke, the Angels’ outfield coach, said that “there will be a time he will miss a ball by six feet without diving.” But Roenicke also said he believes there is no better left fielder than Anderson in the major leagues today.

Roenicke, noting that Erstad played 157 games in each of the last two seasons, said telling him to tone down his diving or crashing into fences would reduce his effectiveness by forcing him to hesitate and think on each play rather than react on instinct.

“You want a guy in center field who plays that way,” Roenicke said. “If he gets hurt, that’s part of it.”

Erstad won a Gold Glove as an outfielder two years ago. Scioscia said the Angels have discussed--and for now rejected--the option of moving Erstad to first to reduce his risk of injury and keep his bat in the lineup.

“Darin is very resilient,” Scioscia said. “The question is, where is he going to have more of an impact, as an outstanding center fielder or an outstanding first baseman? Right now, for us, there’s no question that it’s Erstad in center.”

Erstad returned to Southern California Sunday and will be examined today by Angel physician Craig Milhouse. Athletic trainer Ned Bergert said Milhouse could order neurological studies to assess Erstad’s memory and balance.

Bergert said Erstad was still “in a haze” Sunday. Doctors will not clear him to return until he has been free of symptoms, most notably headaches, for several days.

While a Friday return represents an optimistic scenario rather than a firm timetable, Scioscia said the Angels plan to wait several days before deciding whether to put Erstad on the 15-day disabled list.

ON DECK

Opponent--Seattle Mariners, three games.

Site--Safeco Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--ESPN Wednesday.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 6-12, Mariners 15-4.

Record vs. Mariners--0-4.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

SCOTT

SCHOENEWEIS

(1-2, 5.14 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

JAMIE MOYER

(2-1, 3.52 ERA)

Update--The Mariners have the same record after 19 games this season as they did en route to winning an AL-record 116 games last season. Ex-Angel Shigetoshi Hasegawa is 3-0 with a 0.00 earned-run average.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (1-2, 4.19) vs. TBA.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (1-2, 5.48) vs. Paul Abbott (1-1, 9.64).

Bill Shaikin