Brandon Wood has inside track on third base job

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. â€”  Mike Scioscia likes to keep reporters — and his players — in the dark when it comes to spring-training decisions such as what pitcher will start opening day and who has the edge in position battles.

But the Angels manager tipped his hand Monday, acknowledging that Brandon Wood, the organization’s top prospect for several years, will get first crack at the third base job, with Maicer Izturis likely to open the season as a utility infielder.

“He’s a guy we would like to take the position,� Scioscia said when asked whether Wood was a lock to be his starting third baseman. “He has to show he’s ready, but right now, we’re looking for him to get the first opportunity there, with Izzy helping out with the versatility he brings to play second, third and shortstop.�

In 224 big league at-bats since 2007, the 25-year-old Wood has hit .192 with seven home runs, 19 runs batted in, 74 strikeouts and seven walks.

But the Angels believe that with regular playing time, Wood has the potential to hit 15 to 20 home runs and cut down on his strikeouts. They think Wood is major league-ready defensively.

Izturis, who signed a three-year, $10-million deal this winter, will probably play four or five times a week, spelling Wood, shortstop Erick Aybar and second baseman Howie Kendrick.

“If we have to adjust to that, we will,� Scioscia said. “But we know what Brandon is going to do on defense, and hopefully he’ll find a comfort level on offense. He has a lot of talent and potential.�

Get a grip

Left-hander Scott Kazmir, who had his spring debut against the Dodgers on Monday, is experimenting with a new grip on his slider, which he hopes will add velocity to the pitch.

Instead of putting pressure on his index finger while throwing the pitch, Kazmir, slowed this spring by a sore right hamstring, is putting pressure on his middle finger and throwing the pitch more like a cut fastball.

“It’s going to have more velocity, more bite, and it’s going to put less stress on my elbow,� Kazmir said. “It’s not a cutter because it has more depth.�

Kazmir, whose fastball hovers in the 94-mph range, threw the new slider only once Monday, getting Blake DeWitt to swing and miss, but he expects to incorporate it more this spring.

“The last couple of years the slider has been 78-79 mph, and guys might get fooled but still have a little more time to recognize it and put a good swing on it,� Kazmir said. “When it’s a little bit harder, like 84 mph, it looks more like a fastball and you get more swings and misses.�

Short hops

Aybar (forearm stiffness) did not play the field for a fifth straight game, and he probably won’t play shortstop until late in the week. Scioscia said Aybar will start at designated hitter Tuesday against San Diego. Right fielder Bobby Abreu (tightness in his side) sat out his third straight game and probably won’t return for two or three days. “We’re going to err on the side of caution� with both players, Scioscia said. . . . Outfielder Reggie Willits, who strained his right hamstring Sunday, will probably be sidelined for the rest of the week. . . . The Angels, 2-8-2 in exhibition play, have lost as many games as they did all last spring, when they went 26-8.

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