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AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Anaheim
10-14: 3rd
Because of spasms, Erstad can't carry offense on back
The team ranked 11th in the A.L. with a .241 average through 24 games. One of the players struggling the most is CF Darin Erstad, the team's best player. He is trying to play through painful lower back spasms that have reduced him to a .242 hitter. The pain was so intense last Thursday that Erstad pulled himself from a 6-5 loss to Cleveland in the eighth inning. When Erstad got to the park Friday, he said he couldn't stand up until trainers popped his back into place. Erstad had his lower back adjusted periodically last season, but that's part of his daily routine this season.... Though the Angels have a respectable 4.13 team ERA, there have been some unsettling developments in the rotation. RHP Pat Rapp has been hit hard in three of five starts; RHP Ramon Ortiz has been inconsistent; RHP Ismael Valdes has been slowed by blister problems; and LHP Jarrod Washburn has been awful in three starts.
REPORT:. SS Benji Gil considers defense his top priority. But Gil, a career .222 hirer, was batting .362 with six doubles and 11 RBIs last week. Much of Gil's improvement can be attributed to his success against righthanders. Gil was a career .221 hitter against righties entering 2001, but he seems more disciplined against them this season, cutting down on his swing and hitting balls up the middle and to the opposite field. He's batting .348 against righties this year.
SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: When the Indians' Russell Branyan took offense to a pair of inside pitches from LHP AI Levine during the team's April 25 game, he did not receive much sympathy from home-plate umpire John Shulock. "He said, `Those pitches were too far inside,' and I said. `No, they're not, he's just setting you up for a fastball on the outside corner,' and that's what he threw," Shulock says. Branyan hit that pitch off the left field wall for a double, but Levine still was impressed with how quickly Shulock diffused the situation. "Shulock had a talk with him, and that was the end of that" Levine says. --Mike DiGiovanna
APRIL GRADES
- ANGELS NOTEBOOK: METRODOME ROOF VICTIMIZES ERSTAD.(Sports)
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) June 2, 2002 700+ words
...inning Saturday. Erstad got the worst end...with shortstop Benji Gil on a blooper to shallow...s Bobby Kielty. Gil made the catch, but in the process kicked Erstad in the face and spiked...into each other.'' Gil said he called for the ball but assumed Erstad couldn't hear him...
- SELE CAN'T MATCH ERSTAD'S HEROICS ANGELS FALL, DROP 10 1/2 BACK IN WEST...
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) June 14, 2003 700+ words
...Molina immediately followed Erstad's catch by leading off the...fifth with a home run. Benji Gil and Eric Owens, both in season...Eckstein struck out looking, Erstad flew out and Tim Salmon struck...interesting in the sixth inning, when Gil's perfect drag bunt scored...
- ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ERSTAD IS READY TO BE THE LEADER.(Sports)
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) March 29, 2002 700+ words
...That's all you can do.'' Erstad, though, isn't the only...all police each other,'' Erstad said. ``A lot of guys speak...together for awhile now, and Erstad said he thinks their years together...Palmeiro and infielders Benji Gil and Jose Nieves. The final...
- ANGELS NOTEBOOK: AILING ERSTAD WILL HAVE LOWER BACK EXAMINED.(Sports)
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) April 30, 2001 700+ words
...You see me up there,'' said Erstad, who hit .161 (5 for 31...tests to run after examining Erstad. Scioscia doesn't even want...what life would be like with Erstad out for a long time. ``Certainly...have been Valdes' spot. --Gil glad to go: Shortstop Benji...
- ERSTAD: AN EMBARRASSMENT ANGELS BEMOAN THEIR MISSED OPPORTUNITIES ONCE AGAIN...
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) August 31, 2001 700+ words
...the blame squarely on himself. Erstad went 0 for 5 Thursday night, personally...Mark Quinn hit a grounder to Benji Gil at shortstop. Gil flipped to second baseman Adam...only run. In his five at-bats, Erstad got the ball out of the infield...
- Erstad's knee is the problem.(The Orange County Register)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Rosenberg, Cheryl April 30, 2001 700+ words
...medial collateral ligament in Erstad's right knee, which possibly...his status is day-to-day. Erstad felt a pop in his lower back...Clinic in Los Angeles on Monday. Erstad is batting .242 with eight...In the meantime, Benji Gil is getting the bulk of playing...
- ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ERSTAD TAKING STEPS TO CORRECT PROBLEM.(Sports)
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) May 17, 2001 700+ words
...second time this season. So Erstad is going to do something about...night games at Edison Field, Erstad will wear orange-tinted contact...combination that works,'' Erstad said. --Mix and match: Manager...starts at shortstop, but Benji Gil will get an occasional start...
- Biggest batting gainers and losers for 2001: Desi Relaford and Bret Boone...
- Magazine article from: Baseball Digest Pickard, Chuck February 1, 2002 700+ words
...hit games (65). Bengi Gil, who bared a surprising...surges. Amazingly, Darin Erstad was tagged with the biggest...Sea. .251 .331 80 Benji Gil Ana. Ana. .239 .296...Team Team BA BA Loss Darin Erstad Ana. Ana. .355 .258...
