A.L.(team-by-team analyses of American League baseball clubs)

Anaheim Angels

www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angel

53-51

3rd West

Team hopes Erstad gets a lift from the No. 2 slot

CF Darin Erstad's up-and-down season currently is on the down side. After hitting .242 in April, he hit .299 in May and .311 in June. But entering the week, Erstad was hitting. 186 for July, and his average was down to .263. Last season, he hit .355 from the leadoff spot. With the emergence of SS David Eckstein at leadoff this season, Erstad was moved to No. 2 in the order, then No. 3. He has had his most success hitting No. 2 (.298), so manager Mike Scioscia has put him back there for now.... OF Garret Anderson doesn't consider himself the prototypical cleanup hitter, but he has hit like one since being moved to the No. 4 spot. Anderson, who leads the team with 75 RBIs, says he has had success from the spot because he hasn't changed his approach, hitting the same way from the fourth position as he would from the third, fifth or sixth slots.

SCOUTING REPORT: Since winning the starting job last season, C Bengie Molina has continued to improve behind the plate, particularly in calling a game. He is known for working well with the pitchers, and the results are evident in the Angels' staff ERA (3.88), which ranks third in the league. He considers offense secondary but has shown a knack for getting clutch hits--he's batting .293 with runners in scoring position. However, his offense overall is down. After hitting .281 with 14 homers in 2000, Molina is hitting .261 with two homers.