DeCinces Can Still Contribute

Doug DeCinces had heard the rumors, so he showed up at spring training with a new first baseman’s glove. He never got the chance to break it in--thanks to some kid named Wally Joyner--but that was just fine with DeCinces, who had spent the last 12 years establishing himself as one of baseball’s top defensive third baseman.

There’s another rookie whose performance could have a much greater impact on DeCinces’ career, though. Jack Howell, 24, has been the heir apparent to DeCinces’ spot at third for a couple of years now, but his .192 batting average may have DeCinces breathing a bit easier these days.

But not too much easier.

DeCinces will be 36 on Aug. 29. He has a chronic lower back condition and he’s in the final year of a three-year contract that pays him $800,000 a year. He also got a $300,000 signing bonus and with incentives for games played, has a chance to earn $1.2 million this season.

DeCinces separated his shoulder diving for a ground ball May 14. He didn’t tell anyone, though, and played in pain (“I couldn’t even drive my car left-handed”) for more than two weeks.

It wasn’t because he needs the bonus money.

DeCinces wants to end his career in Anaheim. . . .and he doesn’t want it to end just yet.

Did his contract status keep him on the field when he should have been in the training room?

“That’s a hypothetical question,” he said, “and the answer is, ‘hypothetically, probably.”’

DeCinces, who always had an exaggerated closed stance, has opened up to deal with a shoulder problem. He’s paid the price with a lack of consistency, but he’s beginning to feel comfortable again.

Tuesday night, DeCinces slugged a three-run homer to left-center in the fifth inning of the Angels’ 4-0 win over the division-leading Texas Rangers at Anaheim Stadium. It was his ninth home run of the year and fourth in the last nine games. He has 11 RBIs in the same span.

“I still haven’t found the consistency I’m used to,” he said. “It comes and goes. I took some extra batting practice today because I’m still trying to get used to the new stance.

“While I was trying to play through the separated shoulder, I went 7 for 50, and I’ve been in this game long enough to know that sometimes you have to make adjustments.”

DeCinces says the shoulder is “much better now.” It hasn’t hurt his fielding anyway. In the fifth inning Tuesday, he went into the hole to stab a sharp grounder off the bat of Toby Harrah, made a 360-degree spin and threw out the Rangers’ second baseman by a step.

The Angels have been heading toward a youth movement lately and a number of veterans--DeCinces, Brian Downing, Bob Boone, Reggie Jackson and Bobby Grich--are all at the end of their contracts.

Last year, DeCinces fought his ailing back and played in just 120 games, but he hit 20 homers and 78 RBIs.

He isn’t counting on playing every game for the next few years, but he does think he can still help the team. He hopes the Angels’ front office sees the situation in a similar fashion.

“It’s out of my hands,” he said.

But it’s certainly not out of his mind.

“I’ve been struggling mentally with a lot of things,” he admitted. “Sometimes this game isn’t as easy as it seems. You start pressing because you want to produce. It’s that ultimate drive to be successful.

“But lately, it seems whatever I’ve done just isn’t enough.”