BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Hayes Ready to Return to Right Field

Von Hayes said he’s “130%” ready to return to the lineup tonight after missing eight games because of a strained left hamstring.

And when he does come back, he probably will bat second instead of third. Junior Felix, moved from second to third in the batting order last Thursday, was eight for 22 with five runs scored and 10 RBIs in seven games in Hayes’ place.

“The only negative is that I’d have two left-handers in a row,” Manager Buck Rodgers said of a 1-2 order of Luis Polonia and Hayes. “I might hit Von second against right-handers and, against left-handers, hit Junior second. Von gets more walks and he does some things in the No. 2 spot Junior doesn’t. I’ll have to toy with it.”

Hayes says he doesn’t care where he hits.

“I’ve been ready for about a week,” he said. “I’ve got an overabundance of energy.”

Hayes was kept out the last few games because of cold weather in Detroit.

Relief pitcher Chuck Crim, who gave up Detroit’s sixth run Monday, will be shifted to a long relief role until his struggle ends. Crim, who has given up nine runs in his last seven appearances, has allowed nine of 13 inherited runners to score, including the last eight.

“He’s struggling with his control and his delivery,” Rodgers said. “We’re trying to put in a split-finger fastball because we feel it’s something he needs. The biggest thing right now is taking the delivery he has in the bullpen and taking it to the mound. . . . There’s going to be some soul searching. As far as working on the mental toughness he has to have, he has to bring that on himself. You can’t teach that.”

Outfielder John Morris, who has a strained left rib cage, showed improvement and will be examined today by team physician Lewis Yocum. . . . Polonia’s first-inning strikeout was his first in 99 plate appearances, the longest streak of his career. . . . Hubie Brooks, making his first tour of the American League, pronounced Toronto’s SkyDome his favorite ballpark so far. . . . Gary Gaetti’s ninth-inning strikeout was the 999th of his career. He went 10 for 27 on the trip, lifting his batting average to .235. . . . Tuesday’s batting order was identical to last Saturday’s, the first repeat this season.