BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Curtis Benched After Being Picked Off
Manager Buck Rodgers chose his words carefully, but his actions spoke volumes Friday when he benched center fielder Chad Curtis, the hottest player in the lineup.
Curtis was picked off first base in the eighth inning of the Angels’ 5-2 defeat Wednesday to the Minnesota Twins, leaving Rodgers to openly wonder why Curtis was even thinking about stealing when the Angels were trailing by four runs at the time.
“Let him watch one,” Rodgers said, “and we’ll see what happens. This is a learning process. When I sit a guy out, I hope he learns something by it. You can’t take this game for granted.”
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The Angels said they are not interested in outfielder Eric Davis if the Dodgers release him.
“I really liked Eric Davis the first five years I saw him in the National League and thought he had as much talent as anyone I’ve seen,” Rodgers said, “but I don’t see how he could work in our situation. (Tim) Salmon and Chad will be around awhile, and we have (Luis) Polonia, whom we like.”
Said Dan O’Brien, vice president/baseball operations: “If the Dodgers decide they can’t use him, what makes you think he could play for us?”
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