BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Curtis Calls Carew’s Criticism Unfair

Angel center fielder Chad Curtis, bristling at accusations of those who call him selfish or uncoachable, vented his frustration with those who continue to criticize.

Curtis, who scored two runs and made a face-first catch against the center field fence in the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers, said it’s unfair that Angel batting coach Rod Carew called him “uncoachable.”

“He (Carew) doesn’t even try to coach me,” Curtis said. “He hasn’t said anything to me for three months. That’s why I don’t think it’s fair to say I’m uncoachable. I don’t think he’s said three words to me.

“I’m not saying that as a blast to him, because I have a lot of respect for him. I grew up trying to swing like him. I think it’s something that goes back to when we first met and he said, ‘I’m not going to be a real mechanical guy. I’m more into the mental approach.’

“I said, ‘Good, I don’t like to hear anything about mechanics.’ I think he got the feeling then that I don’t want to be coached.”

Carew already had left the clubhouse and was unavailable for comment, but Curtis says his point is proved by the fact he has greatly improved in center field, thanks in part to coach Sam Suplizio.

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The Texas Rangers still were irate with Angel second baseman Damion Easley on Sunday, and he has the bruise to prove it, after being intentionally hit Saturday night with a pitch by Jay Howell.

Easley stole second base uncontested in the fifth inning with the Angels leading, 9-0. The Rangers cursed him from the bench, and when Easley stepped to the plate in the seventh inning, he was drilled in the ribs.

“It was stupid,” Easley said, “I deserved it. I wasn’t even thinking when I did that.”

Angel reliever Bob Patterson retaliated in the ninth inning by hitting Ranger catcher Junior Ortiz, but there were no ejections.

“Believe me,” Easley said, “I learned my lesson.”

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The Angels have decided to skip Andrew Lorraine’s turn in the rotation with the off-day, and have put him back in the bullpen.