BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Copy Phillips’ Results, Not His Stance, Swing

Third baseman Tony Phillips has some advice for parents of Little Leaguers: “Don’t let your kids watch me hit, because I do a lot of things wrong.”

Out of an exaggerated crouch, Phillips lifts his front leg as the pitcher is about to release the ball, and he has a giant hitch, his hands and bat swaying back and forth before his swing.

Not exactly instructional videotape material, but when he’s in rhythm the style has served the lead-off hitter well. It’s when Phillips slips out of sync, like he has been for much of the past three weeks, that he runs into trouble.

“Once I get out of whack, it takes awhile to get back in because there’s so much movement in my swing,” Phillips said.

Phillips went seven for 44 (.159) from Aug. 23 to Sept. 6 and was in such a funk that when the Angels returned from their 1-8 East Coast trip last week, he spent 1 1/2 hours on an off-day taking batting practice in Anaheim Stadium. Why? “Because I don’t like embarrassing myself,” he said.

Phillips has recovered somewhat on this home stand, going six for 20 (.300) with three homers entering Friday night’s game. But he hasn’t declared his slump over.

“It seems like every hit I get is a homer, and I don’t like that,” he said. “That’s not good for me. Until I get back to going to the opposite field, I’m not going to be hitting consistently. That’s the way I’ve always been.”

Phillips is motivated as much by a fear of failure as the anticipation of success.

“If this doesn’t work out people are going to point my way, and I don’t want that to happen,” he said. “It’s pretty much set up that way, though. People seem to think if I do well the team does well, and vice versa.

“That’s not necessarily the case, and it’s not really fair, but I can handle it. Better on my shoulders than on some of the young kids. I can deal with it.”

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Chili Davis, who strained his right hamstring Tuesday night, felt good during batting practice Friday and was available to pinch-hit Friday night. The designated hitter probably will return to the lineup tonight, but don’t expect him to beat out any infield hits or stretch singles into doubles.

“I can’t bust it down the line anymore,” Davis said. “Make sure you write that so they don’t boo me when it seems like I’m dogging it.”