Velarde Enjoying the Daily Grind

Randy Velarde came to Anaheim Stadium Sunday knowing he’d be in the lineup.

The ear infection, which kept him on the bench the last four games, was “50% better.” The tendinitis in the knees hadn’t been a problem since spring training.

It was time to go back to his job.

“Mentally, it’s a grind when you don’t know if you’ll play every day,” said Velarde, who spent eight seasons with the New York Yankees as a utility player. “You get to the ball park not knowing where, or if, they’ll use you. Then they tell you to stay loose in case you’re needed. That’s asking a lot.”

All the Angels ask is that Velarde play solid defense at second base and be a productive leadoff batter. He could take that job and love it.

Velarde homered in the first Sunday, then doubled to start a three-run second. He had three hits and scored two runs in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

“It’s a great feeling knowing you’re going to be in the lineup every day,” Velarde said. “I know I can do it mentally. The physical part, I guess I’ll find out.”

Velarde got a little lesson this past week. He missed four games because of the ear infection, spending the time working on his swing with hitting instructor Rod Carew.

He still has difficulty hearing from his right ear, but four days was enough time off. Velarde hit a 2-1 pitch over the center-field fence in the first. An inning later, his ground-rule double started a two-out rally.

“He didn’t waste any time letting me know he was all right,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said.

Velarde’s three hits raised his average to .295 and he is second on the team with 17 runs scored. His productivity has made his three-year, $2.45-million contract look like a bargain.

He started slowly this season, but hi batting average has hovered between .270 and .300 the past two weeks.

“Now you’re seeing the Randy Velarde you’re going to see all year,” Lachemann said recently. “He’s going to play hard every single day. He’s going to hit .270 or .280. He’s a player.”

Velarde has known that all along. He just needed to find a team that would let him prove it daily.

The Yankees needed Velarde--everywhere.

Still, Velarde’s skills didn’t go unnoticed. Eight teams made contact during the off-season, most wanting him to play third base. That wasn’t what he sought.

“People start expecting you to hit 20 home runs and drive in 80 if you’re a third baseman,” said Velarde, who has 44 career home runs. “There’s less pressure about that if you’re a middle infielder.”

The Angels were happy to accommodate him, even though they were in the market for a third baseman to replace Tony Phillips. Nor were they concerned about losing some muscle in the leadoff spot. Phillips hit 27 home runs and started six games with home runs.

Velarde’s home run Sunday was not only his first of the season, it was the first leadoff home run of his career.

“He’s going to do everything he can to get on base,” Edmonds said. “What more do you want in a leadoff hitter?”

Sunday, all the Angels wanted was Velarde back on the job.