This Time, Relaxed Arias Shows He’s Prepared to Help Angels

He caught their eye during spring training, made them keep him after all the other young hopefuls had been cut and earned a spot in the starting lineup on opening day.

The Angels thought George Arias was ready to play in the major leagues. Of course, that was probably wishful thinking.

After all, he had never played a game in triple-A, never mind the big leagues. But since veteran Tim Wallach couldn’t overcome bouts with various leg injuries and neither Jack Howell nor Damion Easley were ready either, Arias won the third base job by default.

Arias had impressed with his glove and bat, but since there really was no alternative, he began the season as the Angels’ everyday third baseman.

He didn’t last, failing to hit as well as he had during the spring. His work in the field was fine, and that kept him in the majors until May 10.

“I felt nervous the first time I was here,” said Arias, whose two-run single in the eighth enabled the Angels to rally to a 5-4 victory over Seattle Saturday at Anaheim Stadium.

“When I went down [to triple-A Vancouver], I felt better about things,” he said. “Then, I felt like I belonged here.”

Searching for help again at third base after it became clear Wallach wasn’t the answer, the Angels summoned Arias last Wednesday. Arias had batted .337 with nine home runs and 55 runs batted in in 59 games at Vancouver.

The Angels decided to give Arias another shot, and on Friday they released Wallach, who batted only .237.

“It’s unfortunate they let Tim go,” Arias said. “He helped me a lot. But whoever does the job is going to play and I want to be that guy.”

Saturday, Arias had his first three-hit game in the majors and stole his second career base in helping the Angels win two in a row for the first time in a month.

He singled in the second, fourth and eighth.

His eighth-inning single to center field through the drawn-in Mariner infield, knocked in Randy Velarde with the tying run and J.T. Snow with the game-winner.

If he was nervous, coming up in that crucial situation against Seattle reliever Norm Charlton, it didn’t show. Arias slapped the first pitch into center.

“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Arias said. “I was looking for a pitch I could drive. I’m surprised I hit it up the middle, especially after I had been hitting everything off the end of the bat.”

It’s taken only a few days for Manager Marcel Lachemann to see how much more confident Arias is since his stint at Vancouver.

Lachemann figures there was nothing usual about a tentative rookie trying to find his way.

“It was his first time around and he’d never even been in some of the ballparks before,” Lachemann said. “It’s all familiarity. Plus, he was aware of who was playing behind him [Wallach]. Now, it’s come down to just doing the job. Now, he feels a little bit more prepared.

“After all, he was making the jump from double-A. He was probably apprehensive. Now, after playing in Vancouver, he probably feels more prepared for the major leagues.”