McNamara: Regulars to Stay in Lineup

Manager John McNamara doesn’t need a lineup card so much as a depth chart, what with 34 players on the active roster, but he won’t spend the final week of the season in a juggling act, trying to give September callups more playing time.

With nine games left, all against the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, who are battling for the American League West title, McNamara will start Angel regulars as often as possible.

“Some think we should play our young guys with an eye toward the future, but some think we have an obligation to play our best players because the games mean so much [to the opponents],” McNamara said.

“Being from the old school, I think we have to play our starters. I think we have an obligation to the game. I don’t want anyone to say we didn’t put our best lineup out there.”

That’s why Randy Velarde, Tim Salmon and Chili Davis were in the lineup Friday night despite suffering flulike symptoms. And it’s why McNamara will stick with his regular starting rotation next week.

“At this point, you need something to play for,” Salmon said. “All I can say is if we were in their shoes, they wouldn’t roll over for us, so we’re not going to roll over for them.”

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Darryl Hamilton’s leadoff homer Friday night was the 37th home run Angel right-hander Shawn Boskie has given up this season, moving him into sole possession of first place among major league pitchers. Boskie, Boston’s Tim Wakefield and Minnesota’s Brad Radke were tied for first going into Friday. . . . Batting instructor Rod Carew, whose 18-year-old daughter, Michelle, died in April after a long battle against leukemia, has indicated he would like to return to the Angels next season. . . . Marcel Lachemann, who resigned as Angel manager Aug. 6, recently began working with Angel pitching prospects at the team’s Arizona instructional league. There is a good chance Lachemann could return to the Angels next season as their pitching coach.