Alicea Leaves Bench Behind

It seemed like an afterthought at the time, one of those run-of-the-mill, late winter signings to create more competition in camp. Then Randy Velarde injures his elbow making a routine throw in practice, and all of a sudden Luis Alicea is the Angels’ opening-day second baseman.

It’s funny how these things work out. Alicea said the main reason he signed with Anaheim as a free agent is that he knew Manager Terry Collins liked to use his bench players a lot. But with Velarde sidelined for weeks--and possibly months--Alicea won’t be spending much time on the bench.

And that’s fine with Collins.

“He was a starting second baseman for a team [St. Louis] that made the playoffs last season, so we know he can play,” Collins said.

Alicea, 31, probably won’t match Velarde’s 14 home runs last season--he has only 22 homers in seven major league seasons--but the switch-hitter had a career-high 26 doubles and hit .258 in 1996. He hit a three-run homer on May 30 and a two-run homer on June 1 against Houston, two blasts that Collins, the former Astro manager, obviously didn’t forget.

Alicea also hit three homers this spring, has above average speed and good bat control, and he appears to be a fine fit for the No. 2 hole in the Angel batting order. The only question with him is defense--Alicea led National League second basemen in errors last season with 24.

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With four spring outings under his belt after missing two weeks because of back spasms, closer Troy Percival appears to be ready for the season.

The right-hander struggled a bit with his control in his first two games back last week, but his scoreless inning against the Dodgers Sunday, in which he struck out two and induced a pop up, convinced Collins he is 100%.

“I really loved the locations he was throwing to,” Collins said. “Power pitchers really need spring training more than others, but he seems to be ready.”