DiSarcina Not One to Walk

Gary DiSarcina is on pace to walk zero times this season. It’s true--in 49 plate appearances after Tuesday night’s game against the Orioles, the Angel shortstop had not drawn a walk.

This should come as no surprise to those who have followed DiSarcina. In seven big leagues seasons, the most he has walked is 21 times. Now comes the ultimate challenge: going a whole year without a free pass.

“That’s my goal,” DiSarcina said with a grin. “Has that ever been done? If not, there’s always a first.”

It used to bother DiSarcina that he hardly drew any walks. He’d fret, wondering if he was swinging at too many bad pitches, too many first pitches, or simply not letting enough pitches go by.

“I tried to figure it out three years ago,” DiSarcina said. “I just threw it all out the window. It’s been the same thing for seven years. Every time I try to work the count, take pitches, or work for a walk, it’s 0-2, then strike three, and I’m walking back to the dugout.”

That doesn’t happen too often, though. DiSarcina walked 17 times in 1997, but he struck out only 29 times. It almost seems as if DiSarcina has a deep-rooted fear of striking out, so he rarely gets in any two-strike situations.

He ranked second in the American League last season in fewest pitches seen per plate appearance (2.98). He also led the league in highest percentage of swings put into play (60.5%) and lowest percentage that missed (10.4%).

*

You can’t get into Edison Field’s exclusive Diamond Club without a ticket. Unless, of course, you happen to be wearing an Oriole uniform with the No. 8 and the name “RIPKEN” on back.

About an hour and a half before Tuesday night’s game, Baltimore’s famous third baseman strolled through the bleachers and into the posh restaurant behind home plate and was seen chatting with ushers.

“I didn’t know what it was from down on the field,” Cal Ripken said. “I was just trying to understand the concept.”

Told that several reporters had been denied entrance into the club, Ripken said, “Try climbing the fence. That works pretty well.”

*

Catcher Todd Greene and second baseman Randy Velarde will be sent to the Angels’ extended spring training camp in Arizona this week, and both will be re-evaluated when the Angels return from their next trip. “Our most optimistic [projection] is they’ll begin rehabilitation assignments May 1,” Manager Terry Collins said. “If we’re wrong, it won’t be the first time we’ve miscalculated with them.” . . . When Collins found out the Orioles would start left-hander Doug Johns Tuesday night, he decided to give Jim Edmonds another day to rest his sprained right wrist. Collins’ decision was solidified during batting practice when Edmonds had trouble holding onto his bat after several swings. “It’s not the contact I worry about,” Collins said. “It’s the torque on his wrists when he swings and misses.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY

(3-0, 0.56 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’ SCOTT ERICKSON

(3-1, 5.55 ERA)

Edison Field, 7:30

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Finley, whose ERA is the lowest in the major leagues, has a 13-game win streak dating to last July 1, but the only ritual he has maintained has been his pregame workout routine. “I haven’t done anything, as far as turning my blinker on twice when I come to the park or all that,” Finley said. “How can I be superstitious when everything is working?” Erickson, a sinkerball specialist, has a 13-2 record against the Angels. Ripken’s consecutive games streak reached 2,497 Tuesday, which is longer than the next 22 active streaks combined.

Tickets--(714) 634-2000.