Glaus Holds Up Well in His Angel Debut

Boston Red Sox pitcher Bret Saberhagen sent a little welcome note to Troy Glaus Tuesday--a 2-1 pitch under Glaus’ chin in the second inning. Saberhagen didn’t realize there was an RSVP attached.

Glaus lined the next pitch into the right-field corner for a double that scored Cecil Fielder. It was his first major league at-bat, hit and run batted in.

“That’s how you play the game,” said Glaus after the Angels’ 7-2 loss to the Red Sox. “You just retain your focus and approach.

“There was an RBI out there and I didn’t want to leave it for someone else.”

A big moment for a player who more or less slipped into town Thursday.

The Angels didn’t welcome Glaus with the same fanfare they rolled out for Darin Erstad’s major league debut in 1996. Glaus, the third pick in the 1997 draft, didn’t get such royal treatment.

Erstad was ushered in with a 25-minute press conference, complete with press kit. Glaus got a one-page press release.

Of course, Glaus’ presence created a delicate situation. A third-base prospect coming to a team that has a veteran third baseman, even if Dave Hollins has struggled all season.

But Glaus has handled things well, in the clubhouse and on the field.

“There were butterflies, but once you get on field it’s the same game,” Glaus said. “You get your first ground ball, your first at-bat out of the way, it’s all the same.”

He had one hit in four at-bats Friday.

Erstad, one of the Angels’ best hitters, went hitless in his first major league game, striking out three times.

“It’s not [Troy’s] job to come here and carry the team,” Manager Terry Collins said. “He’s a young kid with a lot of talent. He doesn’t need to hit home runs or make spectacular plays. He just needs to go play.”

Collins is going to give him that chance this weekend. Glaus was going to have today off--why send a kid out to face Pedro Martinez in a day game?--but Collins changed his mind.

Glaus will start today and Hollins will play first base.

Collins said: “I told him, ‘Just do what you’ve been doing. . . . please do what you’ve been doing.’ ”

Sure, wouldn’t the Angels like that.

Glaus hit .307 with 35 home runs and drove in 93 runs with double-A Midland and triple-A Vancouver. It got him to the major leagues after only 109 minor-league games.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen this fast,” Glaus said. “I was just doing what I could to catch their eye.”

Others were watching as well. Glaus was demanded by other teams in trade negotiations. The Angels said no and brought him to Anaheim instead.

He arrived faster than even Erstad, the No. 1 pick in the 1995 draft. He played 114 professional games before being called up.

“I talked with him [during spring training] because he went through a similar situation,” Glaus said. “He basically told me not to worry about when you’re going to get moved up. He told me there was nothing I could do but put up the numbers and convince people I needed to move up.”