Greene Starts Off With Bang

Todd Greene, playing for the first time this season, hit the first two pitches he saw, one for a double in the second and the other for a single in the fourth.

“It’s been a frustrating year so far,” said Greene, who has recovered enough to play after off-season shoulder surgery. “Just seeing my name in the lineup made me happy.”

By the end of the game, he wasn’t so elated. Greene had three hits, but was unhappy with his performance.

Greene made his major league debut as an outfielder in the first game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. A wicked line drive by Albert Belle glanced off his glove for a double, allowing two runs to score in the third inning.

“It doesn’t matter how you did at the plate, if you lose a game on a play that should have been made,” Greene said. “If it was a ball in the gap that I didn’t have the speed to get to, that would be one thing.”

Greene started in the organization as an outfielder before being converted to a catcher.

“I haven’t played there in five years,” Greene said. “It’s like riding a bike, but it’s not like riding a bike. You got to get the kinks out. I’m sure just playing it, I can get back to where I used to be. I wasn’t a bad outfielder.”

*

Jeff Juden threw in the bullpen and ran in the outfield Saturday, then drove back to Milwaukee, “to pick up few things before I go with the boys to Detroit.”

Juden, acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, will be activated today and start on Tuesday.

The trade keeps Juden perfect--seven years, seven teams. One of the trades gave him World Series experience, as was shipped to Cleveland in the middle of last season.

“I’ve been a journeyman guy,” said Juden, who is signed through this season. “I’ve played for a lot of teams and been around. I got to play in the World Series last year and that was the biggest thing in my baseball career and my life. I hope I can help the Angels accomplish that.

“It’s all about winning. You can have fun, you can party and you can be happy. You can do all those things. But it starts with winning.”

Juden shrugged off the question about the number of ejections and brawls he has been involved in.

“All can say is wait and see and make your own assessments and judgments,” he said.

*

With Juden in the rotation, Allen Watson moved to the bullpen. Either Jason Dickson or Steve Sparks will start on three days rest Wednesday in Detroit.

“[Watson] is where he is as of right now,” Manager Terry Collins said. “Juden is starting on Tuesday. I can’t worry about things down the road.”

Said Watson: “It’s up to them how they pitch me. I can’t complain. There is nothing I can do but go out and pitch.”

Watson came out of the bullpen in the first game Saturday, replacing Dickson in the fourth inning. He retired all five batters he faced, but the last one knocked him out of the game. Frank Thomas lined the ball off Waston’s left leg. He suffered a contusion of the left calf, but X-rays were negative.

TODAY

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY

(8-5, 2.96 ERA)

vs.

WHITE SOX’S JAMES BALDWIN

(7-4, 5.70 ERA)

Comiskey Park, 11 a.m. TV--Channel 9. Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090)

* Update--Finley hasn’t won since June 30, a span of six starts. It hasn’t been his fault. Finley is 0-1 with 3.09 earned-run average in those six games. He left two games early because of minor injuries. He also pitched eight shutout innings against the Yankees and had a no-decision to show for it.