Who’s on First? It’s Turning Into Quite a Routine

The news on injured first baseman Dave Hollins was better than expected, but hardly encouraging.

An MRI on Hollins’ right shoulder revealed a partial tear of his rotator cuff.

The Angels were concerned that Hollins would have to undergo surgery. No timetable has been set for his return and he will continue rehabilitation.

With Darin Erstad on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring, Manager Terry Collins likely will juggle his first basemen.

Monday he started Chris Pritchett, just called up from triple-A Vancouver.

On Tuesday, Todd Greene--all 5 feet 8 of him--started, becoming the sixth player to start at first base for the Angels this season. He was the first with no major league experience at the position.

Greene, a converted catcher, played nine games at first base for triple-A Vancouver this season. Gary DiSarcina bounced a throw in the dirt that Greene couldn’t scoop in the fifth. It allowed Geronimo Berroa to score from third.

Greene, though, saved the Angels a run when he dug out third baseman Troy Glaus’ throw with runners at second and third to end the fifth.

At the plate, Greene was two for three.

Utility man Craig Shipley also played first and made an error in the 10th inning.

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The Detroit Tigers finally scored a run off Angel closer Troy Percival. The next step will be trying to score an earned run.

Shipley’s error led to a Tiger run in the 11th inning Tuesday. Percival still closed out the game for his 31st save.

“What was it, 10 innings?” Percival asked.

No, it was 19 1/3 innings over 16 games.

“That many?” Percival said. “I’m getting old. It’s time to retire.”

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It was a homecoming for relief pitcher Mike Fetters, who started his major league career with the Angels, although there are few familiar faces.

“It’s a whole new team,” said Fetters, who was an Angel first-round pick in 1986 and spent time with the team from 1989-91. “The only player who is still around is Chuck Finley. [Pitching coach] Marcel Lachemann and [bullpen coach] Joe Coleman are still around.

“To go from last place [with Oakland] to second and be not a whole lot out of first? Who wouldn’t be excited? I want to pitch in the postseason. That’s the only reason I’m happy about the trade.”