Erstad Not Letting It Go to His Head

First baseman Darin Erstad entered Saturday night’s game ranked sixth in the American League in home runs (seven), seventh in hits (37), second in extra base hits (19), fourth in doubles (10), second in total bases (72) and sixth in slugging percentage (.649).

One category you won’t find Erstad among league leaders: ego. Asked if he felt his fast start and growing reputation had made him more of a marked man around the league, Erstad almost scoffed.

“To be a marked man you’ve got to put up numbers like Tim Salmon,” said Erstad, who was batting .333 through Friday night’s game. “They pitch around him. They don’t pitch around me.”

OK, so Erstad, 23, is not in that Ken Griffey-Juan Gonzalez class. But he has shown in the first month of this season that he can be baffling for those trying to figure out how to pitch to him.

Erstad, like most big-league players, is an excellent fastball hitter. But the left-handed batter is hitting lefties (.367) better than he’s hitting right-handers (.321) this season.

Twelve of his 27 career homers, including Friday night’s grand slam that keyed a 7-1 victory over Chicago, have come against left-handers. Erstad has shown he can handle most off-speed and breaking pitches, as well.

On Saturday night, he extended his hitting streak to 11 with a third-inning single.

“You see how disciplined he is at the plate, and he has that going for him whether it’s a right-handed or left-handed pitcher,” said Mike Pazik, the White Sox’s pitching coach.

“He can do everything--hit for average, for power, run. You look for new stars in the league as the older guys retire, and he’s going to be a leader in a lot of categories.”

Angel pitching coach Marcel Lachemann, asked how he would approach Erstad, said: “I know, but I ain’t saying. . . . besides, I don’t know if it would work.”

Pazik thought he had a plan of attack for Erstad. “They told us you could do things against him this way, but he’s proved otherwise,” Pazik said. “They won’t work. He has the talent to be a real star. People around here are really going to enjoy watching this guy play.”

*

Manager Terry Collins said Omar Olivares’ performance in Friday night, when he limited the White Sox to one run on five hits in five innings, earned the right-hander another start in place of injured Jack McDowell. Olivares will pitch Wednesday night against Toronto. . . . The Angels started Saturday night’s game ranked first in the league in earned-run average (3.97) and third in fielding percentage (.986). They rated 10th in batting average (.262) and 11th in runs (126). “If we never change our position in pitching and defense, we will be in a pennant race by the end of the year,” Collins said. “Pitching and defense will win you games.” . . . Mike Holtz, who began the season as the Angels’ only left-handed reliever, was relieved to see two more left-handers, Rich Robertson and Greg Cadaret, added to the staff in recent weeks. “I’m never going to say I’m not available to pitch,” said Holtz, who has a team-leading 14 appearances. “But if there’s a day when I’m feeling stiff or sore, or feel I might be risking injury by pitching, it’s nice to know the manager can go to those guys. They give us a lot more flexibility.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JASON DICKSON (1-3, 8.24 ERA)

vs.

WHITE SOX’S JASON BERE (0-3, 5.54 ERA)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

TV--ESPN. Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Dave Hollins has struggled offensively (.206 average entering Saturday night), but the third baseman who made 29 errors in 1997 has only one in 1998, his .980 fielding percentage ranking second behind Baltimore’s Cal Ripken among American League third basemen. “What’s impressive to me is sometimes when you struggle offensively you take it out to the field with you,” shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. “But he’s turned it up defensively. He’s made some big plays.” Catcher Matt Walbeck has thrown out 13 of 28 attempted base-stealers, his 46% success rate ranking second in the league behind Texas’ Ivan Rodriguez.

Tickets--(714) 634-2000.