Erstad Shows Signs of Life

Manager Terry Collins has a simplified view of Darin Erstad’s recent emergence from a season-long slump, in which the Angel left fielder was falling far short of expectations in every offensive category.

“He’s just swinging better,” Collins said.

True, but Erstad’s recent patience at the plate might have as much to do with him raising his average from a season-low .228 on June 9 to .254.

Erstad was getting himself out most of the time in April and May, swinging at bad pitches early in the count and hitting weak ground balls and an inordinate number of infield popups.

“One thing I’m good at, which may be a bad thing, is early in the count, if I swing at a ball that isn’t my pitch, I make contact and put it in play,” Erstad said. “The key is to be disciplined and not swing at that pitch.”

It took Erstad a while, but he is finally beginning to lay off those bad pitches. A week ago, Erstad had 46 strikeouts in 68 games, a 110-strikeout pace that would have exceeded his strikeout total in his first two seasons, 77 in 1997 and 83 in ’98.

He didn’t strike out again until the first inning Monday night.

Also, Erstad walked five times and scored at least a run in six games last week.

“I got sick of swinging at their pitches,” Erstad said. “I was hitting .220 and trying to do too much. The only person who could change that was me. It’s a matter of being patient and not being afraid to go deeper in the count.”

It’s no coincidence that Erstad went 12 for 32 during an eight-game stretch in which the Angels won six games.

“He’s one of those guys who, if he gets on base, finds a way to score,” Collins said of Erstad, who leads the Angels with 42 runs. “He’s seeing the ball better, he’s more selective, he’s not missing the pitches he should hit. Hopefully he’s worked his way out of it.”

*

As expected, the Angels put Tim Belcher on the 15-day disabled list Monday, and the right-hander, who broke his right pinky finger Saturday night, is expected to be out for a minimum of three weeks.

The Angels, feeling they needed another right-handed bat off the bench, recalled Bret Hemphill, a switch-hitting catcher, from triple-A Edmonton.

With an off-day Thursday, the Angels won’t need a fifth starter until next Tuesday or Wednesday, so they won’t make a decision on who will take Belcher’s rotation spot until early next week. Triple-A right-hander Mike Fyhrie and double-A right-hander Ramon Ortiz are the leading candidates.

Belcher, who had been on the disabled list only one other time in his 13-year career, declined comment. The Angels, who have 11 players on the DL, have now used the disabled list 14 times this season.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (6-5, 3.39 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’ JOHN BURKETT (1-3, 7.20 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090), KCTD (1540)

* Update--Through Sunday’s game, Angel first baseman Mo Vaughn, who bats left-handed, was hitting .411 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 73 at-bats against left-handers and .225 with nine homers and 23 RBIs in 151 at-bats against right-handers. “I don’t have an answer for that,” said Vaughn, who, because of an ankle injury, has been relegated to designated hitter for most of 1999. “This hasn’t been a normal season.” The Rangers on Monday returned Tom Goodwin to the disabled list after the speedy center fielder aggravated a left hip flexor injury Sunday in his first game back from the DL.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000