Hollins’ Play Not Making Collins’ Choice Easy at Third

Tom Tanzer, the agent for third baseman Dave Hollins, met with General Manager Bill Bavasi Thursday morning to discuss his client’s status with the Angels.

Hollins then spent Thursday afternoon solidifying his standing, smacking two home runs, one from each side of the plate, a sacrifice fly and knocking in six runs to lead the Angels to an 11-4 exhibition victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Phoenix.

Just as important, Hollins continued to show he has recovered from last summer’s rotator-cuff surgery, making five strong throws to first after fielding ground balls cleanly, and he rebounded from a hamstring strain with a stolen base and head-first dive into second in the third inning.

“Dave Hollins made a statement today, that he’s not dead, that there’s a lot of baseball left in him,” Manager Terry Collins said. “This shows he’s healthy, that he can still play. . . . I know one thing, he got everyone’s attention today.”

Troy Glaus had been the one turning heads this spring. The young third baseman hit .439 with five doubles, two homers and 17 RBIs while Hollins struggled.

But Hollins started two games over the weekend and again Tuesday and Thursday, looking stronger with each appearance. He had one RBI this spring before Thursday, but his three-run homer in the first, sacrifice fly in the fourth and two-run homer in the sixth boosted him to .321 with seven RBIs.

And now, with only five Cactus League games left, the decision at third base is even more difficult.

“As a veteran, it’s been a long time since Dave has had to fight for a job,” Collins said. “But before he leaves, he’s going to show everyone what he can do and let us make the decision.”

*

Further tests on catcher Matt Walbeck’s right hand revealed that his broken bone was actually a two-year-old injury that hadn’t fully healed, not a new injury.

Walbeck, who returned to Sacramento this week to be with his ailing mother, was supposed to be in a splint for three or four weeks but now he’ll be able to begin rehabilitation exercises when he rejoins the team. Collins said there’s a good chance Walbeck could be ready by opening day.

Jason Dickson, who suffered torn cartilage in his right shoulder last week, underwent surgery Thursday and is expected to be sidelined at least three months.

*

Omar Olivares, who has won the fifth rotation spot, gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings Thursday and left the game with shoulder tightness. . . . The Angels optioned left-handers Jarrod Washburn and Scott Schoeneweis to triple-A Edmonton. Both were starting pitchers competing for bullpen spots, “but the consensus was the young kids need to go pitch, instead of them doing what they’re not used to doing, pitching out of the bullpen,” Collins said. . . . Cal State Fullerton alumnus Kevin Costner will play for the Titans in an exhibition game against the Angels on Sunday, April 4, in Edison Field at 3 p.m. Costner played baseball at Villa Park High, graduating in 1978, and has been a regular participant in Fullerton’s intrasquad scrimmages over the last few years. There will be no admission charge.