Glaus Hobbled, but He’s In It for the Long Run

Watch Troy Glaus leg out a double, or score from second on a single, and it’s obvious from his limp that he’s less than 100%.

But whenever Joe Maddon, the Angels’ interim manager, asks Glaus how he’s feeling, the third baseman says he’s fine. So Maddon continues to play him. Glaus has started all but one game since July 30.

This is what is known in baseball as progress.

“He’s tired, he’s banged up, he’s playing with some pain,” third base coach Larry Bowa said. “That, to me, is a real good sign. It’s easy for guys to get out of the lineup this time of year, but he wants to finish strong.”

In the little picture, it may not matter that Glaus has homered nine times since Aug. 13, increasing his team-leading total to 28, has avoided the lengthy offensive droughts that made some question in May whether he could cut it in the big leagues, and has continued to play solid defense, despite an unspecified leg injury.

But the Angels expect Glaus to be a cornerstone of their infield for years, and they don’t expect to be 27 games out of first place every September, so the experience Glaus gains this month could be invaluable in the big picture.

“I’ve talked to Troy about this,” Maddon said. “It’s a learning process, and he has to find out he can do good things the last month of the season.”

Glaus’ ability to grind it out will go a long way toward conditioning himself mentally and physically for future Septembers. And he has gained major points with his teammates, who will know they can count on him in future Septembers.

“I’ve learned a lot this year,” Glaus, 23, said. “Hopefully, it will help me have a more productive season next year.”

*

Despite Thursday’s loss, the Angels left Kansas City laughing, and not because they went 6-2 on the trip. It was rookie-hazing day, and the first-year players from Phi Beta Halo had to wear gaudy 1970s-like garb--purchased by Matt Walbeck, Jeff Huson and Mike Magnante at a Salvation Army store in Minneapolis--on the trip home.

The Best in Show Award had to go to reliever Lou Pote, whose ensemble included skin-tight, too-short, light blue polyester pants, a mustard colored shirt and an ill-fitting green plaid sport coat.

Pote could barely squeeze into his pants and was not looking forward to the 3 1/2-hour flight home.

“I don’t think I’ll be going to the bathroom,” he said.

*

The Angels will dedicate the Michelle Carew Community Courtyard, unveiling a bronze statue of Michelle Carew with the family’s Rottweiler dog Hunter, during a ceremony tonight at 6 inside Gate 3 at Edison Field.

The event will feature speeches by Michelle’s father, Rod, and Candace Steele of the Marrow Foundation.

Michelle died April 17, 1996, at 18 after fighting a courageous battle against leukemia. Fans attending the Angel-Oriole game are invited to attend the ceremony and can enter the park at 5:30 p.m.

* Opponent--Baltimore Orioles, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West tonight.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 61-86, Orioles 69-76.

* Record vs. Orioles--3-6.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(2-3, 6.19 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’

SCOTT ERICKSON

(13-11, 4.83)

* Update--The Orioles’ season-high eight-game winning streak was interrupted by Hurricane Floyd, which forced Baltimore to postpone games against Oakland on Wednesday and Thursday. Though the Orioles are 33-25 since the All-Star break after going 36-51 in the first half, there have been recent reports that Manager Ray Miller will be fired. Washburn is coming off victories over the Yankees and Twins, games in which he gave up four runs on eight hits in 15 2/3 innings.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Brian Cooper (1-0, 4.09) vs. Sidney Ponson (11-11, 4.37).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Mike Fyhrie (0-4, 5.15) vs. Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.65).