All-Stars Erstad, Glaus Maintain a Low Profile

Chosen as reserves for the American League All-Star team, Darin Erstad and Troy Glaus reacted Wednesday with all the outward glee you’d expect from two of the Angels’ least garrulous players.

Yet injuries to two for the league’s top vote-getters may mean that both Angel players start in the Tuesday’s All-Star game.

Cleveland outfielder Manny Ramirez is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury and will not play. New York center fielder Bernie Williams and Kansas City right fielder Jermaine Dye were voted in, leaving left field available for Erstad.

Torre also may have to choose between 23-year-old Glaus and Cleveland veteran Travis Fryman to start at third base instead of Cal Ripken Jr., who is on the disabled list with a back injury. Ripken, who is not with Baltimore for its series in New York, has said he will try to play.

Glaus grew up playing shortstop during Ripken’s glory years at the position.

“I watched shortstops,” Glaus said. “I watched Cal any time I had the chance. He was my favorite player.

“I always idolized Cal. He’s a tremendous player. He played every day, which I envy.”

So Glaus will look for Ripken in the visitors’ clubhouse at Atlanta’s Turner Field. Other than that, the Angel third baseman said, “I’m going to sit in front of my locker, keep my mouth shut most of the time.”

The All-Star appearance will be the second for Erstad, who scored a run in the 1998 game in Colorado.

Asked if that experience boosted his confidence, Erstad laughed and said: “My confidence? I hit .240 for the next year-and-a-half after that. It didn’t do much for my confidence, I guess.”

Erstad said that going to an All-Star game was not his motivation for working so hard to regain his stroke.

“That thing you get to wear on your finger, that’s my drive,” Erstad said. “That, and so I can sleep with a good conscience.”

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Left-hander Kent Mercker keeps passing physical examinations--Wednesday’s was a stress test--and there seems to be little doubt that he will pitch again this season.

Attempting to come back from a cerebral hemorrhage he suffered in early May, Mercker threw in the outfield this week. The club would like him to improve his cardiovascular fitness as well as his arm strength before returning to the mound.

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Ken Hill took batting practice and had a light bullpen session Wednesday afternoon. He appeared to be improving from tightness he felt in his back and neck that adversely impacted Monday’s start. Hill is scheduled to pitch again Saturday against Colorado.

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Remember Ramon Ortiz?

The hard-throwing right-hander is said to be showing more maturity in triple-A Edmonton, where he is 4-3 with a 4.58 ERA. Club officials said Ortiz is beginning to locate his pitches more consistently.

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Scott Schoeneweis, on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right rib cage, is probably three weeks from returning to a big-league mound, Manager Mike Scioscia said. Schoeneweis already has missed nearly three weeks. . . . Bengie Molina returned to the lineup after sitting out Tuesday night. Among AL rookies with significant at-bats, Molina leads with a .311 average. Adam Kennedy leads AL rookies with 40 RBIs.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(4-2, 4.21)

VS.

MARINERS’

PAUL ABBOTT

(5-2, 3.97)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--The left-handed Washburn makes his 11th start, his seventh at Edison Field, where his ERA is 6.25. He has been effective in four of his last five starts. Opposing batters have hit .212 in the first six innings against Washburn. Abbott, a right-hander, is 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA since the start of June.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.