Hitting Is Molina’s Latest Craze

If Bengie Molina were to break down his typical work day, he estimates that 80-85% of his time and energy is spent on catching-related tasks, such as studying opposing batters and discussing strategy with his starting pitcher, and 10-15% of his time and energy is spent on hitting.

This is exactly the kind of workload Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, a former all-star catcher for the Dodgers, wants his catchers to have. He made it clear from the first day of spring training that defense is the top priority for Angel catchers and hitting is secondary.

Which raises a perplexing question: Just how well would Molina be hitting if he spent a little more time working on his offense?

The rookie catcher has been on a tear for the past 2 1/2 weeks, extending his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the second inning Wednesday night. In his previous 12 games, he went 26 for 48 with nine multiple-hit games and 12 runs batted in, improving his average from .250 to .353.

“You always like to hit, but the way things are going now, it’s a little crazy for me,” Molina said. “I knew I could hit, but this much? It’s funny because I’m not even thinking about hitting; I’m just trying to catch good games. Maybe that’s why I’m hitting so well.”

It’s not the only reason. Molina remembers games in the minor leagues when he would be content to have two or three hits in his first three at-bats. He’d go up for his fourth at-bat without the same concentration, and he’d almost always make an out.

“It didn’t matter to me, because in my mind I’d already be two for four or three for four,” Molina said. “This year, if I’m three for four, I want that fourth hit. I’m going to battle. I’m not going to give the at-bat away.”

It was a four-hit game against Texas on May 12 that started this streak for Molina. He also had a four-hit game against Minnesota on May 24.

“For me, it’s all seeing the ball,” Molina said. “I think of what my dad told me 1,000 times--if you see the ball good, you’ll hit; if you don’t, you won’t. I work in batting practice trying to pick up the ball from the time it leaves the pitcher’s hand.”

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Pitcher Tim Belcher completed his final tuneup before returning to his minor league rehabilitation assignment, throwing 55 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday.

The veteran right-hander, whose comeback from elbow surgery hit a snag in late April, is scheduled to start for triple-A Edmonton Monday in a game at Fresno. He will make at least two minor league starts before being considered for the Angel rotation.

“I’d take what I have out there now,” said Belcher, whose return was slowed by inflammation in the elbow. “I feel much better about things now than I did in April. It’s not that I’m throwing all that much better, but I feel a lot better.”

Jason Dickson, on the disabled list because of a sore shoulder and tendinitis in his left hip, threw for 15 minutes in the bullpen Tuesday and will throw a simulated game this weekend before embarking on a minor league rehab assignment.

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Shortstop Kevin Stocker, who signed with the Angels Tuesday after being released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last week, won’t be the only Stocker family member employed by the Walt Disney Co. Stocker’s older brother, Mike, is an animator for Disney. . . . Stocker will probably take over as the Angels’ starting shortstop by next week. Benji Gil, who snapped an 0-for-24 skid with a sixth-inning single Wednesday night, is in danger of losing his utility job to Keith Luuloa, who singled in his first three at-bats Wednesday night.