Anderson Is Ready to Take Center Stage

San Diego Padre leadoff batter Al Martin’s first-inning bloop dropped just in front of Angel center fielder Garret Anderson on Friday, and you knew exactly what was on the minds of some in the Peoria Sports Complex press box: Jim Edmonds would have caught it.

“I’m sure you guys will have fun [comparing Jim and me], but we’re two different players,” Anderson said. “You don’t replace those kinds of guys. If you think you do, you’re fooling yourself. As long as the job gets done, that’s all that matters.”

Anderson’s job is to make sure the Angel defense does not suffer from post-Edmonds stress syndrome. He knows he’s not as strong defensively as Edmonds, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner who was traded to St. Louis on Thursday, and he knows he’s not the type to crash into walls or dive into gaps to make spectacular catches like Edmonds.

But Anderson, who will move from left field, has plenty of experience in center, filling in for the injured Edmonds the first four months of the 1999 season and several stretches in 1997.

He is an adequate defensive player who may not fill as many highlight reels as Edmonds but will make the plays he should. Though he struggled getting jumps on balls early in 1999, he improved as he grew more comfortable with the position.

“I know I’m good enough to play it,” Anderson said. “I’m comfortable in all three outfield spots. You have to cover more area in center, but I welcome the responsibility. Playing on the corners, you have that foul line as an ally.”

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Opening-day starter Ken Hill gave up seven earned runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of Friday’s 8-4 Cactus League loss to the Padres, raising his spring earned-run average to 10.26 in five games, and still Manager Mike Scioscia says he is not concerned. “His velocity was up, and his command, though not where it should be, is getting better,” Scioscia said. “He’s on track. He’ll be ready. I could be wrong . . . but I don’t think I will be.” . . . Ramon Ortiz, in his first game since being diagnosed with a torn labrum in his right shoulder last week, gave up a first-pitch homer to Carlos Hernandez but retired the next three batters on ground balls.

According to an American League source, Toronto General Manager Gord Ash, in need of a fifth starter after Joey Hamilton went on the disabled list, called Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman about Jason Dickson, but Stoneman told him he had no interest in trading the right-hander, who is 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA this spring. . . . Tim Belcher, recovering from elbow surgery, threw nine minutes of live batting practice Friday for the first time this spring. The veteran right-hander is shooting for a late-April return.

The Angels reassigned pitchers Brett Hinchliffe, Greg Keagle and Steve Mintz and infielder Keith Luuloa to minor league camp and optioned catcher Bret Hemphill to triple-A Edmonton.