Erstad’s Defense Is Missed

The Angels are glad to have Darin Erstad’s bat back at the top of the order, but they will not seem whole again until Erstad, limited by a persistent rib-cage injury, returns to left field.

“There’s no question, with the way Darin plays defense, that it’s a huge loss not having him in the field,” right fielder Tim Salmon said.

The Angels were reminded of that loss in the fifth inning Saturday night when left fielder Ron Gant took two steps in on Carlos Lee’s liner, froze, and jumped in vain as the ball sailed over his head for a two-run double to give the White Sox an 8-0 lead.

“Ersty brings a different dimension because he’s probably the best left fielder in baseball,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Of course, those shoes are not going to be filled.”

Erstad may not be back in the outfield any time soon. He played a little catch again Saturday, but he is unable to throw with his usual velocity and seems no closer to returning to the field. He started at designated hitter Saturday night for the eighth consecutive game.

Erstad has made several spectacular diving catches this season, one that saved a game in New York on Aug. 18. Some believe if he was in left field at Fenway Park on Aug. 21, he would have caught Brian Daubach’s two-out, two-run bloop single that dropped in front of Orlando Palmeiro in the 11th inning to give Boston a 7-6 victory.

But as much as they miss him defensively, Erstad wouldn’t be much help in the field unless he was very close to being 100%.

“If he can’t throw, teams might run on him, so Ronnie and Orlando could make a difference there,” Salmon said. “And would Darin dive as much coming off an injury? But if he’s OK just DH-ing, we’re better off with that.”

*

Scioscia was so encouraged by Jarrod Washburn’s bullpen workout Saturday that he said the left-hander, out since Aug. 8 because of a stress fracture in his shoulder blade, would throw a simulated game this week.

Seth Etherton, sidelined since Aug. 5 because of shoulder tendinitis, is also expected to graduate from bullpen workouts to a simulated game this week, and reliever Mike Fyhrie, out since Aug. 12 because of an inflamed elbow, will be activated this week.

*

Salmon, one of baseball’s hottest hitters since the All-Star break (55 for 141 with 13 homers and 32 runs batted in in his last 37 games before Saturday), has cooled off considerably in the last four games, going hitless in his last 14 at-bats. . . . Mo Vaughn, who has 144 strikeouts, and Troy Glaus, who has 136, rank first and second in the American League in that category. Glaus, however, leads the league with 39 home runs and has the league’s best home-run ratio, averaging a homer every 11.8 at-bats. He also walked three times Saturday, bringing his team-leading total to 93. . . . . Garret Anderson’s three-run homer in the sixth Saturday gave him a career-high 94 RBIs.

TODAY

ANGELS’ RAMON ORTIZ

(4-5, 5.16 ERA)

vs.

WHITE SOX’S JAMES BALDWIN

(14-5, 4.16 ERA)

Comiskey Park, Chicago, 11 a.m. PDT

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

* Update--The Angels were very encouraged by Ortiz’s last two outings, a 7 1/3-inning, two-run, five-hit effort against Boston on Aug. 23 and an eight-inning, four-run, five-hit effort against Toronto Monday night. But Ortiz lost both games, 3-1 to the Red Sox and 4-2 to the Blue Jays, giving up three solo home runs against Toronto. Baldwin has been one of baseball’s most improved pitchers this season, rebounding from a 12-13 record and 5.10 ERA in 1999. The right-hander ranks third in the American League in victories--his 14 wins are already a career-high--and 10th in ERA.