Angel Rookies of the Year Produce Again

Controversy crept back into the Angel clubhouse Sunday.

Who is the team’s rookie of the year? Catcher Bengie Molina or second baseman Adam Kennedy.

“I have to say it’s Adam Kennedy,” Molina said. “The way he’s played the whole year, he’s got my vote.” Across the room, slumped on a comfy chair, Kennedy begged to defer.

“The job Bengie has done every single day, handling the starting rotation? It’s got to be him,” Kennedy said. “With all the young pitchers we have, he can’t be young any more.”

And so it goes. Of course, the Angels--unlike last season--aren’t about to torn apart by this one. In fact, they thrived on the question in a 2-1 victory over Baltimore Sunday.

What was more important? Molina’s one-out double in the seventh. Or Kennedy’s single, which scored Molina to break a 1-1 tie. Tough call.

“When you can have two young guys who compete like they do every day, that is so valuable,” outfielder Darin Erstad said. “They haven’t been surprising. When you have talent, it’s no surprise.”

The Angels have benefited from both Molina and Kennedy coming of age. Both had only 102 major league at-bats before this season. Both have proved themselves as everyday players.

Molina, 26, has nine hits in his last 15 at-bats to raise his average to .278. He has 12 home runs, the most by an Angel catcher since Lance Parrish hit 18 in 1991, and has driven in 57 runs.

“Those are pretty good numbers for anyone, regardless if they’re a rookie,” Kennedy said.

On top of that, he has handled a starting rotation that is drenched behind the ears.

“I’m just happy that I got the opportunity to prove myself and have taken advantage of it,” Molina said.

Kennedy, 24, has five hits in his last 11 at-bats to raise his average to .267. He is second in the American League with nine triples and has driven in 59 runs.

He is about also all the Angels have to show for trading outfielder Jim Edmonds to St. Louis. Kent Bottenfield, also acquired in the deal, was shipped to Philadelphia in July for the .213-hitting Ron Gant.

“I never set any goals as far as numbers were concerned,” Kennedy said.

So who is the Angels’ top rookie? The answer is simple.

Said Erstad: “I’ll take them both.”