Scioscia Trying to Utilize Eckstein

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia moved David Eckstein from second base to shortstop in the eighth inning of Wednesday night’s 7-3 loss to the Rangers, but this wasn’t one of those late-inning switches designed to give shortstop Benji Gil a little breather in a lopsided loss.

It was a move that could have long-term implications that could be good for Eckstein but not so good for utility player Jose Nieves.

Scioscia wants to see Eckstein play shortstop, because when Adam Kennedy returns from a broken bone in his right hand and reclaims his second base job, the Angels may retain Eckstein as their utility infielder.

Though he didn’t get any chances at shortstop Wednesday night, Eckstein has been taking ground balls there during batting practice, and he saw plenty of action there in spring training.

Eckstein, claimed off waivers from the Red Sox last August, played second base in his last two minor league seasons, but Scioscia believes he has the arm and the instincts to handle shortstop.

“This guy has a knack for getting things done, and I want to see him in as many places as we can,” Scioscia said. “He could have a utility role when Adam comes back.”

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Mo Vaughn, sidelined for the season by elbow surgery, will do his rehabilitation away from Edison Field and will only drop in on the Angels periodically. Smart move, said Ranger second baseman Randy Velarde, the former Angel who missed 1997 and much of 1998 because of elbow surgery.

“The down time is so crucial--Mo is doing the right thing not being with the club,” said Velarde, who was at the stadium virtually every day during his rehab. “It was so tough being around the guys and being totally useless.”

Velarde came back in May 1998, played two games against the White Sox, re-injured the elbow and missed three more months.

“The club wasn’t playing well, and there was an urgency to get back,” Velarde said. “Dr. [Lewis] Yocum kept saying I couldn’t rush it, and in my mind, I could. That’s why I had that setback.”

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Velarde, 38, was a bit of a curmudgeon on a brash, young Oakland team that won the American League West last season. After being traded to Texas this winter, he’s just another veteran on a business-like team whose starting nine has an average age of 32.3 years.

“This is rejuvenating,” Velarde said. “I felt really old with those young ‘uns in Oakland. I feel like I fit in here better . . . Those [A’s] were a bunch of free-spirited renegades. They’d play video games and watch cartoons, and then they’d go out and play nine innings and win. It was incredible.”

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Jarrod Washburn, recovering from a spring training bout with strep throat, threw four scoreless innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in an exhibition game against UC Riverside on Tuesday night.

Washburn gave up one hit, struck out nine and did not walk a batter in his 67-pitch outing. The left-hander will start for triple-A Salt Lake against Oklahoma City on Sunday, and if he reaches 90 pitches comfortably, he’ll be considered for the Angel rotation next week.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(8-6, 5.09 ERA in 2000)

vs.

RANGERS’

RYAN GLYNN

(5-7, 5.58 ERA in 2000)

The Ballpark in Arlington, 5 p.m. PDT

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

* Update--Glynn is a right-hander, so Wally Joyner, who did not start in the Angels’ first two games, will finally get a start at first base. Ortiz, the young Dominican right-hander, was the Angels’ best pitcher this spring, going 3-1 with a 2.84 earned-run average in seven games, striking out 30 and walking only five in 31 2/3 innings. Glynn was 3-0 with a 4.42 ERA in five spring starts.