Call Prompts Outcry for Second Opinion

The Angels, still livid the day after an umpire ruled an opposing runner safe at second base because second baseman Benji Gil did not actually touch the base after catching a feed from shortstop David Eckstein, plan to ask baseball officials whether the umpire made the correct call.

The Angels do not dispute that Gil missed the bag--replays showed he missed it by plenty--and they cannot protest their 7-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. They want to ask Ralph Nelson, the major leagues’ vice president of umpiring, whether umpire Chris Guccione violated generally understood protocol by calling the runner safe even when Gil caught an on-target relay in the vicinity of the base.

The major league umpires’ guide lists Guccione as a minor league umpire on call to the majors for spring training and vacation relief.

“No other guy is calling it like that,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “If you’re going to make that call by the letter of the rule book, you’re changing the way the game has been called as long as I’ve been in it, for the last 25 years at least. If you’re not, the umpire has to be brought up to speed on the interpretation.”

Umpires traditionally grant some leeway to middle infielders, particularly second basemen, on double-play pivots because standing on the bag and awaiting a throw makes the fielder an inviting target for a sliding runner.

“It could get a lot more dangerous for the second baseman [if umpires force fielders to tag the bag],” Gil said. “There will be less double plays turned. You’ll see bad throws because guys will make contact with the second baseman.”

Left-handed reliever Mike Holtz hasn’t pitched particularly well lately, and so he wasn’t about to criticize Scioscia for failing to use him in two critical situations Thursday. Carl Everett and Troy O’Leary, each of whom hit right-handers far better than left-handers, singled off right-hander Ben Weber during Boston’s game-winning rally in the eighth inning. With the Angels looking for a ground ball and a double play, Scioscia said he preferred Weber and his sinker.

Holtz, whose job is to retire left-handed batters, has a 6.23 earned-run average since the All-Star break. Left-handed hitters batted .213 against him last season but are hitting .298 off him this season.

“I don’t want them to lose confidence in me,” he said. “At the same time, there are stretches every reliever goes through when you’re not pitching as well as you’d like. But, when I’m hot, I’m in there five days in a row.”

Gil has kept his average above .300 since the first week of the season, and he wants to play every day. But the Angels are likely to use Eckstein at shortstop and Adam Kennedy at second base next year--and just as likely to exercise their option to bring back Gil. His salary next season--most likely $400,000 or $450,000, depending on how many plate appearances he makes this season--makes him an affordable utility infielder.

If a team is interested in him as an everyday player, Gil said he hopes that General Manager Bill Stoneman would consider trading him.

“But, if my situation isn’t going to be any better somewhere else, then I want to be here,” Gil said. “Mike’s a great manager, it’s close to home [Chula Vista] and this is a young team with a lot of talent. This is a team I see, without a doubt, contending for a World Series, not just division titles. I would love to be a part of that.”

First baseman Casey Kotchman, the Angels’ top pick in this year’s draft, has not played in two weeks because of a wrist injury. The Angels were concerned enough to fly Kotchman to Anaheim for examination by the team’s medical director, Dr. Lewis Yocum, who diagnosed tendinitis and sent him back to his minor league team in Provo, Utah.

Kotchman, signed for a $2.075-million bonus, is batting .500 in 22 at-bats for Provo.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(8-7, 3.80 ERA)

vs.

YANKEES’

ROGER CLEMENS

(16-1, 3.60 ERA)

Edison Field, 1

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

Update--Clemens has won 12 consecutive decisions and is 26-8 against the Angels in his career. Single seats are the only tickets available for today’s game.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.