Newcomers Make Good Impressions

After more than a week’s worth of bullpen workouts, batting practice and fielding drills, the Angels got their first taste of live action Tuesday during a 7 1/2-inning intrasquad game.

New pitcher Ismael Valdes made a good first impression, new designated hitter Jose Canseco showed he can play a little outfield if needed, and outfielder Darin Erstad and pitcher Brian Cooper picked up where they left off in 2000.

This was good for Erstad, who doubled and homered Tuesday after amassing a major league-high 240 hits last season. It was not good for Cooper, who gave up Erstad’s homer, a two-run blast to right field, and a two-run homer to Benji Gil in one inning of work.

Cooper, the former USC right-hander, showed promise after being called up to the big leagues last May, going 4-3 with a 4.02 earned-run average in his first 10 starts.

But he was bombed for 28 earned runs and 43 hits, 11 of them home runs, in 22 innings of his last five starts, and after getting demoted to triple-A on Aug. 25, he was not recalled when big league rosters expanded Sept. 1.

Manager Mike Scioscia wasn’t about to put much stock in one spring training inning, but if Cooper is to have any shot at winning a rotation spot, he’ll need to be more effective during Cactus League play.

Valdes, on the other hand, retired all three batters he faced, and the former Dodger right-hander’s deliveries looked smooth, almost effortless.

“We heard in the winter that Ismael was working hard, was in great shape, and his arm felt strong,” Scioscia said. “If this guy can regain his form of a few years ago, he’s going to pay dividends.”

With Garret Anderson sidelined because of tightness in his groin, Canseco started in left and made a fine running catch of Orlando Palmeiro’s blooper over the shortstop’s head.

Scioscia was relieved when the 6-foot-4, 242-pound Canseco called off Gil, the shortstop, in plenty of time to avoid a collision.

“Otherwise,” Scioscia said, “we’d be talking about a shortstop crisis right now.”

*

Individual game tickets for the regular season will go on sale Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at Edison Field. Fans will have an opportunity to tour the Angels’ clubhouse.