Eckstein Gets Job Done at New Position

David Eckstein, who opened the season as the Angels’ second baseman, evolved into a shortstop because the Angels needed to keep his bat and offensive spark in the lineup when second baseman Adam Kennedy returned from a spring-training injury in mid-April.

There was some concern the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Eckstein would not have the arm strength to play shortstop, but as he has done throughout a career in which many thought he would come up short, Eckstein has proved the skeptics wrong.

Since moving to shortstop on May 2, Eckstein has committed only two errors in 28 games and has shown he is not only the Angel shortstop of the present, but perhaps the future.

Omar Vizquel, he’s not, but Eckstein has been more than proficient defensively. What he may lack in arm strength, he compensates for with excellent mechanics, a quick release and accurate throws.

“He has shown he can make every play a shortstop needs to make,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “To be an experienced major league shortstop, you need to do it over a long period. How long he’ll hold up in a more demanding position will determine that, but he hasn’t shown any signs of slipping.”

Angel pitchers began taking batting and bunting practice last week and will run the bases this week in preparation for interleague play, which begins Friday with a weekend series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Angels travel to San Francisco next week, then will host the Dodgers June 15-17.

This could actually be a welcome break in the schedule for the Angels, who went 12-6 in interleague play last season, and they may be more suited for the National League style than other American League teams because they don’t have a real designated hitter, a position that is eliminated in NL parks.

“While Seattle has to take Edgar Martinez out of the lineup, or find a spot for him in the field, we’ve had a revolving DH,” Scioscia said. “We’re set up pretty good as a National League club because we don’t have to take a big bat out of the lineup.”

Triple-A pitcher Steve Green’s season is probably over. The right-hander was found Monday to have a torn muscle in his right forearm and damage to a ligament as well. Green is contemplating surgery, a procedure that could also sideline him for much of next season. . . . Outfielder Kimera Bartee, who missed the last week of spring training, all of April and much of May because of a bulging disk in his lower back, was reactivated from the 60-day disabled list Monday and sent outright to Salt Lake. . . . Opponents have scored first in 32 of 55 games but the Angels have outscored opponents in the ninth inning, 24-7.

ON DECK

Opponent--Oakland Athletics, three games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net tonight, Wednesday night and Thursday night.

Radio--KLAC (570), KMXN (94.3 FM), KMPC (1540), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 27-28, Athletics 27-28.

Record vs. Athletics--3-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ PAT RAPP

(1-5, 4.85 ERA)

vs. ATHLETICS’

MARK MULDER

(7-2, 3.27 ERA)

Update--The A’s have recovered from their horrendous start, but, like the Angels, they’re still choking on Seattle’s exhaust fumes. First baseman Jason Giambi (.365, 14 homers, 47 RBIs) and shortstop Miguel Tejada (.262, 13 homers, 36 RBIs) have been productive, but leadoff batter Johnny Damon (.214, four homers, 21 RBIs) has been a major disappointment. The Angels will face the A’s three best pitchers in this series, but left-hander Barry Zito has not won since April 24.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (3-4, 4.84) vs. Tim Hudson (5-3, 3.97)

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (3-3, 3.90) vs. Barry Zito (3-5, 5.35)

Tickets: (714) 663-9000.