Molina Brothers Seek Catchy Ending

When Disney planned a movie on the story of Jim Morris, the high school baseball coach turned 35-year-old rookie pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays two years ago, you had to wonder whether Disney’s baseball team could furnish a heartwarming story of its own.

This year, the Angels might. Never in their 40-year history have brothers played together on the Angels. But, sometime this season, their catchers could be Bengie Molina and his brother Jose.

“That,” Jose Molina said, “would be the greatest thing that could happen.”

Although Bengie is 26 and Jose is 25, the brothers never have been teammates, even in youth leagues growing up in Puerto Rico. In 1993, Bengie signed with the Angels and Jose signed with the Chicago Cubs. In 2000, as Bengie established himself as the Angels’ starting catcher, the Cubs released Jose after eight minor league seasons and 19 major league at-bats.

Several clubs, including the Angels, called Jose to offer a minor league contract.

“The Angels were the most interested, but I was worried about what Bengie would say about it,” Jose said.

The Angels needed catching depth. They didn’t solicit an opinion or a scouting report from Bengie, but he loved the idea. He assured Jose he should not worry about taking playing time, even Cactus League playing time, away from his brother.

In the clubhouse, the brothers have adjacent lockers. In exhibition games Friday and Saturday, Bengie started and Jose replaced him.

“This is something else right now,” Bengie said. “It’s a great experience. It’s awesome.”

Jose isn’t much of an offensive threat--he has 12 home runs in eight seasons, two fewer than Bengie hit last season. And the Angels signed Jorge Fabregas to back up Bengie, so Jose figures to start the season at triple-A Salt Lake. But General Manager Bill Stoneman hasn’t yet counted Jose out.

“This guy is a really good catch-and-throw guy, and we’ve got a manager who likes his catchers to be good defenders,” Stoneman said. “He may have a shot at backing up his brother.”

If that happens, Bengie said, he’ll fly their mother in from Puerto Rico.

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Larry Barnes hit another home run Saturday, his third of the spring, in a 12-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics. Wally Joyner, however, upstaged his rookie rival for the first base job, with a triple, home run and four runs batted in as the Angels won their other game, 9-4 over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Joyner, who started his major league career with the Angels in 1986, has vowed to retire after the season. He promised to retire this spring if he did not prove himself healthy and productive enough to win the first base job. He is hitting .400 in the Cactus League, but Barnes’ hot start prompts the question of whether Joyner would try to sign with another team if he continues to play well but the Angels opt for Barnes anyway.

“I don’t think I would. There’s no reason to,” Joyner said. “My excitement about playing one more year was because it was with the Angels.

“That’s not to put any pressure on anybody. If they go with Barnes, I’m sure he’s earned it.”

Scott Spiezio, competing with Joyner and Barnes, is expected to make the team no matter what, either as the first baseman or as a bench player. In a close call between Joyner, 38, and Barnes, 26, the Angels likely would keep Joyner and send Barnes to Salt Lake.