Eckstein Plays His Way Into Starting Position

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia confirmed Sunday what his lineup cards spelled out all week: David Eckstein is the team’s starting shortstop.

Eckstein started his fifth consecutive game at shortstop, igniting the game-winning rally with a single and then aggressively taking third base on a single to left field. His .412 on-base percentage leads the Angels and ranks among the top 15 in the American League. He has reached base in all but one of the 25 games he has started.

“He’s getting it done,” Scioscia said. “With Eckstein able to play shortstop, we have whole new lineup possibilities that maximize our offense.”

The Angels’ new leadoff hitter worked his way from walk-on to All-American at the University of Florida and worked his way through the minor leagues, despite the naysayers that inevitably doubt a 5-foot-7 prospect short on the proverbial tools.

“Heart and brains are tools too, and this guy is off the charts there,” Scioscia said. “This guy has earned everything he’s gotten.”

Eckstein, who played second base in the minor leagues, wasn’t about to brag about getting a crash course at shortstop and beating out veteran Benji Gil.

“I’m just taking it day by day,” Eckstein said. “If you start thinking about other things, it might screw you up.”

Jose Molina, summoned from triple-A Salt Lake to replace injured brother Bengie, started at catcher Sunday. With Molina making his AL debut--and Angel starter Pat Rapp not overly quick in his delivery--the Tigers tried to steal four bases. They stole three.

“I hope they keep testing me,” said Molina, regarded as an excellent defensive catcher. “They’ll find out who I am very soon. When I throw out three or four runners in a row, they’ll know.”

Rapp has pitched into the sixth inning in each of his past five starts, winning two, losing one and posting a 3.90 earned-run average. The Angels replaced him after six innings Sunday, with the score tied, 2-2. They’ll be happy any time he can pitch six innings and leave the team in position to win.

“For him to give us six strong innings is a big plus,” Scioscia said. “If he pitches like that, he’ll get a ton of wins for us.”

Before Jose Canseco made his debut in the independent Atlantic League on Friday, he said he believed the Angels had “blackballed” him after he was released in spring training, suggesting they prevented him from receiving major league contract offers because they told other teams he was physically “damaged.”

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said no other team called to inquire about Canseco after his release. Stoneman also said the Angels did not suggest to any other team that Canseco represented a significant injury risk.

“I understand the guy is disappointed,” Stoneman said. “I can’t tell you what’s going on in his mind.”

The Angels insist they released Canseco because they believed they could get more production out of Glenallen Hill. On that score, Canseco might have the last laugh: Hill is injured, and Angel designated hitters are hitting .169 in the first 31 games, with two home runs and seven runs batted in.

Darin Erstad reached base three times Sunday, twice on walks. He has two hits in his past 31 at-bats. He was batting .398 a year ago Sunday but is hitting .207 today. . . . On May 7 last season, the Angels were 16-16 and two games out of first place. Today, they’re 15-16 and eight games out. . . . Rex Hudler, who was hospitalized last month after suffering a brain hemorrhage, is scheduled for a follow-up medical examination this week and expects to rejoin the Angel broadcast team for the next telecast May 15.