Future Isn’t Now for This Angel

In his two years as the Angels’ general manager, Bill Stoneman has made one major trade, sending center fielder Jim Edmonds to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Kent Bottenfield and second baseman Adam Kennedy. Edmonds flourished in St. Louis and Bottenfield flopped in Anaheim, but the Angels declared themselves satisfied by declaring Kennedy their second baseman for the next decade.

By the end of next season, the Angels might have nothing to show for the trade. Kennedy sat on the bench Thursday, again, as the Oakland Athletics beat the Angels, 5-1. Oakland left-hander Mark Mulder, tuning up for the playoffs, shut out the Angels on one hit through seven innings.

Kennedy started 147 games at second base as a rookie last year; he has started 121 there this year. In the second half, Kennedy has seldom started against left-handers, in part because Benji Gil hit them so well and in part because Kennedy’s average against them has fallen from .275 last year to .245 this year.

“If I do get another chance to be part of this--you never want to take that for granted--I need to play well enough to where they feel I’m the best guy whether it’s a righty or a lefty pitching,” Kennedy said.

The emergence of minor-league shortstop Alfredo Amezaga could force David Eckstein from shortstop to second base. Amezaga, 23, split this season between double-A and triple-A.

He hit only .250 in 49 games at triple-A, but Angel Manager Mike Scioscia calls him “a premium talent” whose superb glove and speed alone demand an audition in spring training and perhaps a starting job by next September.

Eckstein, a natural second baseman and an offensive sparkplug, has 28 stolen bases and a .360 on-base percentage. Kennedy has more power, but scouts consider him average at best on defense.

The Angels are expected to announce as early as today that each coach--Bud Black (pitching), Mickey Hatcher (hitting), Joe Maddon (bench), Alfredo Griffin (first base), Ron Roenicke (third base), Bobby Ramos (bullpen) and Orlando Mercado (bullpen catcher)--has agreed to a one-year contract to return next season.