Good Sign, Bad Sign for Angels

The Angels made their most important personnel move of the season two days after the trading deadline. Darin Erstad, their center fielder and team leader, agreed Friday night to a four-year, $32-million contract extension.

The extension, which is expected to be announced today, comes seven months after the Angels nearly traded Erstad to the Chicago White Sox and one month after Erstad said he would be willing to forgo free agency and sign a deal to remain in Anaheim.

The deal was finalized after the Angels’ 4-0 loss to the New York Yankees at Edison Field. General Manager Bill Stoneman could not be reached for comment after the game.

Jeff Moorad, the agent for Erstad, confirmed the deal and said Erstad likely would have commanded a more lucrative deal had he waited to test the free-agent market, even had he then decided to stay with the Angels. Moorad said negotiations were quick and quiet, started and finished within the past three days.

“Darin felt that, if the team was willing to recognize his value, even two months prior to free agency, it made sense to commit,” Moorad said. “This was the only place he wanted to be. He’s committed to the organization in every way, from his relationships with his teammates to his relationships with the fans who supported him during his trying personal times. We’re appreciative of the Angels for stepping up to make this a reality.”

Erstad, 28, endured a horrific 2001 season, hurt by a knee injury and also by going through a divorce. After hitting .355 with 25 home runs two years ago, he hit .255 with nine home runs last season. He is hitting .283 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases this season.

The Angels nearly traded Erstad to the White Sox in December, before Angel President Paul Pressler directed Stoneman to play to win. Since that directive, closer Troy Percival retreated from his vow to leave as a free agent and signed a two-year, $16-million contract extension.

Erstad is earning $6.25 million this season. Under the extension, he will receive a $1-million signing bonus and annual salaries of $7 million in 2003, $7.5 million in 2004, $8 million in 2005 and $8.5 million in 2006. Each year, he can designate four teams to which he cannot be traded.

On the field, Andy Pettitte and Ramiro Mendoza combined on a four-hit shutout before a sellout crowd of 43,668.

Six days ago, the Angels flew home from Seattle with a percentage-points lead over the Mariners. But, after Pettitte made the Angels’ bats disappear Friday on another lost evening, the Mariners lead the Angels by three games.

The loss dropped the Angels into a tie with the Boston Red Sox for the AL wild-card lead.

The Angels fancy themselves pennant contenders, but their offense has not played at that level against the best of the rest of the league. In the last seven games--all against Seattle, Boston and the Yankees--the Angels have scored 10 runs. Five of those came in one game, started by Boston’s Casey Fossum.

Pettitte is no slouch. There is no shame in losing to him, or in scoring a total of five runs in games started by Pettitte, Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, Jeff Weaver, Jamie Moyer and Joel Pineiro. But that is the caliber of pitcher the Angels must beat to get to the playoffs, and to stick around if they do.

The Angels have now been shut out twice in four games and four times since the All-Star break. They have been shut out eight times this season, a total exceeded in the AL only by also-rans Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

The Yankees lead the league with 68 victories. They have been shut out twice.

Kevin Appier, another start removed from his dreadful June, pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out a season-high seven. Appier (9-9) has delivered five consecutive quality starts; his ERA is 2.91 over those five starts and 4.22 overall.

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*--* Worth the Wait Joe Torre managed 14 seasons in the major leagues and also was a broadcaster before winning his first World Series in 1996. A look at managers with three or more championships: Manager (era) WS Joe McCarthy* (1926-1950) 7 Casey Stengel* (1934-1965) 7 Connie Mack (1884-1950) 5 Walter Alston (1954-1976) 4 Joe Torre* (1977-present) 4 Sparky Anderson (1970-1995) 3 Miller Huggins* (1913-1929) 3 John McGraw (1899-1932) 3 12 tied (including Tom Lasorda) 2 *-managed Yankees

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