Eckstein’s Calling Card Is Production

As the Angel leadoff hitter, David Eckstein is supposed to lead the team in runs scored, and he does. But he is rapidly developing into one of the toughest outs in the American League, as proficient at driving in runs as he is at scoring them.

Eckstein has driven in 53 runs this season, third in the majors among leadoff hitters behind Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees and Jacque Jones of the Minnesota Twins. He is hitting .322 with runners in scoring position, better than any Angel except Tim Salmon.

“He doesn’t let any situation affect him,” Darin Erstad said. “He’s the most fundamentally sound player I’ve ever played with.”

Eckstein set a professional career high Sunday with his seventh home run, one more than he hit at double-A Trenton in 1999. The home run accounted for the only run in the Angels’ victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and All-Star Roy Halladay, a 14-game winner who went the month of May without giving up a home run.

“Halladay is throwing the ball arguably better than any right-hander in the league,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Scioscia was reminded that Pedro Martinez is still in the league.

“That’s why it’s arguably,” Scioscia said.

*

With Salmon sitting out because of a bruised left hand, Scioscia once again put outfielder Orlando Palmeiro in the No. 3 spot in the lineup. The move is unorthodox, since the No. 3 spot traditionally belongs to the best hitter on the team and Palmeiro has three home runs in 1,374 career at-bats, but there can be no argument with the results: When Palmeiro bats third, the Angels are 8-1.

“What’s important is that, when the main guys are missing, we can continue to win,” Palmeiro said, “whether it’s me or somebody else.”

Scioscia likes to keep his regulars comfortable in their usual lineup spots, and he believes Palmeiro’s ability to get on base can put pressure on a pitcher faced with retiring three pests--Eckstein, Erstad and Palmeiro--or facing Garret Anderson with a runner on base in the first inning.

Scioscia does not take the move to extremes; he has used Jeff DaVanon and Julio Ramirez to pinch-hit for Palmeiro in the No. 3 spot. Still, in a season in which the Angels average 5.1 runs per game, they have averaged 5.7 with Palmeiro batting third.

“If we were looking for a long-term solution, I think we would look for other things,” Scioscia said. “But, if Tim is going to miss a couple days, I think lining up this way will help us.”

*

In what General Manager Bill Stoneman described as a one-year trial, the Angels have canceled their fall instructional league, where top prospects get advanced work after the season, in favor of a February mini-camp for those prospects. Stoneman acknowledged the move would save some money but said the primary purpose was to see whether instruction might be better received when players were fresh in February as opposed to tired after a long minor league season.

ON DECK

Opponent--Detroit Tigers, three games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net, tonight and Wednesday; Channel 9 Tuesday.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 69-48, Tigers 45-72.

Record vs. Tigers--5-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEVIN APPIER

(9-9, 4.30 ERA)

vs.

TIGERS’

MARK REDMAN

(7-9, 3.18 ERA)

Update--In his last 15 starts, Redman has three complete games and a 2.21 earned-run average. On the Angels’ six-game trip, Anderson hit .520, Scott Spiezio .400, Salmon .375, Erstad .353 and Eckstein .344.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Aaron Sele (8-8, 4.78) vs. Jose Lima (3-5, 6.91).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (9-9, 4.16) vs. Mike Maroth (4-4, 4.19)

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.