Pesky Has High Praise for Eckstein

He is a living history of one of the most fabled franchises in the major leagues, as much a part of the Boston Red Sox as Fenway Park itself. Johnny Pesky, 82, a former All-Star shortstop, manager, coach, executive and broadcaster for the Boston Red Sox, reports to the creaky old ballpark every day, hitting fungoes and dispensing wit and wisdom.

In 1997, while coaching the young Red Sox infielders, he took a particular liking to a second baseman named David Eckstein. The two men, the sage and the disciple 55 years his junior, greeted each other warmly Monday.

“My sweetheart,” Pesky said. “I love that little guy. I’m sorry we ever let him go. That was one of the things I just couldn’t understand.”

When the Red Sox tried to sneak Eckstein through waivers two years ago, the Angels claimed him. Now he is the Angels’ starting shortstop, at 5 feet 7, compared by Pesky to two of his Hall of Fame contemporaries.

“He’s a throwback to the old days,” Pesky said. “[Phil] Rizzuto was small. [Pee Wee] Reese was small.... It just goes to show you don’t have to be 6-4 to be a great player in this game. He works hard, and he does all the little things. I knew the kid would make it to the big leagues. I was hoping he’d have done it with us.”

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Chone Figgins didn’t want to be rude to his mother and brother, who flew here from Florida for his major league debut. So he escorted them to the Boston airport Sunday night, then hurried back to the team hotel and flipped on ESPN to make sure he really was the guy who scored the winning run for the Angels. In his first major league game, as a pinch-runner, he flew home from third on Eckstein’s squeeze bunt.

“I was thinking, I’ve got to see this and see if it’s actually for real,” Figgins said. “I got to get in the game and make a big impact in the game. I couldn’t even sleep.”

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Second baseman Adam Kennedy hit .391 on the seven-game trip to New York and Boston, raising his batting average to a season-high .309. Outfielder Garret Anderson, who has led the Angels in batting average in three of the last five seasons, is hitting .310. The last second baseman to lead the team in batting average was Johnny Ray, who hit .289 in 1989 .... Reliever Dennis Cook will begin a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Despite injuries to his left shoulder, including a partially torn rotator cuff, Cook is trying to return to the Angels for the final month, if there is one.... The Angels still aren’t sure whether outfielder Tim Salmon, recovering from a badly bruised left hand, can join Rancho Cucamonga for a rehabilitation assignment before the Quakes’ season ends Sunday.

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ON DECK

Opponent--Tampa Bay Devil Rays, three games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

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

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

Records--Angels 77-53, Devil Rays 43-87.

Record vs. Devil Rays--3-0.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JOHN LACKEY

(5-3, 3.27 ERA)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’

VICTOR ZAMBRANO

(5-5, 6.22 ERA)

Update--The Devil Rays have lost 16 consecutive series. The Angels’ top prospect, first baseman Casey Kotchman, was activated at Class-A Cedar Rapids after missing two months because of what the Angels feared might be a season-ending wrist injury.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (15-5, 3.33) vs. Jorge Sosa (1-6, 5.49).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Kevin Appier (12-9, 3.83) vs. Tanyon Sturtze (2-13, 5.00).

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.