Eckstein Hopes He’s Still the Answer

If the Angels did not believe they could win this season, they would not bother with the discussion. David Eckstein would play shortstop, Adam Kennedy would play second base, and the team would stand pat until one of their infield prospects forced its hand.

But, with the acquisition of pitchers Kevin Appier and Aaron Sele and designated hitter Brad Fullmer, the Angels consider themselves contenders. Their discussion of whether to pursue veteran free-agent shortstop Rey Sanchez reflects a more fundamental question: Can they win with Eckstein at shortstop?

Eckstein, a second baseman throughout his minor league career, has sure hands and an accurate arm. The limited range he displayed at shortstop during his rookie season last year suggests second base is his best position.

Eckstein and Sanchez each had 333 assists as American League shortstops last season, but Eckstein played 1,051 innings there for the Angels and Sanchez 851 innings for the Kansas City Royals. Angel coach Alfredo Griffin, a Gold Glove shortstop in 1985 with Oakland, said the team can win a championship with Eckstein at shortstop.

“He played all his [minor league] years at second base, so you have to assume he is a better second baseman than shortstop,” Griffin said. “He played there because of the need we had. But he did great.”

Range is difficult to improve. Eckstein said he included quickness exercises in his off-season workouts, the better to get that crucial first step needed to stop a ground ball up the middle or in the hole between shortstop and third base.

Griffin noted that Hall of Fame-bound shortstop Cal Ripken made up for below-average range with superior positioning, studying hitters well enough to anticipate where the ball would be hit.

The Angels have no doubt that Eckstein has the work ethic and the intelligence--he was an academic All-American at the University of Florida--to emulate Ripken in that regard.

“You can position yourself to show you have range, because you’re playing the hitter right,” Griffin said. “You can take that question away if you’re always in the right position.”

Eckstein said he feels comfortable at shortstop but would return to second base if the team asked.

“I will play wherever they want me to play,” he said. “I’m just happy to be on the field. And that’s no lie.”

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The Angels welcomed an old friend to training camp Sunday. Bobby Grich, the second baseman on all three of the Angels’ division championship teams in 1979, ’82 and ‘86, joined the team as a spring training instructor and immediately went to work.

He held two post-practice tutoring sessions, one with the middle infielders and another with Kennedy alone.

“It’s hard not to listen to a guy who had a career like that,” Kennedy said.

Grich, 53, the inaugural member of the Angels’ Hall of Fame, returned to the team this season in a part-time position.

In addition to coaching in spring training and in the fall instructional league, he’ll make appearances on behalf of the team before community groups and corporate sponsors.

As the Angels put a renewed emphasis on their history, Grich said he hopes to recruit other former players living in Southern California--including Jim Abbott, Rod Carew, Doug DeCinces, Mark Langston, Kirk McCaskill and Mike Witt--to get involved with the organization. Abbott has expressed interest in working as a spring training instructor next season, and Grich and Jim Fregosi are expected to be among those on hand when the Angels hold their first adult fantasy camp here next February.

The Angels will distribute Grich bobblehead dolls April 27.

“That’s the pinnacle,” he said, laughing. “You know you’ve made it when you’re a model for a bobblehead doll.

“Seriously, I’m flattered they would do that, and I’m honored they would invite me back.”