Fullmer Touches Base

Looking to fill a gaping hole in their lineup at designated hitter, the Angels acquired Brad Fullmer in an off-season trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Fullmer’s bat was the attraction, but he made sure he brought his first baseman’s glove to spring training. And with the Angels’ first base situation changing almost daily because of injuries or suspensions, Fullmer started on defense for the second time this spring in Sunday’s 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

“Brad is a guy we have to keep in touch at first base,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We would not consider him a long-term answer, but you want to have that option.”

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Shawn Wooten, who was scheduled to share the first base job with Scott Spiezio, injured his right thumb last week and will be examined today in Los Angeles. He is expected to undergo surgery Tuesday and could sit out four months. Spiezio was suspended for the first six games of the regular season for his role in two brawls with the San Diego Padres on March 9.

Fullmer, 27, was a first baseman for most of his professional career, which began after he was selected by the Montreal Expos in the second round of the 1993 draft out of Van Nuys Montclair Prep. He has a .987 fielding percentage in 241 major league games at first base.

“I can play the position,” said Fullmer, who did not have to handle a ground ball Sunday but had five putouts, including two nice stretches on double plays. “Maybe with Wooten getting hurt, I’ll play it a little more. Whatever they need.”

Fullmer, who batted .274 with 18 home runs and 83 runs batted in last season, hit a single off the wall in center field, walked twice and hit a fly ball to left field against the Brewers. He is seven for 39 with one home run and four runs batted in this spring.

“I’m doing about the same as I’ve done in the past during spring training,” Fullmer said. “Usually, I get it going the last couple weeks.”

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Ramon Ortiz pitched six innings, the longest outing by an Angel pitcher this spring. Ortiz gave up five runs and five hits, struck out eight and walked one. He gave up four runs in the fourth inning, including consecutive home runs by Geoff Jenkins and Richie Sexson.

Unlike other members of the staff, Ortiz is not experimenting with new pitches this spring. He said if the season started today, he would be ready.

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With third baseman Troy Glaus still nursing a strained abdominal muscle, Spiezio started at third base. Spiezio, who is appealing his suspension, drove in four runs with a sacrifice fly and a three-run homer.... Glaus took batting practice for the first time since Thursday, but did not play.... Angel and Padre players who were suspended or fined for their roles in the two brawls March 9 will have their appeals heard within the next 10 days, said Bob Watson, baseball’s dean of discipline. Watson said the appeals would be heard by Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer. Watson suspended Spiezio for six games, Glaus for two games and fined Angel pitcher Aaron Sele. In the past, players often were able to delay suspensions until their teams traveled to New York. “They’re not going to get a two- or three-month free ride,” Watson said.... Watson was the general manager of the Houston Astros when the team made Cal State Fullerton’s Phil Nevin the first player chosen in the 1992 draft. Watson was also the general manager when the Astros traded Nevin to the Detroit Tigers in 1995. Nevin went on to play for the Angels before he joined the Padres. After he was fined for his role in the brawl Nevin said: “It’s a classic case of having people in charge who haven’t played the game, or if they have played the game, they’ve forgotten what it’s like to play the game.” Said Watson, who played 19 seasons in the major leagues: “He’s gotten to be a little better player. It sounds like he hasn’t changed much as a talker.”