Fullmer Able to Provide First Option for Scioscia

If Brad Fullmer can play first base, the lineup options multiply for Angel Manager Mike Scioscia. For a guy who wasn’t supposed to be able to play first base very well, Fullmer’s defense has been satisfactory. And he’s hitting .417 when he starts at first base and .213 as the designated hitter.

“It makes no difference to me,” Fullmer said. “But sometimes it’s good to focus your attention on something other than your at-bats.”

With Fullmer at first base Saturday, Scioscia used outfielder Garret Anderson at designated hitter and gave him a day off the artificial turf. The Fullmer option would allow Scioscia to use other regulars at designated hitter and use others at designated hitter in favorable matchups.

But, while Scioscia praises Fullmer’s defensive improvement, the Angels are wary of needing to remove him for defensive purposes in the late innings of a close game, losing his bat. After Saturday’s game, Scioscia called Fullmer “our primary DH.”

Fullmer played the last two seasons for the Blue Jays. Some Toronto fans remembered him Saturday by hoisting a banner that read, “CAN’T BREAK ME,” the tattoo on one of Fullmer’s arms.

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The career performance of Ramon Ortiz had been erratic at best when the Angels signed him to a four-year contract in March, one that could be worth as much as $11.7 million. But Ortiz, 29, whose age increased by three years when his true birth certificate was uncovered over the winter, appears to have matured as smoothly as he has aged.

He ranks fifth in the league with a 2.55 earned-run average. He starts today, and he took great joy after his last game in discussing how he has learned to pitch without trying to strike out everyone in clutch situations.

“Very few young pitchers come onto the scene like [Seattle’s Freddy] Garcia or [Oakland’s Tim] Hudson or [Mark] Mulder,” Scioscia said. “There’s a seasoning that goes into guys executing pitches in tough situations.”

TODAY

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(2-3, 2.55 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

LUKE PROKOPEC

(1-3, 7.01 ERA)

SkyDome, Toronto, 10 a.m.

Radio--KPLS (830), XPRS (1090).

Update--The Dodgers are thrilled with the December trade that got them shortstop Cesar Izturis and reliever Paul Quantrill from Toronto. The Blue Jays got a minor leaguer and Prokopec, against whom opponents are batting .333. In 26 innings, he has given up 38 hits, including six home runs.