Angels Run On and Over the Royals

The only catcher who could slow the Angels’ running game right now might be their own.

The Angels stole six bases Wednesday, and Angel catcher Bengie Molina threw out yet another runner, highlights from a night at the races. With home runs from Tim Salmon and Troy Glaus, with four hits apiece from Salmon and Alfredo Amezaga, and with eight terrific innings from Ramon Ortiz, the Angels routed the Kansas City Royals, 12-2.

In the most unlikely statistic of the evening, and the one that perhaps best illustrates the 2002 Angels, Salmon stole two bases.

“How about that?” Salmon said. “Two bags? Did that tie a career high for me?”

Actually, it set a career high for the 10-year veteran. He even stole third base once, making him something of a poster child for the budding track team of Manager Mike Scioscia.

“He gives you the freedom to be aggressive,” Salmon said.

And Molina takes that freedom away from the other team. Molina has thrown out 55% of opposing runners, the top mark among major league catchers. He threw out 24% last year, amid injuries to a hamstring and to his throwing shoulder.

“It’s all a matter of confidence,” he said. “I couldn’t throw the ball last year. I had my shoulder all messed up, and I didn’t have my legs. I couldn’t throw anybody out, so my confidence was down.”

With perennial Gold Glove winner Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez on the disabled list, Molina might be the catcher striking the most fear into the hearts of opposing managers.

“Pudge is still at the top of the class as far as release, arm strength, accuracy and glove-to-glove times,” Scioscia said.

“Bengie is not far behind that. He might be a tick behind Pudge

Kansas City ranks second in the American League in stolen bases, but Molina threw out two of four Royals trying to steal in this series.

The Angels rank third in the league in stolen bases, a byproduct of the aggressive running tactics Scioscia and his coaches installed in spring training. The six stolen bases Wednesday, one shy of the club record, included a double steal in a five-run fifth inning and two steals of second in a four-run sixth.

And the Angels could get faster next season. Amezaga, who stole one base Wednesday, served notice that his time as the starting shortstop might not be far in coming. The swift switch-hitter had two hits from each side of the plate, a timely reminder to leave in the heads of the coaching staff as he returns to the minor leagues. With veteran infielder Benji Gil completing his rehabilitation assignment, the Angels returned Amezaga to triple-A Salt Lake after the game.

Salmon said he enjoys the running game and appreciates that the coaches teach such nuances as getting proper jumps, determining which pitches to run on and decoding pickoff moves to all the players, not just the fastest ones.

“I never really learned it,” Salmon said. “With this coaching staff, they’re on top of those things.”

If the Angels are to win, they must run, or so Scioscia says. Statheads insist that the “little ball” Scioscia preaches--stolen bases, hit-and-run plays, sacrifice bunts--costs a team more in outs than it gains in runs.

But, on a team with little power generated by its catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and center fielder, Scioscia says he is simply employing the offense most appropriate for his roster.

“What we do is look at the assets we have as a team and use them where we see the best fit,” he said. “If you have nine home run hitters and you can’t steal bases, you’ll implement a different offense than a running game.

“You have to use it to your advantage, and not run yourself mindlessly into outs. But I think it all falls under the umbrella of understanding your team.”