Figgins Thinks He Was Safe

Pinch-runner Chone Figgins, called out at the plate on Darin Erstad’s fielder’s choice grounder in the seventh inning, maintained he was safe--and that his other baserunning decisions in the inning were correct.

Figgins, running for Bengie Molina, moved to second on Benji Gil’s sacrifice. When David Eckstein lined a shot off the second baseman’s glove for a single, Figgins moved to third.

With an 0-and-1 count on Erstad, Johan Santana uncorked a wild pitch, but Figgins stayed put while Eckstein moved to second. Figgins was called out at home on Erstad’s grounder to second, although replays didn’t clearly show whether Minnesota catcher A.J. Pierzynski had tagged him.

“I didn’t think he tagged me because he was so far in front of the plate,” Figgins said. “The umpire [Brian Gorman] saw the ball beat me. That’s probably why he called me out. He had to reach back. I thought I was in there.”

Figgins also said he couldn’t go on Eckstein’s liner because he thought it might have been caught; he didn’t go on the wild pitch because he thought it wasn’t worth the risk. The Angels failed to score in the inning.

Helene Elliott

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When Gene Autry founded the Angels in 1961, the legendary entertainer often invited his show business buddies to join him at the ballpark. The suddenly trendy Angels are Hollywood’s team again, with Edison Field the hot new place for celebrities to be seen.

Actor Kevin Costner joined Disney Chairman Michael Eisner in a private suite Friday. The all-star roster scheduled to attend at least one of the three American League championship series games this weekend includes singer Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit and actors Pierce Brosnan, Dennis Quaid, David Hasselhoff and Matt LeBlanc, one of the stars of “Friends.”

“It’s awesome. It’s cool,” Gil said. “Hopefully, they’ll give us some guest appearances in their movies and shows.

“I’d love to be on ‘Friends.’ That might be the highlight of my life.”

Really?

“Other than family and baseball,” he said, quickly.

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Jackie Autry, the honorary president of the American League and former co-owner of the Angels, is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight. While Autry is not interested in buying back the team her husband founded, she said she would be happy to speak with any incoming owner interested in embracing the Angels’ Autry legacy.

Three of Gene Autry’s favorite players--shortstop Jim Fregosi, second baseman Bobby Knoop and catcher Buck Rodgers--are scheduled to throw out first pitches Sunday.

Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, invited to throw out a first pitch this weekend, had scheduling conflicts but could be available for a World Series game.

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Right fielder Tim Salmon, forced from Wednesday’s game because of a strained right hamstring, started Friday. He was cleared to play after two therapy sessions Thursday and an intensive pregame workout Friday.... Eckstein and pitcher Scott Schoeneweis have been selected to play on a team of major leaguers scheduled for a tour of Japan in November.... Maybe this is why Eisner says Disney might sell part, but not all, of the Angels: Half an hour before Friday’s game, about 120 people stood in line outside the stadium store, waiting at least 20 minutes for the right to enter the store and spend $20 on a stuffed monkey.

Bill Shaikin