Erstad, Scioscia Get Second Chance

Today’s trip to the White House is long overdue for Darin Erstad and Mike Scioscia.

Erstad, a punter on Nebraska’s 1994 national championship football team, did not accompany the Cornhuskers to Washington to meet President Clinton. The center fielder had already embarked on his professional baseball career after becoming the first Big Eight Conference player selected as the first overall pick in the 1995 amateur draft.

“I was too busy working my way into the big leagues,” Erstad said.

A gimpy knee prevented Scioscia from joining the Dodgers during their White House visit several days after winning the World Series in October 1988.

“I would have loved to have gone,” Scioscia said. “My knee was locked up and swollen, and I had no chance to go out there and do that.”

Scioscia said the Dodgers did not go to the White House after winning the 1981 World Series.

The Angels will get an hourlong tour of the White House this morning before meeting President Bush. Scioscia acknowledged that it might be a tad awkward being honored by a man who used to compete in the American League West as owner of the Texas Rangers from 1989 to ’94.

“You apologize and then accept the congratulations,” Scioscia quipped.

New Angel owner Arte Moreno also is expected to attend the ceremony, which precedes a game against the Baltimore Orioles that opens a season-high 12-game trip.

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The Angels anticipate giving Chone Figgins a tryout in the outfield in an attempt to bolster their defense in the continued absence of Erstad, who is sidelined by tendinitis in his right hamstring.

Employed exclusively as an infielder this season with the Angels and at triple-A Salt Lake, Figgins played some in the outfield when he was a member of the Colorado Rockies’ organization.

The Angels also played him there at times during spring training.

“There’s no doubt about his speed, and his arm plays better from the outfield,” Scioscia said. “It’s something we’re considering. If we are going to pursue it, now would be the time.”

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Prospect Kevin Jepsen, who led the Class-A Cedar Rapids Kernels with six victories this season, has been put on the disabled list because of a right elbow strain.

Selected by the Angels in the second round of last year’s amateur draft, Jepsen is 6-3 with a 2.65 earned-run average.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Baltimore Orioles, two games.

Today, 4 p.m. PDT -- Sele (1-2, 7.53) vs. Sidney Ponson (5-3, 4.11).

Wednesday, 4 p.m. PDT -- Ramon Ortiz (4-4, 5.40) vs. Jason Johnson (4-2, 3.33).