Molinas Play Catch-Up

Jose Molina’s dramatic improvement behind the plate and Bengie Molina’s nagging hamstring injuries probably will result in more playing time for Jose this season, a potentially awkward development because it would come at the expense of his brother.

No one was happier to see Jose Molina hit a home run, a double and guide pitcher Bartolo Colon through a stellar start Tuesday than Bengie, who spent much of the season-opening victory over the Mariners jumping up and down on the top step of the Angel dugout.

But Bengie is stingy when it comes to playing time -- he prides himself on catching about 130 games a year -- and once he recovers from a slight strain of his left hamstring, the two-time Gold Glove winner expects to handle the bulk of the catching load.

“I’m here to play every day,” said Bengie, on course to return for this weekend’s series in Texas. “I don’t care how good Jose is feeling. If they don’t think I can play every day, that’s a decision they have to make.”

But by playing Jose a little more -- and Bengie a little less -- the Angels believe they would keep Bengie fresher and Jose sharper, a combination that could result in better overall production from the catching spot.

“What’s going to make us go is a catcher who is doing the job behind the plate, and Bengie is at the top of the game with that,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Jose is improving, and we’re going to need all our catchers to get the job done. The plan is still for Bengie to catch 120 to 130 games, but we’ll adjust if we have to.”

Jose, who threw out Ichiro Suzuki trying to steal second in the first inning and doubled in a run in the third Wednesday night, drew rave reviews this spring. After losing 15 pounds and reporting to camp in the best shape of his life, he improved in virtually every facet of the game -- receiving, throwing, blocking pitches in the dirt, calling pitches and hitting.

“Jose could be a starting catcher for a lot of major league teams right now,” bench coach Joe Maddon said. “I couldn’t have said that last year.”

Jose gives Bengie, who sat out two weeks of exhibition games because of hamstring injuries, much of the credit.

“He’s responsible for 90% of my improvement at the major league level,” he said. “He gives me tips on hitters because he’s been around so long.”

As far as improving to the point where he could steal playing time from his brother, Jose defers to Scioscia.

“It doesn’t matter if it was Bengie ahead of me or someone else,” Jose said. “It’s the manager who makes the decision on who plays, and I have to respect that.”

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Tuesday’s Channel 9 broadcast of the Angels’ season-opening win attracted the team’s largest audience for a weekday day game of any Los Angeles television outlet since 1997. The game averaged a 3.0 rating and a 7.0 share, according to Nielsen Media Research, with each rating point equaling 54,023 households.