Quinlan Still Learning on Job

Even though he committed two errors in his first four games and was replaced in the Angels’ lineup by Maicer Izturis on Saturday, Robb Quinlan said he was satisfied with his progress defensively as a third baseman.

“I’m still learning,” said Quinlan, a converted first baseman who had played the position only sparingly and never at the major league level before last June. “I’m still enjoying going out there and playing it and trying to become a better third baseman.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said he made the switch to get Izturis some at-bats and “get maybe a defensive presence at third base that could help.” Izturis had been used exclusively as a pinch-runner and a late-inning defensive replacement for Quinlan in three of the first four games.

Quinlan also has struggled at the plate, going two for 12, but said he felt more comfortable Friday after making an adjustment in his batting stance that allowed him to keep his head down on the ball.

“Quinlan’s not a third baseman, [so] I can’t go crazy about what he’s doing at third,” infield coach Alfredo Griffin said. “Whatever we get from him is a plus because it’s a tough position on a guy who has never played it. I’m not worried about him right now.”

In 32 games at third last season, Quinlan made one error in 58 opportunities. He committed a team-high five errors this spring but looked more comfortable toward the end of the exhibition season.

“I’m not disappointed,” Quinlan said of being removed from the lineup. “There’s kind of a saying in baseball that if you don’t like it, start playing better. I know I didn’t play that great the last few games.”

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Scioscia said he did not think Chone Figgins’ struggles from the end of last season, when he committed several costly mistakes during the playoff series against Boston, were carrying over to 2005, even though Figgins had only one hit in his first 14 at-bats and committed an error Friday. Figgins said he did not think he was pressing. “I’m having good at-bats, playing good defense and we’re winning,” Figgins said. “I can’t complain with that.”

Third baseman Dallas McPherson, recovering from a herniated disk in his lower back, went hitless in eight at-bats with a run batted in in the first two games of his rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Salt Lake. There remains no timetable for his return.