Finley on the Verge of a Rare Double

With seven more home runs, Steve Finley will join a select group of major leaguers who have hit 300 home runs and stolen 300 bases, an exclusive club with only four members -- Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson and Bobby Bonds.

But the Angel center fielder, who has 293 homers and 311 stolen bases, says this is not the appropriate time to discuss the achievement.

“Maybe after it happens, or after the season, I’ll think about it, but it’s not even on my radar right now,” said Finley, who did not start Saturday against Minnesota Twin left-hander Johan Santana but struck out against Joe Nathan as a pinch-hitter in the ninth for the game’s final out. “That would take away from what we’re trying to do. I want to focus on winning ballgames.”

What makes the milestone so impressive, Manager Mike Scioscia said, is that’s it’s not merely a reflection of longevity. Yes, Finley is 40 and in his 17th big league season, but few players stay in the kind of shape required to hit home runs and steal bases for such a long time.

“It points to a special dimension for a player to have that kind of speed and power; it’s a rare combination,” Scioscia said. “It’s not like he’s faster now than he was 15 years ago, but he’s maintained it, kept it at a high level.

“With experience, most guys will hit for more power, but most players, by the time they figure it out, their skills have deteriorated to a point where they can’t use that experience. Steve has been able to put that experience to use to be a very productive player.”

Finley, a five-time Gold Glove award winner who is batting .227 with eight homers, 41 runs batted in and six stolen bases this season, showed considerable athletic ability Friday night, robbing Joe Mauer of a home run with a leaping catch above the center-field wall after a long run toward the gap.

“I used to watch him as a youngster,” said Twin center fielder Torii Hunter, who has been known to make a few acrobatic catches himself. “That guy can still play.”

Finley said seeing that quote in Saturday’s local paper didn’t make him feel old.

“I took it as a compliment,” said Finley, one of the fittest players in the game. “I’m 40, but I don’t feel 40.”

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Orlando Cabrera, in his first game back from the disabled list, had a run-scoring double and singled and scored in his first two at-bats Saturday, but Scioscia said the shortstop will not start today’s series finale against the Twins because he wants to ease Cabrera back into his everyday role. ... The Angels promoted two of their top infield prospects, second baseman Alberto Callaspo from double-A Arkansas to triple-A Salt Lake and second baseman Howie Kendrick from Class-A Rancho Cucamonga to Arkansas. Callaspo hit .294 with nine homers and 48 RBIs in 350 at-bats for Arkansas. Kendrick hit .384 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs and had a .421 on-base percentage in 63 games for Rancho Cucamonga.