Options Solid at Leadoff

One has superlative speed, the other already has put together one of the finest seasons ever by a leadoff hitter.

The Angels like their chances to generate instant offense this season regardless of whether Chone Figgins or Darin Erstad replaces David Eckstein atop the batting order.

“We’ve got a lot of great scenarios to set that lineup up,” hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said.

Erstad has batted leadoff in two of the Angels’ three spring games, including their 7-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. But Manager Mike Scioscia said he has not decided who will step into the batter’s box first when the Angels open the season April 5 against the Texas Rangers.

Erstad has the more established credentials. He hit .355 in 2000 while becoming the first player in major league history to drive in 100 runs as a leadoff batter. Erstad showed the ability to blend power and speed that season by hitting 25 homers and stealing 28 bases, though he has not hit more than 10 homers in a season since.

Erstad, supplanted by Eckstein as the Angels’ leadoff hitter in 2001, said his success in 2000 was not a function of batting leadoff. “It wouldn’t have mattered where I was hitting,” he said. “I had it going.”

Figgins, who stole 34 bases last season, is more of a prototypical leadoff hitter. He opens up the right side of the infield when he gets on base and goes from first to third on most singles.

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Dallas McPherson said he does not think the back spasms that have forced him to cease baseball activities the last two days are cause for concern. The third baseman sat out a couple of months during the 2003 season because of a ruptured disk in his back but said his current malady was nowhere near as serious.

“I couldn’t walk or put my clothes on then, so I’m way ahead of the game right now,” McPherson said. “I’m fine compared to that.”

Scioscia said he hoped McPherson could return in a few days.

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Orlando Cabrera hit a three-run double in his first game at shortstop and Juan Rivera had a solo homer, the Angels’ first homer of the spring. But the Angel relievers couldn’t hold a ninth-inning lead for the second time in three days, giving up five runs in the final inning. Matt Hensley, bidding for the final spot in the bullpen, gave up four runs in 1 2/3 innings.... Kelvim Escobar threw batting practice for the first time and could pitch in a game in a week to 10 days if he suffers no setbacks.

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The Angels had six players on Baseball America’s list of top 100 major league prospects: first baseman Casey Kotchman at No. 6, McPherson at No. 12, shortstops Erick Aybar and Brandon Wood at Nos. 39 and 83, catcher Jeff Mathis at No. 67 and outfielder Kendry Morales at No. 76.