Figgins Discovers a New Role

As a super utility player, Chone Figgins carries four gloves -- one for second base, one for shortstop, one for third base and one for the outfield -- and he also has to be handy with a catcher’s mitt; until Bengie Molina returns from the disabled list, Figgins is the Angels’ emergency catcher.

But the way the Angel lineup is currently configured, the speedy Figgins won’t have as much use for all that leather as he did last season, because he’ll probably spend the majority of his playing time as a designated hitter, a role Figgins has virtually no experience with.

Figgins, who spent the first month of the season as a full-time second baseman, in place of the injured Adam Kennedy, started at DH against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Figgins started at six positions in 2004 but never at DH. He started one game as a DH in 2003.

“It’s still the same as playing a position, you just have to stay mentally ready,” Figgins said.

“For any player, that’s the most important thing, staying mentally prepared.”

He warmed to his new role quickly, following Darin Erstad’s leadoff single in the first inning Tuesday with a run-scoring single to center.

Figgins stole second, took third on a passed ball and, with the infield in, beat second baseman Bret Boone’s throw to the plate to score on Garret Anderson’s groundout. For the night, he went two for four.

It’s his speed, along with his ability to hit for average and some power, that will keep Figgins in the lineup now that Kennedy has returned from knee surgery.

Figgins will spell Kennedy at second and Dallas McPherson at third, but outfielders Vladimir Guerrero, Steve Finley and Anderson, and shortstop Orlando Cabrera rarely take days off, and they prefer not to DH, so there won’t be as many opportunities for Figgins to play the field.

“He’s definitely a catalyst for what we need to do offensively,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. Though Figgins may lack the home run power of Jeff DaVanon and Juan Rivera, who shared the DH job in April, “I think we’ll benefit more from the style of offense he’ll bring,” Scioscia said. “He’s going to score a tremendous amount of runs for us, and that’s the bottom line.”

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The only drawback to Figgins starting at DH is if a regular was injured during a game and Scioscia wanted to insert Figgins defensively, the Angels would lose the DH spot, forcing the pitcher to possibly hit.

“We might lose his versatility during the games he starts at DH, but we have enough flexibility to make moves,” Scioscia said. “That’s not a reason to keep Figgy out of the DH spot.”