In Gloomy Setting, He Helps the Cause

There were hours to kill before Friday night’s game in Yankee Stadium, a playoff game that for a while appeared as if it might not be played. (Tough luck for the Yankees).

The field was covered, so the Angels were left to wander the dreary, musty basement hallways of Yankee Stadium, and while there’s no question this place is loaded with history, so are cemeteries.

The clubhouses are off limits before games to the media during the postseason, but I’m pretty sure the Angels were inside watching the Jerry Springer Show to prepare themselves for Yankee fans.

In time, some of the players emerged in search of the indoor batting cages. I’m happy to report Garret Anderson was one of them, while others took a seat in the dugout to watch the rain fall.

I followed proper protocol, meanwhile, and asked an Angel official to tell Anderson that I wanted to speak with him. It’s just something I felt I had to do. Nobody likes to get an annual physical exam or watch Will & Grace with the wife, but sometimes you just have to suffer to avoid bigger problems.

I had chastised Anderson for his lackadaisical play in Game 1, and so I thought it’d be nice -- and you didn’t think I could do that -- to give him one more chance to explain himself, or offer a rebuttal I wouldn’t accept.

I was told to wait outside the clubhouse for an answer, and did so for more than an hour while chatting with various Angels.

Paul Byrd, assigned the task of starting opposite Randy Johnson, asked if it was going to continue to rain. It’s generally understood in some circles that sports reporters know everything, so I understood why he was asking.

Bengie Molasses, the star of these playoffs so far, was doing a radio interview. I thought his voice would be too hoarse from all the interviews he gave after Game 2. This is the same guy who said he wasn’t talking to the media this season; I guess we know now he was just a little slow in warming to the idea.

Angel owner Arte Moreno came by and said he was serious when he offered a ride on his plane for the trip to New York. To be honest, I couldn’t say for sure whether he’s a close friend of the Boston Parking Lot Attendant or not, so I didn’t think it was a good idea to be on a plane with someone with the authority to drop off a passenger where ever he saw fit.

Manager Mike Scioscia noticed I was talking to Jarrod Washburn and teased Washburn, wanting to know what he was complaining about this time. Washburn offered a wise crack, and got one in return from Scioscia.

Washburn’s dad is a life-long Yankee fan, and so he was telling me he sent a pair of tickets, arranged a hotel room for his parents and called his dad back from a hunting trip, insisting they be here. Now he’ll have the chance to eliminate the Yankees -- if he can ignore the fact that his father is rooting for them.

I remained leaning against the wall waiting for Anderson, the dank conditions keeping me on alert for a passing rat -- thankful that I wouldn’t be surprised because of all the time I had spent in Dodger Stadium this season.

An Angel spokesman appeared to say he had spoken to Anderson. He said Anderson would speak to a group of reporters after the game. He said Anderson didn’t want to explain himself one-on-one, figuring he’d be unable to change the mind of some reporters. He said he was going to go out and let his play on the field speak for him.

Then Anderson strolled to home plate in the first inning and slammed a three-run home run off Johnson. Two innings later, he tripled to right -- never looking so motivated.

I suggested to an Angel spokesman that if Anderson wanted to hit for the cycle the PR guy ought to call the dugout and let him know I was going to talk to him.

He said he’d do what he could, and then Anderson added an RBI single. More than that, on a force play at second, Anderson threw an intimidating slide into the second baseman, forcing him to leave the bag early.

I repeat, Anderson contributed an intimidating slide, getting his uniform dirty for the first time this season.

Anderson made it four for five later with another RBI single, and this time when the Yankees’ Robinson Cano hit a fly ball to left with the bases loaded, Anderson was not only in proper position, he caught the ball. It just took a little motivation.

The Angels won, and obviously now I’m going to have to make an attempt to talk to Anderson before every game right on through the World Series. The things I do to help our local teams.

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SCIOSCIA SAID before the game that he was dropping Anderson from third to fifth in the lineup to take some pressure off Anderson.

Asked about it after the game, Anderson said, “I don’t feel pressure playing baseball.”

Apparently, just talking about it.

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STEVE FINLEY agreed to donate $100 for every hit and $100 for every game not played to Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, extending his offer through the playoffs.

So far he owes $4,700. Scioscia agreed to donate $100 for every Finley hit, doubling his donation for the playoffs. Right now he owes $2,300.

But I’m going to make it $2,500 -- charging him $200 for having Finley drop a squeeze bunt to bring another run home, and taking away his chance for a hit.

The nice thing about it -- I know Scioscia won’t argue.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.