Kennedy Is Good Soldier in Platoon

For years, just about every time he didn’t start against a left-hander, Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy would stew, wondering if it was a one-time thing or if he’d been relegated to a part-time role.

The left-handed-hitting Kennedy was on the bench again Tuesday night, with Cleveland left-hander Cliff Lee on the mound, but the veteran seemed almost at peace with Manager Mike Scioscia’s decision to start Howie Kendrick ahead of him.

Perhaps, that’s because there was no ambiguity to the situation this time, no way for Kennedy’s head to be filled with doubt. Scioscia removed that uncertainty Tuesday when he told Kennedy he was now in a second-base platoon with Kendrick, the organization’s top hitting prospect.

“I don’t really have a choice,” Kennedy said. “This time of year, we’re trying to make a run. Performance is what it’s all about.”

Kendrick’s three-hit, two-RBI performance Sunday against Tampa Bay was enough to convince Scioscia that the 23-year-old, who was batting .369 at triple-A Salt Lake before being recalled, is ready for more playing time.

The slick-fielding but light-hitting Kennedy (.262) is in the final year of a three-year contract, and Kendrick, who has considerable pop and is improving on defense -- he started two double plays in the first three innings Tuesday -- is Kennedy’s heir apparent.

Though Kennedy, 30, is trying to block out thoughts of this possibly being his last season in Anaheim, he’s growing resigned to the probability that he won’t be back in 2007, so much so that he’s finding a little gallows humor in his situation.

Asked what the gist of Tuesday’s meeting with Scioscia was, Kennedy replied, “He said you’re benched -- deal with it.”

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A Baltimore Orioles executive reiterated owner Peter Angelos’ recent assertion that the team has little interest in trading slugger Miguel Tejada, telling the Baltimore Sun the team would have to be blown away by an offer to even consider trading the All-Star shortstop.

The executive told the Sun the Orioles would want “a top-of-the-rotation pitcher and a couple of high-level prospects” for Tejada, who is batting .315 with 18 homers and 67 RBIs this season.

The Angels made a run at Tejada in late June, hoping to acquire him and move him to third base, and the Orioles were believed to have asked for right-hander Ervin Santana, reliever Scot Shields and Kendrick.

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Kelvim Escobar, on the disabled list because of elbow inflammation, threw all of his pitches during a bullpen session and has been penciled in to start Saturday in Kansas City. Jered Weaver, scratched from Monday’s scheduled start because of biceps tendinitis, played long toss, will throw long toss again today and a bullpen session Thursday. The rookie right-hander has been penciled in to start Sunday at Kansas City.