Angels try Howie Kendrick at first base
Reporting from Arlington, Texas — Here today, there tomorrow.
There are no givens anymore when it comes to the Angels infield.
Howie Kendrick, who had made his first 96 starts of the season at second base, was the starting first baseman Sunday when the Angels played the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.
It was the first time Kendrick played first base since 2006, when he made 25 starts there so that the Angels could get his bat in the lineup with Adam Kennedy entrenched at second base. Manager Mike Scioscia had asked Kendrick to take ground balls at first base Saturday to prepare for the switch.
Kendrick got an early test Sunday when Maicer Izturis, who took his spot at second base, fielded Michael Young’s ground ball up the middle with one out in the first inning and short-hopped his throw to Kendrick. The ball popped out of Kendrick’s glove and Young was awarded a single during the Rangers’ two-run inning.
Scioscia wouldn’t say how often he envisioned Kendrick playing first base, but he disputed the notion that moving a proficient second baseman to a position he hadn’t played in four years weakened the defense because Izturis “is terrific” at second base and Kendrick provides excellent range at first.
“I think it will be a plus,” Scioscia said.
Kendrick said he wasn’t uncomfortable making the switch even though he had to borrow a first baseman’s glove from a teammate because he left his in the Angel Stadium clubhouse. He said the biggest adjustment would be during cutoff situations involving the outfielders.
“I just have to think about the plays before they happen and stay alert as much as possible,” Kendrick said.
Rotating positions could be a common theme for every Angels infielder except standout shortstop Erick Aybar in the coming weeks as Scioscia tries to rest heavily used players while maintaining offensive continuity.
“We have a lot of guys who can play some different positions, so I think it’s just one way of keeping guys in the lineup,” Kendrick said. “I’m open to playing anywhere. Whatever’s going to get me in the lineup that day, I’m pretty cool with that.”
Depth charge
An Angels starting rotation that already led the major leagues in innings pitched could have enhanced its ability to pitch deep into games with the acquisition of Dan Haren.
The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in 81% of his starts (17 of 21), significantly more than the player whose spot in the rotation he took. Joe Saunders had pitched that many innings in only 55% of his starts (11 of 20).
“You look at a guy like Dan Haren, you’re looking at a guy that’s a top-end-of-the-rotation-type guy,” Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said.
Haren has made 12 quality starts of at least six innings and three earned runs or fewer. That’s three more quality starts than Saunders had made.
“I think Dan’s going to fit in very nicely,” Butcher said. “I’ve seen a lot of him lately, and I think he’s going to be a great addition to our pitching staff.”
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