August 24, 2007

Anderson needs more big nights

RANDY YOUNGMAN
Register columnist

ANAHEIM - On the night after Garret Anderson's epic 10-RBI game against the Yankees, Angels manager Mike Scioscia joked that GA "got one-sixth of my season high in one game."

"That," a smirking Scioscia added, "was a good monthfor me."

It was a funny line, because Scioscia's career high, indeed, was 66 RBIs for the 1990 Dodgers. But did you realize that Anderson, the Angels' career hits and RBI leader, averaged fewer than 10 RBIs a month during the first four months of this injury-marred season?

But that's anything but funny, because Anderson gets paid a lot ($11 million salary in 2007) to be a prolific middle-of-the-order run-producer, batting either behind or ahead of Vladimir Guerrero.

Despite driving in 22 runs in August, Anderson (.281, 8 HR, 50 RBIs through Thursday) is on a 10-homer, 64-RBI pace that would represent among the lowest power, production and batting average statistics in his 13 seasons with the Angels. Those numbers, of course, are skewed by the 46 games he missed during two stints on the DL because of hip problems.

And those injuries make it difficult for the Angels to evaluate Anderson, 35, and his future with the team.

He has one guaranteed year left ($12 million in 2008) on the four-year, $48 million contract extension he signed before the 2005 season, which includes a club option for $14 million in 2009.

What Anderson (.233 with runners in scoring position) does the rest of the season, and how far the Angels go in postseason play, probably will decide how long he plays in Anaheim.

It's more likely Guerrero's contract status will be the biggest priority this offseason, because he has one more guaranteed year ($14.5 million in 2008) on his five-year, $70 million contract, with a club option for $15 million in 2009.

In other words, it would behoove Anderson to have a few more career nights during the September stretch drive.

Ballpark sightings:Ducks general manager Brian Burke tagged along with Angels GM Bill Stoneman at Angel Stadium before Wednesday night's series finale against the Yankees.

I hope Burke's "quotability" rubbed off on Stoneman.

•Jay Johnstone, former player-prankster for the Angels, Dodgers and Yankees, took in Wednesday's game in the Diamond Club.

Johnstone said he couldn't believe there weren't several brawls and beanballs emanating from Texas' 30-3 pounding of Baltimore that day.

"Times sure have changed," Johnstone said.

•Veteran PGA Tour pro Fred Couples, who is taking the rest of the season off to rest an ailing back, hung around the visiting dugout with Yankees manager Joe Torre on Monday.

There was talk of playing nine holes at Big Canyon Country Club.

Media critic:Angels pitcher Ervin Santana was quoted this week as saying he's not fond of the writers who ask him questions after he pitches.

"They're all bad, they're all bad, they're all bad," Santana told one Southern California newspaper.

So are Santana's pitching stats: 5-12, 6.03 ERA, 23 homers allowed, .297 batting average against, etc., etc.

Unfriendly confines:Toronto third baseman Troy Glaus has not had a hit at Angel Stadium since he left the Angels as a free agent after 2004.

After going 0 for 4 in Thursday's series opener, he was 0 for 13 in Anaheim as an ex-Angel.

Paging Dr. Hudler:An irate reader e-mailed to complain that Rex Hudler, Angels TV analyst, explained on the air Wednesday night that an MRI is a Magnetic "Renaissance" Imaging test used to diagnose injuries.

It's a magnetic resonance imaging test. Close enough. Right, Yogi?

Rare feat:Texas relief pitcher Wes Littleton, former Cal State Fullerton star, picked up a save by protecting a 27-run lead Wednesday in Baltimore.

Technically, it was a save, because he pitched the last three innings of the 30-3 victory, but it's obvious the save rule needs to be rewritten.