Erstad Has Short Memory

By BILL SHAIKIN

Feb. 23, 2002 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. — This could be the last time Darin Erstad reports to spring training with the Angels, but he isn’t concerned.

He isn’t concerned about whether he will finish this season with the Angels, or start next season with them. He isn’t concerned about his health. And he certainly isn’t concerned about his miserable 2001 season.

“It was like it never happened,” Erstad said.

As soon as the final out had been recorded last October, Erstad erased the lost season from his memory. He sets the tone for clubhouse intensity, so he refused to yield to nagging back and knee injuries. He looked lost against left-handed pitchers and occasionally looked hopelessly lost on routine fly balls. And, while enduring a divorce, he sometimes lost his relentless focus on the game.

So, he figures, this season is bound to be better. “It can’t get any worse,” he said.

In 2000, he batted .355, became the first leadoff hitter in major league history to drive in 100 runs and had 240 hits, a total last exceeded in 1930. He plummeted to .258 last season, with his home runs down and his strikeouts up. His average against left-handers crashed from .338 to .204.

Tim Salmon plans to use a wretched 2001 season as motivation for this one, but Erstad has no use whatsoever for last season.

“I don’t need any extra motivation,” Erstad said. “It’s great to be back and have another go at it.”

He almost did not get that chance, at least with the Angels. In December, the Chicago White Sox agreed to trade outfielder Chris Singleton, promising young pitcher Jon Garland and two prospects for Erstad, but the Angels abandoned the trade. In the process of negotiating the departure of Angel President Tony Tavares, Disney executive Paul Pressler directed General Manager Bill Stoneman to try to win this season, and Stoneman told the White Sox the deal was dead.

Erstad said discussions on a long-term contract with the Angels “weren’t very serious,” so he agreed to a one-year contract and retained his eligibility for free agency following the season. If the Angels are not in contention in July, they could trade him and get players in return rather than risk losing him for two draft picks in free agency.

“I’m thinking about winning the World Series,” he said. “I’m not sitting here thinking that this is my last spring [here] or that I’m getting traded or about contracts.

“I’m more concerned with getting back and playing good baseball instead of worrying about multiyear contracts. If I don’t play well, it’s not going to matter. I’ll have to pay somebody to let me play.”

Erstad said his strong rural roots--he was born and raised in North Dakota--would not dissuade him from signing a contract to stay with the Angels.

“If I’m playing big league baseball, I couldn’t care less where I’m playing,” he said. “Am I going to live in California when I’m done playing? No.... But I love playing baseball in Anaheim.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said he has not decided whether Erstad or David Eckstein will bat leadoff. If Eckstein leads off, Erstad would bat second. If Erstad leads off, Eckstein would bat second or ninth, with Adam Kennedy or Scott Spiezio second.

The Angels will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1982 division championship team throughout the course of this season.

Included in the plans are giveaways of bobblehead-doll replicas of Bobby Grich (April 27), Rod Carew (July 6) and Brian Downing (Aug. 31).

The Angels signed minor league pitchers Brendan Donnelly, John Lackey and Mark Lukasiewicz to one-year contracts.