Scioscia not giving up on Figgins

Mike Scioscia told Chone Figgins on Wednesday he was giving him a second straight game off “to clear his mind,� and that the struggling third baseman would start tonight against the Baltimore Orioles.

But the Angels manager did not rule out the possibility of Erick Aybar seizing the third base job, much like outfielder Reggie Willits commandeered the leadoff spot when given the chance to play in place of the injured Garret Anderson in late April.

“We still feel like Figgy has a lot to offer, and we’re not going to give up on that,� Scioscia said. “But we’ve seen what Erick can do, and if he adds depth at third base, it will only make us better.�

Aybar, who came up as a shortstop, filled in for injured second baseman Howie Kendrick in mid-April and played superb defense for six weeks while hitting .261.

The 23-year-old had never played third in the big leagues -- his only experience there was “four or five games in the Dominican winter league,� he said -- and didn’t begin taking ground balls at third until Monday.

“The game is a little quicker at third,� Scioscia said. “But he has the reactions and the hands.�

That was evident when Aybar dived to his left to smother Ichiro Suzuki’s game-opening grounder Wednesday and, from one knee, threw out Suzuki at first.

More plays like that, and Figgins’ job could be in serious jeopardy. In addition to his offensive woes -- he is hitting .133 -- Figgins has made five errors in 25 games and misplayed a few other balls that were ruled hits.

“Hitting will come and go, but defense is extremely important to this club,� Scioscia said. “We all feel Figgins can play at a higher level than he’s shown.�

Figgins, who sat out all but one game in April because of fractures in two fingers, hates taking one day off, let alone two, “but maybe it will be good for me,� he said. “Missing a month was tough. I have to realize I can’t get it all back in one day. I have to take baby steps.�

Has Figgins’ confidence at third base suffered?

“No, I’m OK,� he said. “I get mad and put pressure on myself when I don’t make a play I know I can make. That’s me being a competitor.... I know I can play third. I’ve played well there before.�

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Bartolo Colon has been diagnosed with triceps tendinitis, and his next start was pushed back to June 8 in St. Louis. The Angels are expected to recall triple-A left-hander Joe Saunders to start Saturday against Baltimore.

Saunders was scheduled to pitch Friday for Salt Lake but was pushed back to Saturday so he could be aligned with Colon. Right-hander Dustin Moseley would normally be considered a candidate for a spot start, but the right-hander has thrived in Justin Speier’s absence as a late-inning reliever.

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The Angels agreed to terms on a $1-million bonus with pitcher Jordan Walden, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander who was a 12th-round pick in last June’s draft.

Walden, considered one of the best high school prospects in 2006, turned down a scholarship from Texas to attend Grayson County (Texas) College, the same school Angels ace John Lackey attended.

Walden, who went 8-2 with a 1.49 earned-run average in 11 games, would have entered the 2007 draft had the Angels not signed him by Wednesday....

Anderson was hitless in three at-bats and played six innings in left field in his first rehabilitation game for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.

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