WHO’S ON THIRD? NOT THEM : Glad to Be Utilized : Howell Plays Everywhere, but Not Every Day

Fate and Angel Manager Doug Rader put Jack Howell at second base Sunday when Oakland’s Rickey Henderson tied Lou Brock’s record for stolen bases.

Howell, who had started the game in left field, switched to second after Donnie Hill had sprained his thumb. That left Howell to take catcher Lance Parrish’s throw and tag Henderson, whose headfirst slide carried him in under Howell’s glove.

It was just another steal to Howell, until the roar of the Oakland crowd told him otherwise.

“When everyone’s cheering like that, it’s an awesome thing,” Howell said. “I’d like to be in that position.”

His current position, though, is that he has no set position.

Howell, who lost the regular third base job when the Angels signed free agent Gary Gaetti last winter, has started at first base, second, third, left field and right field this season. He might even add catching to that list. He caught several spring training games and catches batting practice to stay sharp.

“I’ve said it before and I said it early (in spring training): Being an everyday player is still what I’d like to be. I’m not going to deny that,” Howell said. “But the most important thing for a ballplayer to do is accept the role you’re given and do it the best you can.

“You can complain and pop off, but as long as you’re employed by a ballclub and they have a role for you, you should accept it. Yes, I’d like to be in the lineup every day. But that’s not what’s going to be the case. That was determined in spring training. I know if I was running an organization and I asked my employees to fill certain roles, I would appreciate it if they did.”

Rader and General Manager Mike Port obviously appreciate Howell’s efforts. Howell has played seven games this season, all against right-handers, and has started three of the past four and four of the last seven. He was two for five with three walks, a double and a home run (off Dave Stewart) in the last two games of the Angels’ series at Oakland, raising his batting average to .222.

That’s lower than the .228 he hit each of the past two seasons and his batting average contributed to the club’s decision to sign Gaetti. But Port has only praise for Howell’s performance this season.

“He’s a very important part of the ballclub,” Port said. “He has versatility, and there is ability there. I don’t think it can be too quickly forgotten (that) we won 91 games (in 1989) with that man playing third base. Last year we all had high expectations and Jack sets very high goals for himself. I think because of the work he puts in he’s a little more relaxed.

“There have been only three or four balls he hasn’t hit pretty well. He’s hit a lot of long fly balls and line drives. He has a good approach at the plate and he’s locked in pretty well. In the course of the season, he’ll be an important part of the club.”

Howell wasn’t sure he wanted to stay with the club after Gaetti was signed.

“I talked to my agents, wondering what we should do about the situation,” said Howell, who led major league third basemen in 1989 with a .974 fielding percentage, but slumped to .939 last season.

“You can moan or groan and asked to be traded, but who’s to say you’d end up in the right situation? I can do the job here, coming off the bench and spot starting.

“Am I content? You’re talking at a time I’ve played (often), so it’s hard to talk about being a platoon player. If . . . I hadn’t played in a week, it might be different. That’s the role they have for me, and I have to accept it. You should do your best at what you’re asked to do.”

He is most familiar with third base, but he started the 1987 season as the Angels’ left fielder and he might enjoy second base the most. He has committed only one error and that was Sunday at second.

“(The preparation) is no different, just as long as I do my work on days I’m not playing and get to hit each position a little bit so I feel comfortable,” he said. “In a game, I just try to react and make the routine plays. I just try to help defensively and keep things basic and simple.

“I’ve come in and played second a few times in my career and in spring training, I played a lot of innings there and familiarized myself with it. There are different responsibilities from playing third, like cutoffs and relays, being in the right place when guys are stealing and knowing who’s covering. . . . It’s a little early to say where I feel most comfortable, but I like second base. I feel pretty comfortable there.”

He also has become comfortable with his status.

“You know there’s a chance you can play, or know there’s a chance late in the game that you’ll get in, so you have to come to the ballpark ready,” he said. “It’s not like you can come to the ballpark and if you’re not in the lineup, kick back and relax. The best thing to do is come ready.”