Hollins Warms Up with Weather

The first few weeks of spring training were a grind for third baseman Dave Hollins. He had difficulty getting his legs and back loose and, not wanting to risk injury in the cold weather, he spent a good deal of time on the bench during the first week of exhibition games.

But as temperatures have risen in the Phoenix area, so have Hollins’ at-bat totals, and the switch-hitter finally appears to be getting into game shape.

“I’m starting to feel good running again, and I’m a lot more fluid,” said Hollins, who had a two-run homer and RBI single Monday in the Angels’ 4-3 exhibition victory over the Seattle Mariners here at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. “I’m right on schedule for opening day.”

More playing time has also given Hollins a chance to test his surgically repaired right knee, and so far, he’s happy with how it has responded. Hollins believes the bad knee was a major factor in his career-high 29 errors last season.

“I know I’m no Gold Glover, but I had a lot of trouble with my plant leg,” Hollins said. “I couldn’t get down and bend my knees on grounders very well. I was just a skillet--balls were bouncing off my glove. Everything was tough.”

So, with a good knee, should Angel fans expect the second coming of Brooks Robinson?

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to make my 20 errors,” Hollins said. “If I made only 10-15 errors, they wouldn’t be able to afford me. I’d be making Jay Bell money.”

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Pitcher William VanLandingham, considered a longshot to make the team because of his lack of relief experience, continued to make a strong case for himself by giving up only one run and four hits in four innings against the Mariners on Monday. The right-hander has a 2.81 earned-run average in 16 spring innings. . . . The Angels managed only six hits and one unearned run in five innings off Seattle ace Randy Johnson, who gave up Hollins’ fifth-inning RBI single. . . . Second baseman Randy Velarde hit 25 balls off a tee Monday and said there was no pain in his surgically repaired right elbow. He will try to hit soft tosses today. . . . The Angels took relief pitcher Mike Bovee’s name off the 40-man roster. The right-hander will be assigned to a minor league team this week.