Erstad, Glaus to Get Call?

On the eve of naming his All-Star reserves, New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre was asked if two Angels--left fielder Darin Erstad and third baseman Troy Glaus--would have a place on his American League team.

Torre smiled broadly and said, “Those are two pretty good players. Two very good players.”

Erstad, 26, and Glaus, 23, are expected to be on Torre’s bench next Tuesday in Atlanta.

Said Angel Manager Mike Scioscia: “I don’t know how they’re not going to make it.”

If he makes the club, Glaus could start. Cal Ripken, who is on the disabled list because of a back injury, is expected to attend the game but not play. Toronto’s Tony Batista, whose 24 homers and 68 RBIs rank with Glaus’ 23 homers and 54 RBIs, might also be considered.

Erstad batted .373 in the Angels’ first 82 games. He is leading the majors in hits and multi-hit games. It would be his second All-Star appearance, sandwiched around last season’s debacle.

Still, Erstad said, the All-Star selection did not motivate him this winter and will not define him this summer.

“By no means am I degrading the All-Star game, because it would be an honor, but I still feel like I have a lot of work to do to get back to where I want to be,” he said. “It’s been a process of getting back to how I used to hit. There’s more in there as far as driving the baseball. This isn’t why I work as hard as I do. If it happens, I’m honored. At the same time, my work is by no means complete.”

*

Four hours before Tuesday night’s game, Erstad ran sprints in the outfield under trainer Ned Bergert’s supervision. They decided that Erstad’s sore right hip had improved, and that he could play against Seattle.

He doubled in each of the first two innings, and appeared to be uncomfortable standing at second base. Bergert came out of the dugout to check on him, and Scioscia checked with him again after the inning.

“Hitting’s OK,” Erstad said. “It does affect my running a little bit. I don’t think I’ll be stealing any bases tonight. But, you never know.”

*

Ken Hill said Tuesday that he felt as if he were “throwing underwater” on Monday night, when he gave up four hits, five walks and five runs in 1 2/3 innings to the Mariners and further taxed the Angel bullpen.

Hill received treatment for tightness in his back, neck and shoulders.

“It’s not hurt, it’s just stiff,” said Hill, who expects to make his next start on schedule.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

BRIAN COOPER

(3-2, 3.48)

VS.

MARINERS’

JOHN HALAMA

(7-4, 4.98)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sp. Net. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Cooper is coming off his finest major league start, a three-hit shutout of Oakland on Friday. Left-handers are batting only .218 against him. He’s at his strongest late in games, as opposing batters hit only .179 after the sixth inning. Halama was 1-4 with a 6.67 ERA in six June starts, a period in which he gave up 16 walks and four home runs in 29 2/3 innings. Halama’s ERA away from Safeco Field is 7.12.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.