Maicer Izturis takes over leadoff spot for Angels
Reporting from Kansas City, Mo. -- Maicer Izturis was in the leadoff spot Wednesday night against the Kansas City Royals, and Manager Mike Scioscia hinted that it was not just as a temporary fill-in for Erick Aybar, who needed a night off after starting 52 of the team’s first 55 games at leadoff.
Howie Kendrick, who has hit second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth this season, returned to the two-hole after going nine for 28 with 10 runs batted in over his previous seven games.
“We’re going to go on a day-to-day, matchup basis,” Scioscia said of his plans for the leadoff spot. “Erick is definitely going to hit up there at some point.
“But if we can get Izzy and Howie doing what they do, it gives us a lot of options. I think we’ve seen the worst of Erick. He has more upside than he’s showing.”
Aybar has struggled with a .238 average and .310 on-base percentage, far off his .312 average and .353 on-base percentage last season.
The Angels rank 22nd in the major leagues with a .309 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot. Their No. 2 hitters have combined for a .305 on-base percentage, which ranks 25th in baseball.
Izturis, who has essentially replaced struggling and injured third baseman Brandon Wood but can also play shortstop and second, entered Wednesday with a .238 average and.338 on-base percentage. He walked and scored in the first inning Wednesday.
Scioscia was asked to rate, on a scale of one to 10, how much the lack of table-setting has contributed to the team’s inconsistent offense.
“It’s an 11,” he said. “The number of times we’re getting consistent opportunities for the middle of the lineup has been far short of what we need. I don’t think we’re going to put it all on one or two guys, but it’s something we need to address, and we will.”
Knock on Wood
Wood, who was hitting .156 when he went on the disabled list because of a right hip flexor strain last week, began a rehabilitation assignment for triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
Though Wood would seem to benefit from spending the maximum 20 days on rehab — he needs to find his confidence as well as his stroke — Scioscia said the third baseman probably would return sooner.
“I don’t think there’s anything you’re going to figure out by facing triple-A pitching,” Scioscia said. “He needs to stay down there long enough to find his swing and get his confidence.
“But the challenge for him is facing major league pitching and making the necessary adjustments, and the only way to do that is by facing major league pitching.”
First things first
Catcher Mike Napoli started at first base for the second time in four games Wednesday night, as the Angels patch the position vacated by Kendry Morales, who broke a bone above his left ankle Saturday and is awaiting surgery that could end his season.
Napoli is expected to spend a lot more time at first when catcher Jeff Mathis, who will start a rehab assignment with Salt Lake on Friday, comes off the DL.
Scioscia said Mathis will need to catch six or seven games, though not in a row, before being activated.
“I’m just trying to make it as simple as I can,” Napoli said. “I’m not trying to be a Gold Glover. I just want to make the routine plays, and if I make a great one, so be it.”
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