Howie Kendrick

Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto said his decision to fire hitting coach Mickey Hatcher and replace him with Jim Eppard could be "a spark. " Something, perhaps, like those fireworks that erupted Wednesday beyond Angel Stadium's center-field wall, where Albert Pujols deposited his second home run as an Angel in a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Dipoto said he thought "long and hard" before deciding a hitting coach switch had...

OAKLAND — Several big league veterans, including Torii Hunter , were convinced Howie Kendrick would win a batting title some day after the Angels second baseman hit .285 as a rookie in 2006, .322 in 2007 and .306 in 2008. Entering Tuesday, the only category in which Kendrick ranked among American League leaders was strikeouts — he was tied for ninth with 39, including five three-whiff games, in 161 plate appearances. That Kendrick went five for 38 in 11 games through Monday, a .132 clip that dropped his average from .298 on May 9 to .257, is disturbing enough.

Mike Scioscia might be perceived as more old school than computer geek, but the Angels manager does study in-depth batting statistics. "Some of the stuff is very good, and it can help you slot and match guys up," Scioscia said. Scioscia moved second baseman Howie Kendrick from second to sixth in the batting order April 30, and the second baseman has batted .333 in the spot since. The oddity of Kendrick's 26-point leap in batting average was that he went without a run batted in from May 3 until Wednesday.

OAKLAND — Mike Scioscia won't declare that Ernesto Frieri is his new closer — he'd still like the option of using veteran left-hander Scott Downs at the end of games — but the Angels manager's actions and Frieri's performance suggest the 26-year-old right-hander has assumed that key role. Frieri struck out three of four batters in the 11th inning Wednesday for his first big league save, nailing down the Angels' 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics that featured Alberto Callaspo's clutch two-out, two-run double in the top of the inning.

OAKLAND — Several big league veterans, including Torii Hunter , were convinced Howie Kendrick would win a batting title some day after the Angels second baseman hit .285 as a rookie in 2006, .322 in 2007 and .306 in 2008. Entering Tuesday, the only category in which Kendrick ranked among American League leaders was strikeouts — he was tied for ninth with 39, including five three-whiff games, in 161 plate appearances. That Kendrick went five for 38 in 11 games through Monday, a .132 clip that dropped his average from .298 on May 9 to .257, is disturbing enough.

The Angels' latest salary drive starts Saturday, when Kelvim Escobar comes off the disabled list to start against the Detroit Tigers. John Lackey, Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu form an already distinguished list of pending free agents on the Angels. Escobar, who has not pitched in the major leagues in 20 months because of a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery, has four months to impress potential employers, including the Angels.

Reporting from Kansas City, Mo. The ideal No. 2 hitter is a patient batter who has a high on-base percentage, draws walks and likes to see a lot of pitches. Howie Kendrick , who has hit second in the Angel lineup the first two games, is none of those things. "I don't know if he's a prototypical No. 2 guy," Manager Mike Scioscia said. But "he can just flat-out hit. So you're not really looking for him to work counts. You're looking for production. " Kendrick gave Scioscia what he was looking for Friday, drilling a full-count pitch over the center-field wall in the first inning.

Reporting from Arlington, Texas — Here today, there tomorrow. There are no givens anymore when it comes to the Angels infield. Howie Kendrick , who had made his first 96 starts of the season at second base, was the starting first baseman Sunday when the Angels played the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington. It was the first time Kendrick played first base since 2006, when he made 25 starts there so that the Angels could get his bat in the lineup with Adam Kennedy entrenched at second base.

The fractured fingers that sent him to the disabled list twice and caused him to miss 10 weeks of the 2007 season, Howie Kendrick could do little about. They were fluke injuries, caused by pitches that hit him. The hamstring strains that forced him to the DL twice and sidelined him for 10 weeks of 2008, Kendrick could do plenty about, and the Angels second baseman devoted much of his winter to preventing any relapses in 2009.

Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto has had preliminary discussions with the agents for second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar about multiple-year deals that would prevent the infielders from becoming free agents after the 2012 season. Kendrick, who hit .285 with 18 home runs, 30 doubles and 63 runs batted in last season, and the slick-fielding Aybar, who hit .279 with 10 homers, 33 doubles and 59 RBIs, are entering their final years of arbitration. "At this point, it's something we've begun to explore and will continue to explore," Dipoto said.

OAKLAND - For the 11th time since 2010, Angels ace Jered Weaver threw at least seven innings and allowed one earned run or less, only to receive a loss or no-decision. Easing the sting for the right-hander Wednesday was Alberto Callaspo's two-out, two-run double to left field in the top of the 11th, a clutch hit that pushed the Angels to a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Kendrys Morales drew a one-out walk off A's reliever Jordan Norberto in the 11th, and pinch-runner Peter Bourjos took third on Howie Kendrick's two-out single to center field.

SAN DIEGO — There was a time this season when the Angels had too many outfielders. There was a time this season when the Angels fancied themselves World Series contenders. And then there was Sunday, when the Angels dropped back into last place in the American League West, when the second baseman forced into duty as an emergency left fielder botched the final play of the game. That the Angels lost a series to the bumbling San Diego Padres is bad enough. The Angels also lost Vernon Wells and Ryan Langerhans — probably to the disabled list — leaving them short-staffed in the formerly overloaded outfield.

SAN DIEGO - This is not the stuff of which championship teams are made. The Angels had the chance to move within six games of the Texas Rangers for the first time in a month. Their starting pitcher was Dan Haren, a three-time All-Star. The opposing starting pitcher was Eric Stults, who last won a major league game three years ago. The opposing team was the San Diego Padres, with the worst record in the National League. The Angels lost, of course. It was not so much Saturday's final score - Padres 3, Angels 2 - that reflected the problem.

Mike Scioscia might be perceived as more old school than computer geek, but the Angels manager does study in-depth batting statistics. "Some of the stuff is very good, and it can help you slot and match guys up," Scioscia said. Scioscia moved second baseman Howie Kendrick from second to sixth in the batting order April 30, and the second baseman has batted .333 in the spot since. The oddity of Kendrick's 26-point leap in batting average was that he went without a run batted in from May 3 until Wednesday.

The Angels lost Thursday because they couldn't see into a blinding sun and because pitcher C.J. Wilson couldn't seem to find home plate. The Chicago White Sox took advantage, using sun-caused misplays and six walks in less than four innings by under-the-weather Angels starter Wilson to earn a 6-1 victory at Angel Stadium. Wilson, battling a stomach virus he said nearly caused him to pass out in the first inning, fell behind, 1-0, in the third on a two-out walk to Paul Konerko and a run-scoring single to right field by A.J. Pierzynski.

Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto said his decision to fire hitting coach Mickey Hatcher and replace him with Jim Eppard could be "a spark. " Something, perhaps, like those fireworks that erupted Wednesday beyond Angel Stadium's center-field wall, where Albert Pujols deposited his second home run as an Angel in a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Dipoto said he thought "long and hard" before deciding a hitting coach switch had...

Reporting from St. Petersburg, Fla. Howie Kendrick has never lacked for talent, especially when it comes to swinging a bat. "I think he can win a batting title one day," Angels teammate Torii Hunter said. High praise for a guy whose career average is on the wrong side of .300. But then skill alone is not enough to assure success at the big league level. So now, six seasons into his major league career, Kendrick is adding wisdom and experience. And so far the combination seems to be working.

Howie Kendrick surveyed the scene and liked what he saw. As the Angels second baseman stepped to the plate with two out and a runner on third base in the ninth inning, he noticed that the Cleveland infielders were playing back. Bench coach Ron Roenicke, acting as the Angels' manager following the second-inning ejection of Mike Scioscia, had given Kendrick the go-ahead to bunt in that situation. That's exactly what Kendrick did, driving the ball past reliever Chris Perez on the first-base side of the mound to bring home the winning run and complete the Angels' 4-3, come-from-behind victory Wednesday evening at Angel Stadium.

MINNEAPOLIS — It was the third inning, and it was only one run, but Ervin Santana reacted in the dugout as if it was the turning point of a playoff game, thrusting both fists sharply into the air after Mike Trout's run-scoring double clanged off the left-center field wall in Target Field. The Angels right-hander, for the first time in seven starts this season, had a lead. "I was very excited," Santana said after throwing 71/3 strong innings to lead the Angels to a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

  MINNEAPOLIS - Peter Bourjos' game-changing speed and Gold Glove-caliber defense aren't doing the Angels much good on the bench, but that's where those tools will be again for Wednesday night's series finale against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The center fielder was not in the lineup for the ninth time in 11 games, his playing time greatly affected by the April 27 promotion of outfielder and leadoff batter Mike Trout, but his attitude remains upbeat and optimistic.