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Anaheim Angels: Darin Erstad playing first base? Don't rule it out, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. With a recurring hamstring problem and three years (not to mention $24 million) left on his contract, the Angels might not be able to keep him in centerfield but they are certain they want him in the lineup. The trouble with that move is that Erstad does not hit anywhere near like a first baseman, or like a leftfielder -- the other position for which he is being considered. Over the past five seasons, he has had one year in which he hit like a productive member of the society, 2000.

Chicago White Sox: Roberto Alomar continues to insist that sliding into first base is the smart way to go. In today's Chicago Tribune he reveals to Bonnie DeSimone why he is paid to play baseball rather teach logic when he asks of the contention that it's faster to get to the bag by staying on one's feet, "If that's true, why do you dive to catch a ball, then?" The answer is, of course, because you can't catch a ball with your foot! You can, however, touch first base with it and continue running. To get the best extension on defense, one must extend one's glove. To get the best extension running to first, one must extend one's foot, the body part closest to the ground -- which is where the base is kept.

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