Kendry Morales Speaks With His Bat

On a recent outing at Surprise, Ariz., Angels rookie Kendry Morales playing first base muffed a little liner hit at his feet. A half way decent eighth grader likely could have made the unassisted out, but Morales could only pound the dirt with his glove and watch the ball skip into right. To say Morales' fielding is not major league ready is putting it generously. Yet since signing a $6 million bonus after his defection from Cuba last year, Morales has been so impressive with his bat that he may win a job out of camp anyway. Manager Mike Scoscia has moved Morales to DH, where his prime competition is fellow lefty power hitter Dallas McPherson. McPherson, who has already lost 3B to speedster Chone Figgins, is being given every chance to win the DH job, but handing him a bat has been like handing a grave digger a shovel. McPherson digs the hole deeper with every swing, now batting .099 at the midway point of spring training. Time is running short for McPherson if he expects to avoid being sent to Salt Lake City.