Hollins Will Set Tone for Team

ANAHEIM —  Larry Bowa, the Angels’ new third-base coach, once was asked what it would be like to have 25 guys on the team like Dave Hollins, the Angels’ new third baseman.

“It would be tough,” said Bowa, who coached Hollins at Philadelphia, “because they’d all have killed each other by the third week of the season.”

If there’s one player that the Angels believe will epitomize the kind of team they hope to have this season, it’s Hollins. He’s a gritty, pedal-to-the-metal infielder who has been known to throw a few helmet-hurling, water-cooler-bashing tantrums.

“We have some guys who are not afraid to speak their minds, who will stick their noses in the ground and play hard,” center fielder Jim Edmonds said at Wednesday’s press gathering to introduce seven new Angels--Hollins, pitchers Mark Gubicza, Allen Watson and Shigatoshi Hasegawa, catcher Jim Leyritz, designated hitter Eddie Murray and infielder Craig Grebeck.

“That’s going to be different,” Edmonds added. “We need players who are going to stand up and fight for someone else, and I think these guys will bring that to the team, every one of them.”

The Angels finished last in the American League West in 1996 and were criticized at times for a lack of intensity and leadership, but Hollins should help to fill both of those voids.

“As long as everyone is busting their butts and we’re playing well, there will be no problems,” said Hollins, a switch-hitter who signed a two-year, $3.8-million free-agent contract in November.

“But sometimes when you’re losing and guys are having too much fun . . . I have a problem with that. If I have to stir things up to fire the team up, I will. I’m a lead-by-example type of guy.”

Hollins, a key player on the Phillies’ 1993 National League championship team, admits he gets “a little weird” in the hour before a game, but he has tried to lighten up in recent years.

“I’ve tried to have more fun, but it’s a lot tougher for me to perform that way,” said Hollins, 30. “But being angry all the time is not always good for the guys around you.

“Losing makes for a long year, and you don’t want to be miserable all summer. But I can’t overdo it like I did when I was younger, going completely nuts after every loss, because that affects you negatively the next day. I’m starting to realize you can’t win every game.”

Manager Terry Collins says Hollins’ presence can elevate the play of those around him, and considering the Angels will have to overachieve just to compete in the tough AL West, they’ll need all the inspiration they can get.

“He’s the ultimate gamer, and that’s what we’re trying to do here,” Collins said. “The big leagues are filled with guys who have great talent, but it’s the players who can take that extra step who help you win.”

*

Leyritz, whose dramatic Game 4 home run in October helped the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, has never been a full-time catcher in his seven major league seasons, but he hopes to catch as many as 120 games this year.

“Fortunately I haven’t played that much, so there’s not a lot of wear and tear on my body,” said Leyritz, 33. “I think I can handle it. I’ll be ready physically.”

Leyritz, who caught almost all of Yankee left-hander Andy Pettitte’s starts last season, does not have a strong throwing arm; his strength is handling pitchers and calling games.

“I think what I did with Andy last year was proof,” Leyritz said of Pettitte, who went 21-8 with a 3.87 earned-run average. “He never shook me off.”

*

Gubicza missed the second half of 1996 after a Paul Molitor line drive fractured his left tibia, but the former Kansas City Royal right-hander has been throwing for a month and expects to be physically sound when spring training begins Feb. 16 in Tempe, Ariz.

“I’ve had no problems with my leg--it’s pretty much back to normal,” Gubicza said. “I’m just going to try to avoid line drives off of it.”

Gubicza has been working out with pitcher Jim Abbott, the usually reliable left-hander who crashed to 2-18 last season, and he thinks Abbott is rebounding well.

“From what I’ve seen he’s throwing the ball real well,” Gubicza said. “His velocity is up, he’s got real good movement, he’s got the cut-fastball going, and he’s working both sides of the plate.”

*

Edmonds, who has established himself as one of the league’s best center fielders, winces at speculation that he will play first base this season if the Darin Erstad-to-first experiment blows up.

“I threw away my first baseman mitts years ago,” said Edmonds, who played there for part of the 1994 season. “I’ve been told I wouldn’t be moved, but you never know. I think I’m the best outfielder on the team, but if we’re really struggling at first, I may have to do it.

“Darin will have all of spring training to get ready--I had 24 hours. He’s a good athlete, he’ll just have to relax, play his game, and not think that he has to be a Gold Glove first baseman.”