Major League Baseball
Glaus no longer a contact hitter

By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter

	Troy Glaus
	E-mail this article Print this article Search archive

Troy Glaus was apprehensive over having Lasik eye surgery. It's one thing for the guy on the street to have it done but another for a 27-year-old major-leaguer entering his option season.

"It's risky," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We had a couple minor-leaguers who had it done a couple years ago, and it didn't turn out well for them at all."

But Glaus, the Angels' third baseman who won the American League home-run title in 2000 with 47, was going to take a few pitches. The guy who had been wedded to contacts and glasses most of his life wasn't going to rush into eye surgery when his livelihood was at stake. He felt his contacts were sufficient, just not always ideal. A windy day or a wave of dust could tip the advantage back to the pitcher.

He wanted improved vision, without the contacts, but not at the risk of losing his spot in the lineup — or on the roster.

"I've been researching it for about three years," Glaus said. "When I went to the doctor three years ago, he said he wouldn't do it. He said the technology wasn't good enough."

But last winter, Angels closer Troy Percival had successful Lasik surgery, and the doctor had Percival relay the good news: The technology had arrived.

Two weeks later, just before Christmas, Glaus had the operation.

"I had it at 11 in the morning," he said. "By 8 that night, I could see the clock for the first time in 20 years."

Glaus helped the Angels beat the Mariners yesterday, hitting two long home runs in a 10-5 victory. He hit a 3-0 pitch from Jamie Moyer in the fourth inning over the center-field wall. Then in the sixth he crushed a 0-1 changeup from Moyer for a three-run homer over the same wall. That gave the Angels a 5-1 lead.
 
Scioscia said the surgery for Glaus "is just one less thing to worry about."

"I'm sure he'll reap the benefit of being more comfortable in the box and not worry about windy days or irritation," Scioscia said. "I know he's had a lot of trouble with contacts over the years. A lot of times they were fine, but a lot of times they were a distraction for him."

Said Glaus, "That's the key. I see the same every day, no matter what."

Glaus is already seeing the results of his improved vision. He had just three runs batted in in 42 at-bats against the Mariners last season. He had four yesterday. Overall, Glaus was a .195 hitter against Seattle, with just eight home runs in 261 at-bats. Then he hit two home runs in his first three at-bats of 2004.

"I know he's had a tough time hitting in this park," Scioscia said of Safeco Field.

Scioscia helped Glaus change his karma at Safeco by allowing him to swing away on Moyer's 3-0 pitch for his first home run. It was a fastball that Moyer said he was "just trying to get back in the count."

Glaus, who has hit .333 with three homers against Moyer, took advantage of the opportunity.

"Mike gives us the green light relatively frequently. It's a use-your-own-judgment type of thing," Glaus said. "With Jamie, who throws changeups and curveballs, I'm just trying to be aggressive."

His sixth-inning home run, on a low changeup, essentially won the game. Moyer had given up one other hit that inning on a changeup down in the strike zone, but he decided to throw one more.

"He's lowball hitter," Moyer said. "I'm going on my strength, and he's going on his strength."

Glaus' intention was to get it in the air.

"I made sure I stayed on it," he said. "I just didn't want to ground into a double play and kill a rally."

Glaus played in just 91 games last season because of a torn right rotator cuff that eventually required surgery. His healthy return is as beneficial to the Angels as their free-agent acquisitions, Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen.

"It's only one day, (but) obviously, when you add a Vlady and Jose to this lineup, it's only going to help," Glaus said. "It just makes it tougher to get through the lineup."

At least that's the way Glaus sees it.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company