New roles for familiar faces

TEMPE, Ariz. -- After two weeks of conditioning, fielding drills, bullpen workouts and batting practice, spring training shifts into second gear today when the Angels open Cactus League play against the Texas Rangers in Tempe Diablo Stadium.

The games may not count in the standings, but they count for something, as Erick Aybar, Maicer Izturis, Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Rivera, Robb Quinlan, Reggie Willits and Kendry Morales could attest. They’re among the Angels who will be fighting for a starting job, learning a new position or battling for a roster spot during a month of exhibition games, in which the Angels hope to answer several key questions, including:

Who’s on short?

1. Neither Aybar nor Izturis has the edge in the battle to replace sure-handed veteran Orlando Cabrera, and they may start the season on even terms -- Manager Mike Scioscia said the two might split the position evenly.

But Scioscia would prefer to have one player step up and win the job, which could come down to a choice between Aybar’s athleticism and potential and Izturis’ dependability and experience.

Aybar, 24, has a stronger arm and more range but has only 234 big-league at-bats. He can make spectacular plays but has a tendency to botch the routine ones on occasion.

Izturis, 27, has been a valuable utility player for four seasons and hit .407 with runners in scoring position in 2007, but to be an everyday player he needs to avoid the hamstring injuries that sidelined him for 13 weeks the last two seasons.

“There are some components a veteran presence can bring, but there’s also the athletic ability of young players that at times will make you play at a higher level,” Scioscia said. “I think we’re looking at that situation here.”

How will Matthews adjust to the corner outfield spots?

2. One year after signing a five-year contract to be the Angels’ center fielder, Matthews was displaced this winter by seven-time Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter.

Matthews will move between left field, right field and designated hitter with an occasional start in center, adjusting to new positions while Hunter adjusts to a new outfield.

“Garret’s playing left, Torii’s playing center and Vladdy’s playing right, but Gary will have to play all three, so it will be hardest on him,” said Ron Roenicke, Angels bench coach. “That’s a very difficult thing to do, to play all three of those positions well.”

Anderson and Guerrero will use the exhibition season to learn Hunter’s tendencies in the gaps, where a breakdown in communication can result in an ugly collision.

“Garret looks all the time, regardless of the center fielder, so I’m not worried about him,” Roenicke said. “The trouble comes when a player is worried about taking his eye off the ball. Someone has to take his eye off the ball to see where the other guy is. That will take some getting used to.”

Can Rivera play first base?

3. He missed all but one month last season because of a broken leg, but Rivera, an outfielder whose path is blocked by four other front-line outfielders, said he’s 100% this spring.

If he remains sound, the Angels would like to get his bat -- Rivera was the team’s second-best hitter in 2006, batting .310 with 23 home runs and 85 runs batted in -- in the lineup as often as possible.

The solution? Rivera has been working at first base this spring, and if he can handle the position, he could replace starter Casey Kotchman against left-handed pitchers.

The early returns weren’t good -- Rivera looked awkward on the only grounder hit to him in Wednesday’s intrasquad game, a slow roller down the line that went off his glove.

“I didn’t see the ball,” Rivera said. “I was watching the runner.”

Scioscia believes Rivera will improve with experience.

“He’s not the finished product there,” he said, “but I definitely feel he’s going to do enough to be able to contribute there.”

Are Howie Kendrick and Casey Kotchman primed for breakout seasons?

4. Both highly touted youngsters have been slowed by injuries in the early parts of their careers, Kotchman missing most of 2006 because of a viral syndrome and Kendrick missing about half of 2007 because of hand injuries.

But if both can make about 600 plate appearances this season, they could provide a huge boost to the offense out of the sixth and seventh spots.

Neither projects as a big home run hitter, but both have excellent gap power, make consistent contact and have the potential to drive in 80 to 90 runs. A solid spring, Scioscia said, could catapult them into the season.

“These guys aren’t the finished product to what their upside could be,” Scioscia said. “They’re going to have a lot of good hitters ahead of them, which hopefully will set the table and give them opportunities to drive in runs.”

Who will round out the bench?

5. Of the five spots, one will be filled by a catcher -- Mike Napoli or Jeff Mathis, whoever isn’t starting -- and one by the backup infielder, Aybar or Izturis.

Five players -- Rivera, Willits, Quinlan, Morales and Nathan Haynes -- will compete for the final three spots. Rivera and Quinlan, a bench fixture for four years, are near locks, and the last spot could come down to speed (Willits, Haynes) or power (Morales).

Willits has an edge because of his breakthrough 2007 season, when he hit .293 with a .391 on-base percentage in 136 games.

“Does one roster allow you to place speed into the game at a certain time? That’s important.” Scioscia said. “Or do you really need coverage with the bat to get good matchups? We’re going to consider a lot of things, but we certainly can’t answer that now.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com