MINNEAPOLIS - David Eckstein doesn't look like a big-league baseball player.

Generously listed at 5-8 and 170 pounds, the Anaheim Angels' shortstop and leadoff hitter would probably be asked for his ID if he ordered an alcoholic beverage, which won't happen anytime soon because he doesn't drink.

When he throws the ball to first base, it appears to take every ounce of energy Eckstein has before he cuts loose.

He's 27, but looks more like 17, and his baby-blue eyes light up when he talks about the success of his team.

"It's been a blast; can't sleep, just can't wait to be at the park," he said Monday before the Angels worked out at the Metrodome in preparation for Game 1 of the AL championship series Tuesday night.

"I love the game with a passion, it is my life right now. This has been unbelievable. On the last day of the season, I was sitting with (pitcher) Dennis Cook. He was saying, `You never know when you're going to get an opportunity like this again, so enjoy it.' "

Eckstein has been working on it. Instead of ignoring the rabid fans at Yankee Stadium last week, as he normally might do, he said he checked them out and soaked in the atmosphere.

He did the same thing at Edison Field, when the Angels beat the heavily favored Yankees twice to win the division series 3-1 and reach the championship series.

And he plans more of the same at the boisterous Metrodome against the Minnesota Twins.

"You love the noise, it almost makes you focus better," Eckstein said. "If we don't enjoy the game, we're going to be in trouble."

The Angels beat the Yankees at their own game, hitting a postseason record .376 with nine homers.

"We did a great job of making their pitchers work, fouling off pitches, working the count," Eckstein said. "Even if you make an out, it makes it easier for the next guy."

It all starts at the top of the lineup with Eckstein.

"One thing we noticed about the Yankees was they didn't make easy outs," he said. "You kind of copy off champions, that's where you want to be."

Released a little over two years ago by the Boston Red Sox, Eckstein said he never gave up hope of playing in the majors.

The Angels claimed him and he became their everyday shortstop early last season despite having played second base most of his life.

Eckstein's manager and teammates say he's one of the main reasons the team has gotten this far.

"This guy's got a great passion for the game," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think his skill level might be a little underrated because people see the heart he has. He does a great job for what we need."

Eckstein hit .293 this season with 21 stolen bases, 107 runs scored and a 63 RBIs - a high total for a leadoff batters.

Eckstein walked only 44 times, but was hit by a big league-leading 27 pitches and led the majors, believe it or not, with three grand slams. And he had an AL-leading 14 sacrifice bunts.

"He's the most fundamentally sound player I've ever played with," outfielder Darin Erstad said.

"Something he's had to do his whole life is battle, never let down, always get after it," second baseman Adam Kennedy said.

Eckstein was a walk-on at the University of Florida, where he was a first team All-American in 1996. By that time, he had earned a scholarship.

The Red Sox took him in the 19th round of the 1997 free agent draft, but never played in a big-league game with them.

The Angels claimed Eckstein on Aug. 16, 2000, and that turned out to be a great break for both player and team.

Eckstein, who grew up in Sanford, Fla., and still lives there, said he's never believed his lack of size was a disadvantage.

"Where I come from, everybody's not that tall, I was about average size," he said. "The style of game we played was similar to this - we had to execute.

"We wouldn't have batting practice, we just practiced in the field, worked on fundamentals."

As Erstad will attest, Eckstein learned his lessons well.