Threat of Snow Costs Abbott a Start

Be it Angel run production or the weather, rookie pitcher Jim Abbott continues to be undermined by the things he can’t control.

Tuesday, Abbott’s third major league start was put on hold when the threat of snow forced the postponement of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

Abbott, who had been scheduled to pitch against Chicago’s Bill Long, will skip a turn, meaning his next start should be next Monday night at Anaheim Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles. Rather than push his entire rotation back a day, Angel Manager Doug Rader decided to bump Abbott, 0-2, and keep No. 1 starter Mike Witt, 1-2, on schedule to pitch tonight.

Witt will now oppose Long, 1-1.

With the Angel pitching staff on a surprising roll--two consecutive shutouts and a 2.66 team earned-run average--Rader was reluctant to tamper with the alignment of his top four starters. And with Abbott still searching for his first run’s worth of support--he has been on the wrong ends of 7-0 and 5-0 scores--the cold climes of Chicago are not exactly conducive to major offense.

Thus, Abbott will wait for warmer temperatures--and the often accommodating Orioles--to bid for his first victory.

Tuesday’s game has been rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14, the next time the Angels visit Chicago.

Shortstop Dick Schofield, sidelined with a strained right chest muscle, was re-examined Tuesday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who reported that Schofield had made “some improvement, but was still not ready.”

According to Yocum, Schofield continues to feel discomfort when extending his right arm.

“He still needs more time,” Yocum said.

Schofield hasn’t played since last Tuesday.