BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Finley Assumes the Role of Staff Ace

Chuck Finley realizes his life has just changed. He will be looked upon differently now. He has a prominent responsibility.

Finley is being asked to shoulder the burden of the pitching staff until Mark Langston returns from the disabled list. Langston is tentatively scheduled to undergo elbow surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out four to six weeks.

Finley is now the staff ace.

Finley has won at least 16 games in four of the last five seasons, but no one else in the rotation has won more than eight in either of the last two.

There’s Mark Leiter, who was released three weeks ago by the Detroit Tigers, and John Dopson, who was unemployed until January. Phil Leftwich was pitching in the minor leagues until last July. And Brian Anderson was in college this time a year ago.

“I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing and hope it works,” Finley said. “Believe me, nobody’s going to replace Mark. You just don’t replace a guy like that.

“If you even want to try to replace him, you pick somebody up (in a trade) or pull somebody out of retirement.

“Hitters tend to be more intimidated by names of guys they’ve heard of and seen before than a rookie just coming up. A rookie gives a little giddyup to a hitter’s step.”

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Outfielder Jim Edmonds appeared as if he would be riding the bench for another game when he suddenly was summoned to pinch-run in the eighth inning for Bo Jackson.

The next thing Edmonds knew, the game was in the ninth inning, and Brewer reliever Jesse Orosco was intentionally walking Chili Davis to get to him. Edmonds stepped to the plate, and with two out and runners on first and second, lined a single to center field, scoring Chad Curtis with the game-winning run.

Edmonds pumped his fists into the air, clapped his hands, and celebrated his first hit of the season.

“I just want to prove I can play up here,” said Edmonds, who batted .315 last season for triple-A Vancouver. “I can play against right-handers, left-handers, it doesn’t matter. I’m just out there fighting for my chance.”

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While Leiter still tries to cope with his emotions over losing his 9-month-old son, Ryan, he still would love to make the Detroit Tigers look a bit foolish for releasing him three weeks ago.

“I want to show the Angels that they got the best bargain of the season,” Leiter said. “I don’t believe in trying to get even, but I know (the Tigers) made a mistake.”