Set Up for a Fall? : Percival Marvelous in Relief of Smith, but Team Won’t Say if Closer’s Job Is His to Keep With All-Time Save Leader Back

Angel relief pitcher Troy Percival insisted all along that he was simply filling in, keeping Lee Smith’s seat in the bullpen warm for the day he was activated from the disabled list.

Smith was activated Tuesday, in time to join the Angels on a nine-game trip to Milwaukee, Chicago and Oakland, beginning today. Todd Frohwirth, a reliever, was designated for assignment to make room for Smith on the roster.

So the Angels’ pressing question now isn’t when the all-time saves leader will return, but what they will do with him now that he’s back.

Do they immediately hand the reins back to Smith, who has 471 saves but is 38 and has a bum knee? And do they risk messing with success by moving Percival back into his previous setup role, essentially a demotion?

“All I’ll say is that it will sort itself out,” said Tim Mead, assistant general manager.

General Manager Bill Bavasi was not available Tuesday but had danced around the issue late Monday night, saying, “It’s all up in the air.”

Manager Marcel Lachemann said that when Smith is sound again, he will be the closer and Percival will return to the setup role. And it could be a while before Smith is ready to resume the closer’s duties.

Smith said repeatedly during spring training that he would rather go fishing than move into a setup or middle relief role.

Percival, with a major league-leading seven saves in nine appearances, has shown that he can be one of the finest closers in the majors.

There is talk among the players that Percival has earned the closer’s job. Their nine one-run victories are testimony to the bullpen’s strength, which, of course, is anchored by Percival.

But Percival, who is making $330,000 this year, refuses to campaign for the job. He is a great admirer of Smith, whom he regards as his mentor.

As a rookie last season, Percival tagged along with Smith, learning from the master. After Smith had lost a game, Percival watched how he dealt with reporters.

And Smith often says that Percival has the best stuff of any setup man he has had in 17 major league seasons. He sought out Percival on Sunday to offer a bit of advice on pitch selection.

“I don’t have any problem with it,” Percival said of possibly stepping aside for Smith. “I’ll still be there. He’s not going to be able to pitch every day. . . . I know he is closing in on 500 saves. I know he’s ready to get back in there.”

Percival has yet to give up a run this year. He has given up six hits and a walk with 13 strikeouts in nine innings.

Smith had a 9.00 earned-run average in two games before he was put on the disabled list April 4. He had a lackluster rehab start at Class-A Lake Elsinore on Friday, then told club management he wasn’t going to pitch there again Sunday, as scheduled.

He was allowed to throw in the Anaheim Stadium bullpen instead.

Smith also was given permission to stop at his Louisiana home to tend to personal business Tuesday. He will join the club in time for tonight’s game at Milwaukee.

That’s nothing unusual, according to his agent, Brian David. Last year, Smith spent a day off at home before joining the Angels for the start of a Midwest swing.

David said there’s no chance Smith is considering retirement.

“That’s not the case at all,” the agent said. “Why? He’s coming off a great year. He’s not interested in retiring at all.”

Further clouding the bullpen picture is the emergence of Mike James as a standout setup man for Percival. James, also in his second major league season, is 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. He is tied with Seattle’s Randy Johnson for the American League lead in victories.

Once the Angels sorted out their bullpen last year, releasing erratic left-hander Mitch Williams, they were sound in relief.

They counted on their starter to go at least six innings. James then pitched the seventh, Percival the eighth and Smith the ninth.

Smith wound up with 37 saves in 52 games, earning at least 30 saves for the fifth season in a row. Percival had a team-leading 1.95 ERA in a club-high 62 games. James was 3-0 with a 3.88 ERA in 46 appearances.

“I have great confidence [in James],” Percival said. “I can see how Lee felt last year with me setting him up. If it was a one-run game, bang, I’d give it right to him. It’s the same with me and Jessie [James] this year.”

Percival completed an impressive hat trick Monday, earning his third save in as many games against the Detroit Tigers. He faced 10 batters in three appearances, striking out six and giving up a single. He struck out the side in saving a 6-5 victory Monday.

“It’s getting to the point where he’s making you think you don’t want to face him,” Detroit Manager Buddy Bell said. “He’s as dominating a guy as we’ve seen in a while. This kid has power, movement and a heavy ball.”

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Save and Compare

Comparing Troy Percival to the five best save seasons in history. All totals through April 23 of that season.

Start of Season:

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Pitcher, Team Year IP H BB SO ERA SV Troy Percival, Angels 1996 9 6 1 13 0.00 7 Bobby Thigpen, White Sox 1990 3 2/3 4 1 2 0.00 3 Randy Myers, Cubs 1993 7 2/3 3 5 10 0.00 5 Dennis Eckersley, Athletics 1992 6 5 1 3 0.00 5 Dennis Eckersley, Athletics 1990 6 4 0 5 0.00 4 Rod Beck, Giants 1993 10 6 2 9 2.70 5

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Final Totals:

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Pitcher, Team Year IP H BB SO ERA SV Troy Percival, Angels Bobby Thigpen, White Sox 1990 88 2/3 60 32 70 1.83 57 Randy Myers, Cubs 1993 75 1/3 65 26 86 3.11 53 Dennis Eckersley, Athletics 1992 80 62 11 93 1.91 51 Dennis Eckersley, Athletics 1990 73 1/3 41 4 73 0.61 48 Rod Beck, Giants 1993 79 1/3 57 13 86 2.77 48

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