Angels Send Beleaguered Abbott to Bullpen

Hoping to help struggling left-hander Jim Abbott snap out of his season-long funk, Manager Marcel Lachemann and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez decided to move him to the bullpen.

Abbott, 1-11 with a 7.92 earned-run average in 15 starts this season, hasn’t pitched in relief since his college days at Michigan, and the move was a bit unsettling.

“I love the responsibility of being a starting pitcher,” he said. “It’s a disappointment. It’s not a relief. I hope to work my way back into the rotation through my workouts and appearances.

“I don’t look at this as a reprieve. It’s not like I don’t have to pitch. I can’t just go out there [to the bullpen] and hide. I want to help any way I can. Pitching the way I am, I’m not helping the club.

“Maybe this is a way to get things together and maybe I can help in another way.”

Lachemann wouldn’t say how long Abbott’s stint in the bullpen might last, but said Abbott would be available starting Monday. Rookie Ryan Hancock, who will start the second game of a doubleheader Monday against Chicago, will temporarily take Abbott’s spot in the rotation.

“It’s the most logical thing to do,” Lachemann said. “We’ll see how [Hancock] does on Monday.”

Abbott started Friday’s 10-5 loss to Milwaukee and gave up four runs, two hits and issued six walks. His lack of confidence was as visible as his lack of control. He looked nothing like the pitcher who won 18 games in 1991, pitched a no-hitter in 1993 and had the ninth-best ERA in the majors last year.

“I think a couple of things need to be addressed,” Abbott said. “One, what I’m throwing. Two, what I’m not throwing. . . . I think it gives us a chance to work on things and have a little more time before putting them in action during a major league game.”

Like many others, Milwaukee Manager Phil Garner has noticed a difference in Abbott this season. Like the others, he said the change is not for the better.

“He’s not throwing as consistently good as he used to,” Garner said. “He’ll throw a couple of pitches where it looks like he’s throwing good, then it’s like the ball is slipping out of his hand. It’s like he’s not getting enough traction on the way up there [to the plate]. His pitches don’t seem to have the same bite they used to.”