Maybe Bad Start Is a Good Omen

They were the Terrors of Tempe last year, with the best spring training record (21-10-1) in franchise history, but when the games counted, the Angels finished last in the American League West.

So perhaps their rocky 1997 spring start--they’re 0-4 after Monday’s 13-5 loss to Milwaukee--might be a good omen. The way the Angels are playing--they have given up 39 runs and 67 hits--they’ll take a bright side where they can get it.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. “It’s not a big deal until the last two weeks of spring training, when you have your team and your rotation set.

“When you’re pitching two innings apiece, and when you’re hitting against a different pitcher every time up, it’s hard to gauge how well the team is doing. It’s best to reserve judgment until the last 10 days of camp.”

Left-hander Allen Watson started Monday, walking two and giving up three runs in the second inning. Youngsters Fausto Macey, who gave up three runs, and Matt Perisho, who gave up two runs, appeared jittery, and nonroster invitee Travis Buckley gave up three runs.

About the only encouraging developments were reliever Pep Harris, who retired the side in order in the eighth and has three scoreless spring innings; and the hitting of Randy Velarde (single and a homer), Garret Anderson (single, triple) and Tim Salmon (single, double, two RBIs).

“We’re swinging the bats fine,” Manager Terry Collins said. “We just haven’t pitched well.”

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Reliever Todd Van Poppel was tagged for a run and three hits in the seventh inning but looked pretty good for a pitcher who had back surgery to repair a herniated disk two months ago.

“He threw three or four really good fastballs,” Collins said. “You could tell he’s rusty, but his arm looks sound.”

Van Poppel, who arrived in camp Saturday, said he felt fine physically and mechanically, but he may have been a bit anxious about his Angel debut.

“I rushed things a bit,” he said. “I was up in the strike zone and down the middle of the plate, and that’s not going to get people out.”

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Darin Erstad, who moved from the outfield to first base this spring, made a smooth, backhanded scoop of DiSarcina’s one-hop throw on John Jaha’s first-inning grounder but appeared indecisive on Jesse Levis’ fifth-inning grounder between the mound and first, letting Buckley field the ball instead of charging it himself. Buckley bobbled it for an error. “Every day I’m going to see something different,” Erstad said. “I just have to get used to these plays in games.” . . . Anderson, who is batting .750 (nine for 12), will take today off to rest his tender left shoulder. Pitcher Jason Dickson will start against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz., and will be followed by Greg Gohr, Geoff Edsell, Robert Ellis, Chuck McElroy and Mike James. . . . Doctors told Salmon the fatigue in his forearms may have been caused by a virus that settled in those muscles.