Abbott Still on the Bubble

He came to camp in great shape, with a noticeably faster fastball, but Jim Abbott has slipped into the same rut he was in during last season’s 2-18 disaster.

The left-hander has a 13.50 earned-run average and 15 walks in 14 2/3 innings, and his struggles are sure to cause much consternation in the Angel front office as final cuts approach.

If the Angels are convinced Abbott can no longer pitch effectively in the major leagues, do they release him and swallow the remaining $5.6-million on his contract? Do they send him to triple-A Vancouver?

“What are we going to do? I don’t know,” General Manager Bill Bavasi said Saturday. “The options for him are no different than anyone else in his situation. Is it a major issue? Yes. Is it going to be a problem? No.”

Manager Terry Collins has decided that Shigetoshi Hasegawa, and not Abbott, will open the season in the starting rotation. But the bullpen role Abbott figured to have locked up is now in doubt after giving up 13 runs in his last two outings.

Abbott is throwing harder and has added a side-arm pitch that has worked well at times, but he’s still struggling with his command--many of his pitches bounced in front of the plate Friday night against Colorado.

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Dave Hollins sparked a seven-run eighth inning with a bunt single Saturday night, and the Angels came from behind to beat the Colorado Rockies, 8-4, to end an eight-game losing streak. . . . Doctors have told second baseman Randy Velarde (sprained elbow ligament) to continue therapy for at least 10 more days before he tries throwing.

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Gene and Jackie Autry, majority owners of the Angels, are in Tempe for the weekend and attended Saturday night’s game. Asked how he liked the Angels’ new Disney-created uniforms, Gene Autry, 89, said: “I don’t know yet.”