Hill Says He’s Fine but Needs to Focus

Ken Hill says his arm feels great and bullpen coach Joe Coleman says Hill’s fastball is registering between 92 and 94 miles per hour on the radar gun. And Hill, acquired last week from Texas, insists that he isn’t trying too hard to impress his new team.

“I’m not putting any added pressure on myself,” said Hill, who has given up 14 hits, seven runs and seven walks in his first two starts as an Angel.

But when asked how the trade to the Angels compared to the deal that sent him from St. Louis to Cleveland on July 27, 1995, Hill admitted that he feels a sense of urgency this time around.

“When I went to Cleveland, my mechanics were all messed up but I had the time to work that out because they had a 16-game lead,” he said. “The situation is different here. My mechanics are fine, but we’re in a much tighter race, so I need to be a lot more focused. I need to be on my game. So, yeah, mentally there’s a difference.”

Manager Terry Collins indicated after Monday night’s 5-2 loss to Milwaukee that some of Hill’s forkballs lacked the usual movement. Tuesday, Coleman said Hill had talked to him about the same thing.

“He mentioned that he was having a little bit of trouble with the forkball, so we’ll put our heads together and see if we can get a little more consistency there,” Coleman said. “But his velocity is great and he’ll be fine.”

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When Collins looks across at the first-base dugout during this series, he likes what he sees.

“The Brewers are scrappy, disciplined, they put the ball in play and they manufacture runs,” Collins said. “ And [Milwaukee Manager] Phil Garner does a hell of a job getting them ready. He’s got it right, there’s only one way to play, as hard as you can every night.

“I’ve always been really impressed with what he does. Every year, they seem to play better than what people expect. Of course, you don’t get a nickname like ‘Scrap Iron’ for nothing.”

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Collins says the best-case scenario has Jim Edmonds--on the disabled list because of strained lower rib cage--beginning to take batting practice on Monday or Tuesday of next week. He expects Edmonds to move on to extended batting practice after that and then return the first day he’s eligible, Aug. 16 in Baltimore, without going on a rehabilitation assignment. . . . Right-hander Pete Janicki cleared waivers and was returned to triple-A Vancouver. . . . Tim Salmon went in to Tuesday night’s game on pace to drive in 130 runs, which would put him second on the club’s all-time list.

TODAY’S GAME

ANGELS’ ALLEN WATSON (9-6, 4.63 ERA) vs. BREWERS’ CAL ELDRED (11-10, 4.86 ERA)

Anaheim Stadium, 1 p.m.

Radio--KTZN (710).

* Update--Watson would just as soon forget his first outing against Milwaukee when he gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings May 17 in Anaheim Stadium. He would prefer to remember his most recent start when he went eight innings and struck out seven while giving up one run during a 9-1 victory over the White Sox. It was Watson’s first victory since July 10. Eldred, who credits his recent success to an improved breaking ball, has strung together seven strong starts. He leads the team with 137 innings pitched. Eldred and Watson have both allowed 22 homers, tied for second-most in the league. Angel starters are 16-3 with three complete games and one shutout in the 29 games.