Bichette Addresses Age-Old Problem

Most of the names have changed, the logo and uniforms have changed, and the people running the team have changed, but those weren’t the only reasons Colorado outfielder Dante Bichette hardly recognized the Angels when they came to Coors Field on Monday.

The most significant change, Bichette said, is the Angel philosophy. “They realized they need to stick with players through the tough times and help them develop,” Bichette said, “instead of looking for the big fix, like when I was there.”

Bichette was a promising young outfielder in the Angel system who hit .255 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs in his first full major league season in 1990. But the Angels, thinking they were one left-handed bat away from a pennant, traded him to Milwaukee for aging outfielder Dave Parker in 1991. Parker was a bust, hitting .232 with 11 homers and 56 RBIs before being released late that season. Bichette went on to become a three-time National League All-Star who hit .317 with 119 homers and 453 RBIs in his first four seasons for the Rockies.

ON DECK

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (3-6, 5.71 ERA) vs. ROCKIES’ JOHN BURKE (2-2, 5.60 ERA)

Coors Field, Denver, noon.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KTZN (710).

* Update--Collins is bringing Finley back on three days’ rest after the left-hander’s horrendous start Friday against Seattle, in which he gave up eight runs and eight hits, three of them homers, in five innings. Baseballs were flying all over Coors Field on Monday night, but Collins said Finley can’t let that affect his approach. “A lot of pitchers come in here thinking they can’t make any mistakes, and that causes them to fall behind on counts,” Collins said. “You have to pitch your game here.”