Hollins’ Season Is Over

Dave Hollins will undergo shoulder surgery today and will not play for the Angels again until spring training. What position Hollins might play next spring depends upon what moves the Angels make this winter.

“I told him to bring his first baseman’s glove to camp and win the job,” Manager Terry Collins said.

Hollins, the Angels’ starting third baseman last season and most of this season, lost the job to rookie Troy Glaus. The Angels have guaranteed $2.4 million to Hollins next season, and they abhor paying that kind of money to bench players.

Because Hollins cannot prove he is sound until spring training, the Angels cannot consider trading him before then. If Hollins starts at first base, though, the Angels will consider trading Jim Edmonds or Garret Anderson to alleviate a glut of five players--Edmonds, Anderson, Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon and Todd Greene--for three outfield spots and designated hitter.

Hollins said doctors gave him little choice in consenting to surgery. The capsule, labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder all needed repair, and further injury could have jeopardized the entire 1999 season.

“I had so much going wrong in the shoulder, and I risked completely tearing my rotator cuff if I tried to play,” Hollins said.

The Chicago White Sox plan to call up Jim Abbott, perhaps before rosters expand Sept. 1, General Manager Ron Schueler said.

Abbott has not pitched in the major leagues since his 2-18 season for the Angels in 1996, a summer of lost velocity and lost confidence. He has reclaimed both since signing a minor league contract with the White Sox in May, and Schueler said Abbott threw two pitches at 91 mph in a recent start at triple-A Calgary.

“I was kind of shocked,” Schueler said.

*

The Angels intended to start Ken Hill on Sunday against Toronto, but they may think again after a rocky outing Tuesday. In his last scheduled rehabilitation start, for Class-A Lake Elsinore at Stockton, Hill gave up four runs, five hits and five walks in four innings. He made 70 pitches.

Jack McDowell, meanwhile, returns tonight after four months of elbow injuries. McDowell makes his first start since May 31, but do not suggest he try to block out thoughts of the pennant race and the accompanying pressure.

“If you’re going to panic, you want to block it out,” he said. “If you’re going to feed off it--and that’s what you have to do if you’re going to win--there’s nothing to be nervous about. There’s no excuse not to be locked in.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Detroit Tigers, two games

* Site--Edison Field

* Tonight--7:30 p.m.

* TV--Fox Sports West Thursday.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 67-58, Tigers 48-75.

* 1997 record vs. Tigers--6-3.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JACK McDOWELL

(1-2, 4.76 ERA)

vs.

TIGERS’

JUSTIN THOMPSON

(10-9, 3.61 ERA)

* Update--The Angels will activate Erstad today and, in deference to the hamstring injury that forced him onto the disabled list, play him at first base instead of in left field. Rookie Chris Pritchett, who drove in four runs Monday, was sent to triple-A Vancouver. General Manager Bill Bavasi said he does not expect to activate catcher Charlie O’Brien (broken thumb) until rosters expand Sept. 1.

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Omar Olivares (6-8, 4.13 ERA) vs. Brian Powell (2-3, 7.08 ERA).