Angels Are in the Middle of Two Important Races

The best race in the American League?

It seems obvious that it’s for the title in the West, where the Angels lead Texas by 3 1/2 games.

But the Angels also are involved in a close race with Cleveland, the winner possibly earning a stay of execution by avoiding the New York Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.

The Yankees, destined to finish with the league’s best record, can’t face Boston, apparently destined to become the wild-card team, because they’re from the same division. As a result, the Yankees would face whichever other division winner has the worse record in the best-of-five first round.

If recent form holds, that would be the Indians. They are four games under .500 in their last 40 games.

The Angels, if they can hold off Texas, then would draw Boston as their first-round opponent.

With a 5-3 record against New York, the Angels might be the one AL team not intimidated by the Yankees. But, without even polling them, I feel safe in saying the Angels would rather face the Red Sox.

Chuck Finley vs. Pedro Martinez in the opening game at Edison Field would be as good as a pitching matchup gets this season.

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Unless you could see Kerry Wood versus Randy Johnson.

You almost had a chance last Saturday, when they were scheduled to duel at Wrigley Field in a game nationally televised by Fox Sports.

Then Cub Manager Jim Riggleman decided he didn’t want to subject his rookie pitcher to that kind of pressure, moving Wood’s start to Friday.

Fox Sports officials admit they were disappointed.

What happened next is open to interpretation.

The Cubs claim Fox Sports officials called numerous times in an attempt to pressure them into moving Wood’s start back to Saturday.

Fox Sports officials vehemently deny it.

But let’s say, for the sake of keeping the argument alive, that the Cubs heard what they think they heard.

If Fox Sports officials tried to influence a team they don’t own, what might they try with a team they do own?

Nothing so far, Dodger officials say.

But Glenn Hoffman, or whoever is managing the Dodgers in the future, should stay alert just in case the network tries to cross the line between church and state.

On the other hand, maybe Hoffman wouldn’t mind if Fox Sports persuaded Bobby Valentine not to start Al Leiter when the Dodgers and Mets meet in Saturday’s nationally-televised game.

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Be Like Mac: After hearing about the hysteria around the country, I went to a vitamin store Tuesday expecting to see hundreds of young athletes rushing the doors to buy androstenedione pills. . . .

In Dallas, it was reported that sales are up 1,000% since Mark McGwire admitted the testosterone-producing substance has helped fuel his chase of Roger Maris’ home-run record. . . .

But Dean Kojima, manager of Great Earth Vitamins in Pasadena, said the pills are not exactly selling like Beanie Babies. . . .

“We’ve been selling a few bottles a week,” he said. “Now, we’re selling a few a day.” . . .

Sales were more brisk at other locations contacted . . . .

Some GNC stores reported they won’t carry the products until more studies have been conducted on long-range physical effects. . . .

“We’ve had a lot of calls because of that football player,” said a clerk in the Temple City store who wouldn’t give her name. . . .

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Be Like Mac II: ESPN is carrying Creatine advertisements during the Little League World Series. . . .

The home run derby between McGwire and Sammy Sosa is compelling stuff. . . .

Almost as compelling as “Home Run Derby” on ESPN’s Classic Sports Network. . . .

On Monday night, Mickey Mantle was a gracious 5-3 winner over Ernie Banks. . . .

After Banks hit a hardly Ruthian dribbler to shortstop, Mantle, in all seriousness, told host Mark Scott, “If he’d gotten that one in the air, it would have been out of here.” . . .

Banks said he wanted to play two. . . .

Trivia question: Of the four AL teams that would be in the postseason if the playoffs started today, which has the pitchers with the most strikeouts? . . .

Answer: The Angels, with 878 before Tuesday’s games. The only AL teams that had more were Seattle (923) and Toronto (903). . . .

Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi took considerable heat for not acquiring another starting pitcher at the trading deadline, but so far he’s been vindicated. . . .

The Angels are fourth in the AL in ERA. . . .

A quarterback from USC finally won a professional championship in the United States when Pat O’Hara led the Orlando Predators to the Arena Football League title. . . .

Sean Salisbury previously won a championship, the Grey Cup with Winnipeg in the Canadian Football League. . . .

Pete Newell, who turns 83 Monday, is taking a week off after conducting his “Big Man’s Camp” in Honolulu, then going to Argentina for a clinic with Pat Riley. . . .

Who is next year’s Michael Olowokandi, the University of Pacific center spotted by Newell as the potential No. 1 draft choice at his camp last summer? . . .

It could be Northwestern’s 6-foot-11 Evan Eschmeyer, the most impressive college player in Honolulu. . . .

Newell confirmed that Robert “Tractor” Traylor, bound for Milwaukee after the lockout, could be a tall Charles Barkley. . . .

Traylor needs, however, to replace some of his fat with muscle. . . .

I wonder if he’s heard of this stuff called androstenedione?

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While wondering whatever happened to Wheaties, I was thinking: Randy Barnes should have played baseball, Barry Bonds should be getting more attention for 400-400, the Braves and Dodgers dislike each other so much you’d think they were owned by Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch.