To This Point, Sparks Has Been as Tough as Nails

Most pitchers lift weights and run sprints and do an assortment of conditioning exercises to stay in shape. Angel right-hander Steve Sparks does his nails, polishing them with a protein-filled lacquer.

Some players take creatine, a high-protein substance used to promote muscle mass and aid in the recovery after workouts. Sparks takes gelatin caps, which strengthen his nails.

“I think a lot of things I do are going to be contrary to what other guys do,” Sparks said.

The Angels don’t care if Sparks gets a facial and a mud pack between starts as long as the knuckleball-throwing veteran keeps pitching the way he has since being recalled from triple-A Vancouver on June 15.

Sparks, who went a combined 0-8 at Vancouver and double-A Midland this season, is 3-0 in four starts, his only subpar outing coming when he gave up five runs and four hits in four innings in relief of Jarrod Washburn in Saturday’s 8-3 loss to Oakland.

But Sparks’ days in the rotation appear numbered. He is scheduled to start Sunday in Seattle, but once left-hander Allen Watson recovers from an elbow injury and a deep cut on the outside of his left wrist, he is expected to return to the rotation with Sparks going to the bullpen.

That won’t be disappointing for Sparks, who has a 4.31 earned-run average. He pitched out of Milwaukee’s bullpen in 1995, and after sitting out the 1997 season because of elbow reconstruction surgery, he’s not about to complain about any big league role.

“I just try to prepare each day and do what they tell me to do,” Sparks, 32, said. “I’ll have no problem going to the bullpen. I may have to have better command right when I come in, and I can’t get behind guys or walk them.”

Sparks’ command, though, is not always predicated on his delivery or release point or confidence. It is vulnerable to the whims of the knuckleball, which is so unpredictable Sparks doesn’t even try to throw it in one place.

“I just focus on the catcher’s mask and let the ball move,” Sparks said. “If I aimed for the mitt, as most pitchers do, it would drop out of the strike zone.”

*

Watson, who cut his wrist when a beer bottle he was opening broke in half June 29, had his stitches removed Sunday, but the area around the cut is still swollen and tender, and he felt sore after playing catch Monday. “The cut is right where I throw all my breaking pitches,” Watson said. “I don’t think I’ll be able to tell [how bad it is] until I get on the mound.” . . . Second baseman Steve Scarsone was Vancouver’s only representative in the triple-A all-star game, which was played in Norfolk, Va., Wednesday night. Infielders Chuck Abbott and Keith Luuloa represented Midland in the double-A all-star game Wednesday night in New Haven, Conn.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Seattle Mariners, four games.

* Site--Kingdome, Seattle.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight, Friday night and Sunday; Channel 11 Saturday.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090), KIK-FM (94.3).

* Records--Angels 49-37, Mariners 37-51.

* Record vs. Mariners--5-0.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (5-4, 3.39 ERA) vs. MARINERS’ JEFF FASSERO (7-5, 3.96 ERA)

* Update--If the Mariners, who trail the Angels by 13 games, are going to salvage anything from this season, now would be a good time to start. Their lineup still strikes fear into opposing pitchers--Ken Griffey Jr. is hitting .299 with 35 homers and 79 RBIs, Alex Rodriguez is hitting .310 with 27 homers and 70 RBIs and David Segui is hitting .322 with 15 homers and 62 RBIs--but their bullpen strikes fear only in Mariner Manager Lou Piniella, who practically covers his eyes every time Heathcliff Slocumb (1-4, 8.15 ERA) or Bobby Ayala (0-6, 7.06) enters a game. The two right-handers are supposedly the top relievers in a bullpen that already has 15 blown saves. Defense also has been a problem for Seattle, which has a league-high 85 errors in 88 games.

Friday, 7 p.m.--Chuck Finley (8-4, 3.16) vs. Jamie Moyer (5-7, 3.64).

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Jason Dickson (8-6, 6.13) vs. Randy Johnson (7-8, 5.07).

Sunday, 1:30 p.m.--Steve Sparks (3-0, 4.31) vs. Bill Swift (8-4, 4.83).