Emotion Doesn’t Inspire Angels

Angel Manager Terry Collins’ biggest concern during last week’s losing streak was that his team wasn’t playing with the same intensity, the same emotion it displayed during a record-setting June.

Well, the Angels did not lack intensity or emotion Thursday night. They did lack solid pitching in an 8-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners in front of 24,210 in the Kingdome. The defeat extended the Angels’ losing skid to six and reduced their lead over Texas to a half-game in the American League West.

But intensity and emotion? The Angels showed plenty during Phil Nevin’s sixth-inning outburst, in which the catcher was so steamed after getting ejected that he ripped off his jersey and tossed it into the air around home plate.

Sandwiched between the Mariners’ five-run fifth, which featured two-run singles by Jay Buhner and Shane Monahan, and a three-run sixth, which featured Ken Griffey Jr.’s league-leading 36th home run, was Nevin’s striptease.

Nevin, disgusted after taking a called third strike with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth, hurled his bat toward the dugout and was immediately ejected by Barnett.

Nevin exploded, launching into a profanity-laced tirade. As Collins tried to restrain him, Nevin threw his helmet, ripped off both batting gloves and slammed them to the ground, and then sent his jersey buttons--and his uniform top--flying.

When he got to the dugout, Nevin took a pair of shin guards off the bench and tossed them onto the field.

“I figured I’d do something to fire the guys up, but I probably went a little overboard,” Nevin said. “I didn’t even realize I did that until I came in and saw it on the replay. I’m sure we’ll see it a few more times.”

The outburst, combined with some tense moments caused by hit batters--Alex Rodriguez by Angel starter Omar Olivares in the sixth and Darin Erstad by Mariner starter Jeff Fassero in the seventh, did seem to inspire the Angels, who scored four in the seventh to cut Seattle’s lead to 8-5.

Jim Edmonds had an RBI single, Cecil Fielder an RBI double and Garret Anderson a two-run single in the rally, but Mariner reliever Bobby Ayala, who entered with an 0-6 record and 7.06 earned-run average, retired Matt Walbeck to end the inning.

The Angels in the eighth on doubles by Gary DiSarcina and Erstad and Dave Hollins’ sacrifice fly to make it 8-6, but Seattle’s Mike Timlin pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the victory.

Afterward, Nevin said he was to blame for the argument, not Barnett.

“I thought there were two outs, and there was only one,” Nevin said. “If I toss my bat to end the inning, we both walk off the field and nothing happens. I screwed up, and I feel bad for Larry because I embarrassed him. I hope he understands that because he’s a good guy and a good umpire.”

Apology accepted.

“It’s over,” Barnett said. “I’ve been doing this for too long to get goofy over something like that. I’ve seen worse.”

Still, Collins couldn’t understand why Nevin got ejected. Players throw bats all the time and aren’t tossed.

“But it was the way he did it,” Barnett said. “He didn’t just toss it, he spear-chucked it. It hit me the wrong way at the time.”

Nevin’s argument wasn’t the only situation Collins had to diffuse. After Joey Cora homered in the sixth, Olivares hit Rodriguez with his next pitch. Collins pulled Olivares, but he was not surprised to see Erstad get plunked in the seventh.

“I didn’t think Omar threw at Rodriguez--I hope he didn’t throw at him,” Collins said. “I’ve been involved in one of these, and you know what’s coming. We hit Rodriguez after a homer, you know something’s going to happen to us. The guy on the other side [Seattle Manager Lou Piniella] has been around way longer than me.”

Said Olivares, a former Mariner: “He should have no doubt I wasn’t throwing at him. I’m not going to hate someone because things aren’t going my way. I’ve never done that, and I’m not going to start now.”

* RANGERS WIN: Ivan Rodriguez singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth and John Burkett pitched a strong game as Texas beat Oakland, 4-1. C6

* MORE DATES: The 1999 schedule increases some interleague rivalries, meaning the Angels will play the Dodgers six times. C7

* GLAUS MENAGERIE: It happened in Philadelphia with Scott Rolen, in Minnesota with Todd Walker and it’s happening in Anaheim with Troy Glaus. C9