Collins Would Trade Rumors for Silence

Manager Terry Collins would love to have another quality starter for the last third of the season, but he could do without the daily trade rumors that make their way from the airwaves and newspapers into the clubhouse.

“Half the time it starts with a telephone call from a friend in another city who read something in the papers or heard it on a talk show,” Collins said. “Apparently, one talk show had us announcing a trade with St. Louis [Thursday]. I can assure you there’s no trade going to be announced [Thursday].

“Every day it’s something. [Jim] Edmonds is gone. [Garret] Anderson is gone. [Minor league pitcher Scott] Schoeneweis is gone. We have a lot of positives, a great ballpark, great weather, a nice team, it’s a good place to play, and guys want to know what’s going on. It just creates an atmosphere of apprehension.”

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Third baseman Dave Hollins, who suffered a partial dislocation of his right shoulder sliding into first last Friday, said his strength is returning but he hasn’t tried throwing yet.

“I’m just going to take advantage of these two days to rest it and let the [anti-inflammatory] medicine start to work in there,” he said. “I’m not even going to play catch until [today]. I’ve been doing specific exercises to tighten the little muscles around the joint and it feels a lot stronger. I can hit right now, but I still don’t know about making throws.”

Hollins struck out pinch-hitting for Justin Baughman in the ninth Thursday.

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Hollins was on deck to pinch-hit for his replacement at third, Craig Shipley, in the ninth until Tim Salmon and Anderson got hits. Shipley stayed in to sacrifice, bunted safely and then blooped the winning single to center in the 10th.

“I was out of there, but I kept my batting gloves on just in case,” Shipley said of the ninth. “[Collins] didn’t say anything to me, but I thought he might leave me in to bunt if the guys got on, so I wanted to stay mentally prepared.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Kansas City Royals, four games.

* Site--Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

* Tonight--5.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight, Saturday and Monday.

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

* Records--Angels 55-45, Royals, 44-56.

* Record vs. Royals--2-2.

TONOGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (8-4, 3.06 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ HIPOLITO PICHARDO (4-7, 5.33)

* Update--On Saturday, the Angels get a first-hand look at right-hander Tim Belcher, the starting pitcher who seems most likely to end up an Angel, if any trade is made this month. Finley will be making his first start since gouging a hole in his knee that required eight stitches when he slid awkwardly while covering first base July 15 against Tampa Bay.

* Saturday, 5 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (5-2, 4.13) vs. Tim Belcher (9-8, 4.20).

* Sunday, 11 a.m.--Omar Olivares (5-6, 3.98) vs. Jose Rosado (4-8, 4.01).

* Monday, 5 p.m.--Steve Sparks (3-2, 4.93) vs. Pat Rapp (9-9, 4.80)