Mariners Still Cause Deep Anxiety

The Seattle Mariners lost again Saturday, plunging 10 1/2 games out of first place in the American League West. The Angels swept Seattle in the Kingdome last week, Randy Johnson wants out, and the Mariners’ bullpen inspires little fear and much loathing.

So are the Angels dancing on the graves of their tormentors, the team that beat them to division titles in 1995 and 1997?

Well, no. The Angels don’t do that dance, not after coughing up an 11-game lead over the Mariners in 1995.

“Seattle scares me,” shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. “Seattle has the potential to go on a monthlong tear where they crush everybody. With that all-star lineup, if Randy gets his act together and they strengthen their bullpen, they’ll be tough to beat.”

Said pitcher Troy Percival: “They’re in a funk right now. They’re not the same team that had the air about them.

“But you can’t count them out. I saw what they did in ’95. You can’t count anybody out until there’s an 11-game lead with 10 games left.”

*

Although Jim Abbott opted not to try his comeback with the Angels, he aspires to work for the team after his playing days are over.

“I would like to be part of the Angels’ organization,” Abbott said. “I still root for the team. I still root for the people there.

“That’s the community I live in. I want to see the fans rewarded for sticking with the team.”

Before Abbott decided to resume pitching, he talked with the Angels about working in their community-relations department. Angel Vice President Tim Mead said Abbott, one of the most popular players in franchise history, always would be welcome to return.

“As big a part of this organization as Jim Abbott was on the field, his contributions were as great or greater off the field, to the Angels and the community,” Mead said. “I believe his greatest contributions to baseball, even if he comes back and pitches 10 more years, will be off the field.”

In two Class A appearances with the Chicago White Sox organization, Abbott, 30, is 0-1 with a 4.00 earned-run average.

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The Angels have yet to play in a World Series, but one of their employees won a championship ring Saturday when USC won the College World Series. Nancy Mazmanian started the year as the Trojans’ publicist before joining the Angels’ staff during spring training. . . . The Angels activated catcher Bret Hemphill, the former Cal State Fullerton star, and assigned him to triple-A Vancouver. Hemphill, a top prospect, had not played since shoulder surgery last summer. . . . Center fielder Jim Edmonds received his 1997 Gold Glove award in pregame ceremonies that included several replays of his now-legendary catch in Kansas City.

Tonight’s Game

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(1-0, 0.00)

vs.

ROCKIES’

JAMEY WRIGHT

(4-6, 6.43)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

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

* Update--Is Washburn merely keeping a place in the starting rotation warm for the injured Allen Watson? Not necessarily, Manager Terry Collins said, noting how well Washburn pitched in winning his major league debut last week. “There’s lots of guys that step into a situation and run with the opportunity,” Collins said. “The second baseman [rookie Justin Baughman] has shown he belongs here. Jarrod can do the same thing.” Watson, on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his left arm, is scheduled to throw today but is several weeks from activation.