Bone Chips Removed From Hill’s Elbow

Lewis Yocum, Angel team physician, said he doesn’t expect pitcher Ken Hill “to touch a baseball for at least a month” after Monday’s elbow operation to remove two bone chips--one of them “fairly significant” in size--and to shave down two bone spurs.

Yocum said he “was not surprised” to find the bone chips, which did not appear on some earlier X-rays. One was about half an inch by one-third of an inch, and the other was “more reasonable.” Yocum also smoothed down several rough areas in the elbow caused by degenerative arthritis.

Hill could return in 6-8 weeks, Yocum said, but his recovery will hinge on how he responds in the next month to the strengthening and range-of-motion exercises he begins this weekend.

Hill, who is 8-5 with a 5.15 earned-run average, began experiencing elbow problems in mid-April, when he went eight days between starts because of postponements due to structural problems in Yankee Stadium.

Though he won six of 11 starts since pitching against the Yankees on April 15 and was impressive in several of those games, the elbow stiffness caused him to be sporadic. He didn’t last more than three innings in three starts.

The pain became unbearable after Hill’s last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, when he gave up six runs in three innings, so Hill decided to have surgery.

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Pitcher William VanLandingham, who did not report to double-A Midland after being demoted from triple-A Vancouver last week, was found to be in breach of contract and is no longer considered part of the Angel organization. The Angels will not have to pay him for the remainder of the season, but VanLandingham will remain on the suspended list, meaning no other team can sign him. . . . To make room for pitcher Steve Sparks on the 40-man roster, the Angels Monday sent utility infielder Carlos Garcia to Vancouver.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Seattle Mariners, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Today--7 p.m.

* TV--Fox Sports West, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

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

* Records--Angels 39-28, Mariners 29-40.

* Record vs. Mariners--2-0.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JASON DICKSON (6-4, 5.79 ERA) vs. MARINERS’ BILL SWIFT (6-3, 4.54 ERA)

Update--First baseman Cecil Fielder, struggling with one hit in his last 17 at-bats, did not start Monday night. Fielder went 14 for 32 with four homers and 14 RBIs in eight games after a day off May 31. Second baseman Justin Baughman, who missed five games because of a concussion and facial cuts, returned to the starting lineup Monday night and wore Norberto Martin’s batting helmet, which has a protective guard to shield his face. The last-place Mariners have lost 20 of their last 30 games.

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Omar Olivares (4-2, 2.75) vs. Jeff Fassero (5-3, 4.22).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (2-0, 2.29) vs. Jamie Moyer (4-6, 3.63).

Tickets--(714) 634-2000.