Dickson’s Arm Fine, Pitches Fat

Jason Dickson, who was slowed earlier this spring because of tendinitis in his biceps, had another rough outing in his second start Sunday, giving up five runs in three innings against the Oakland Athletics.

Dickson hit Rickey Henderson with his first pitch and walked four batters. He gave up five hits, but said his arm felt fine. He attributed his performance to the limited work he has had this spring.

“I don’t usually hit too many or walk too many,” Dickson said. “It’s because this is my second start and everyone else is ahead of me. If I was lumped in with them when they were getting beat up, you wouldn’t even have noticed.”

Dickson was behind on almost every batter through the first two innings. He gave a two-run double to Jason Giambi in the first inning. In the second, Ben Grieve drove in two runs with a single to right field.

Dickson retired the side in order in the third. He threw 74 pitches, but only 39 for strikes.

“He’s trying to hurry back and do it all at once,” Manager Terry Collins said. “When he tries to do too much he leaves the ball up, like today. When he is within himself, his ball sinks.”

Dickson will have three more starts this spring. Collins said that Dickson will be on a 100-pitch limit for his starts when the season begins.

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Dickson’s performance looked a lot better when Omar Olivares was finished. Olivares, who followed Dickson, gave up 13 hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in a 12-4 loss to the A’s. He gave up six consecutive hits in the fourth inning.

Olivares, who was a candidate for the fifth starting spot before the Angels signed Jack McDowell, has given up 16 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.

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Collins started what will probably be his opening day lineup and was ready to commit to seven of the nine: Darin Erstad, Jim Edmonds, Dave Hollins, Tim Salmon, Cecil Fielder, Garret Anderson and Gary DiSarcina.

“But we knew that coming into camp,” Collins said. “You’re going to see these guys a lot more from now on. We need to run them out there and get them some at-bats.”

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The other two starters were Matt Walbeck, who is expected to be the opening day catcher in place of Todd Greene, and second baseman Noberto Martin. Collins stopped just short of committing to Martin if Randy Velarde is not ready.

Justin Baughman, a 23-year-old rookie the Angels had taken a quick look at as a second baseman, was reassigned to the minor league camp after Sunday’s game. It leaves Martin, Chip Hale and Robert Eenhoorn as the only second basemen in camp.