Collins Looking for Some Emotion

A Bronx Zoo-type clubhouse atmosphere like the New York Yankees had in the 1970s would be exhausting for any manager, but Terry Collins had no problem with the postgame flare-up Tuesday night, when Angel pitcher Chuck Finley tried to light a fire under his teammates with a profanity-laced speech.

“I wouldn’t care if Chuck tore up the clubhouse,” Collins said before Wednesday night’s game against the Rangers. “This guy cares. We need that so bad here, to find 25 guys who care so much that everything else is secondary, that all they want to do is win.”

Sometimes, Collins said, the desire to merely win is not enough.

“You have to play this game ticked off,” he said. “You can’t be satisfied going three for four. You’ve got to want four hits. Chuck was mad, and I liked that. I wouldn’t mind if someone got ticked off every day, as long as it was legitimate.

“Some guys like to put on a show by slamming their helmet down in the dugout in front of the cameras and 45,000 people. I want to see the guy go up the tunnel and do that. That’s when you know they’re mad.”

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Left fielder Gregg Jefferies, who aggravated a right hamstring injury Tuesday night and is also suffering from ankle and elbow injuries, may be limited to a pinch-hitter role for this weekend’s season-ending series against Oakland.

“If I can only have him for one at-bat, I’ll pick my spots,” Collins said. “Gregg has been a super guy to have around. He plays the game hard, the right way. But physically, he’s in bad shape.”

With the Angels being outscored by a combined score of 18-2 in the first two games against Texas, Collins started Todd Greene instead of Orlando Palmeiro in left Wednesday night, using Garret Anderson in the leadoff spot.

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If the Angels do not make the playoffs, tonight’s start against Oakland will likely be the last of Jack McDowell’s career.

McDowell, who has pitched through considerable elbow pain to win four of six starts since returning from the disabled list in mid-August, has no plans to pitch in 1999.

The 32-year-old right-hander who has been plagued by injuries for most of the past two seasons, also said there’s only a slim chance he’ll pitch again after 1999.

“I can envision coming back the following season, but I can’t say the percentages are high,” said McDowell, the 1993 AL Cy Young Award winner who has his own rock band. “I’m tired of bouncing around, changing teams all the time. I want to hang out with my family and see where my band takes us.”

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Saturday’s 1 p.m. game between the Angels and A’s is not scheduled to be televised locally because Fox owns exclusive rights to that time slot and plans to air the Texas-Seattle game.

But the Angels are currently negotiating with Fox for permission to televise the game, either on Fox Sports West or Channel 9, if the Angels are still in contention for the division title.

ON DECK

Opponent--Oakland A’s, four games.

Site--Oakland Coliseum.

Tonight--7.

TV--Channel 9 tonight, Friday night and Sunday.

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

Records--Angels 83-75, A’s 72-86.

1998 record vs. A’s--3-5.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JACK McDOWELL (5-3, 4.63 ERA) vs.ATHLETICS’ JIMMY HAYNES (11-8, 4.90 ERA)

Update--The Angels swept a four-game series from Oakland to close the 1995 season and force a one-game playoff with Seattle for the division title, but that won’t be easy this season. The A’s have won their last five games against the Angels by a combined score of 34-17, and left-hander Kenny Rogers, who has the league’s third-best ERA, is 10-0 at home this season. If Sunday’s game has a bearing on the West championship, Oakland will start knuckleballer Tom Candiotti, who was scratched from his last start because of tightness in his right elbow. If the division has been decided, Jay Witasick will start for the A’s.

Friday, 7 p.m.--Omar Olivares (9-8, 3.83) vs. Kenny Rogers (15-8, 3.21).

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Steve Sparks (9-4, 4.51) vs. Gil Heredia (3-3, 2.78).

Sunday, 1 p.m.--Chuck Finley (11-9, 3.39) vs. Tom Candiotti (11-16, 4.84).