Answers Sought to Curb Injuries

Angel officials soon will start pondering next season.

“How do you get better?” General Manager Bill Bavasi asked. “Trades and free agents and acts of God.”

The Angels learned--again--this season, that acts of God don’t always work for you. An epidemic of injuries hampered them, the biggest being the torn ligament in Tim Salmon’s left foot and Darin Ertsad’s pulled hamstring--not to mention the numerous line drives that deflected off pitcher Chuck Finley’s body.

Manager Terry Collins wants to keep that from happening again, so the Angels will rethink how they approach training.

“Torn feet and broken bones are going to happen,” Collins said. “Chuck Finley being hit by a line drive is . . . something you can’t control.

“We have to do something to prevent the stiff backs, stiff arms, hamstring problems. We’re going to look at what off-season workouts the players are doing. We’re going to change some of our spring training regimen. The in-season conditioning is something we’re going to address.”

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Pitcher Pep Harris, catcher Phil Nevin, outfielder Reggie Williams and Justin Baughman all will play winter ball.

Harris will work on converting to a starting role. Nevin, who had caught only five major league games before this season, will catch every day. Baughman will continue his transition from shortstop to second base. Williams, a career minor leaguer, will attempt to improve his chances of making the team next spring.

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Chris Pritchett and Jim Edmonds hit solo home runs Saturday, and Troy Glaus was robbed of a home run when A’s center fielder Ryan Christenson made a leaping catch at the fence.

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Kenny Rogers’ complete-game victory Friday may be his last with the Oakland A’s. He has said he will ask to be traded if the A’s fire Manager Art Howe, whose status is uncertain.

Rogers, as a player who was traded in the middle of a multiyear contract, can demand a trade and the A’s must honor that request. Rogers was 16-8 with a 3.17 earned-run average this season.

Today

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN (5-3, 4.81 ERA) vs. ATHLETICS’ JAY WITASICK (12-7, 6.64 ERA)

Oakland Coliseum, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Washburn, who will challenge for a spot in the rotation next spring, takes Chuck Finley’s spot for the final game. Washburn won his first four starts after being called up in June.