Collins Is Happy With Petkovsek’s Location

Manager Terry Collins walked into a Nashville hotel room at baseball’s winter meetings in December and was told by General Manager Bill Bavasi that the Angels had acquired pitcher Mark Petkovsek.

Cool, Collins thought. Petkovsek pitched in Pittsburgh when Collins was the Pirate bullpen coach in 1993. When Collins managed in Houston and Petkovsek pitched for St. Louis in 1995 and ‘96, Collins always liked the right-hander who could start or pitch out of the bullpen.

Collins’ next thought: Which major leaguer did we give up? Imagine Collins’ surprise when told that Petkovsek came for the bargain-basement price of a Class-A catcher, Matt Garrick, who played for Cedar Rapids in 1998 before being sent to the Cardinal organization.

Garrick may someday develop into a big league catcher, but it’s safe to say the Angels got the best of this deal in the short term.

Petkovsek has already played a prominent role in two Angel victories, throwing three innings of scoreless relief in the opening win over Cleveland and two more scoreless innings in a win Friday over Texas.

The 33-year-old is about as overpowering as Tommy John--after the famous elbow surgery. Petkovsek’s fastball tops out in the 85- to 87-mph range, but it has a nice sink to it. He also changes speeds on his curveball and has a good changeup.

“Location is the most important part of my game, that and changing speeds,” Petkovsek said. “When you get them to put a pitch in your location in play, it’s to the advantage of the pitcher.”

It’s also to Petkovsek’s advantage that this is the first time he has pitched in the American League, and the hitters aren’t real familiar with him.

“That’s definitely a factor, it helps,” Petkovsek said. “But I’ll be pitching them the same way the next time I face them--in and out, up and down.”

*

Center fielder Jim Edmonds, on the mend from groin, lower back and shoulder injuries, is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, and though Collins would like him to get a few days of batting practice in before being activated, it’s not imperative.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ TIM BELCHER (0-0, 10.40 ERA) vs. RANGERS’ AARON SELE (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

The Ballpark at Arlington, 5 PDT TV--ESPN, Radio--KLAC (570)

* Update--The Angels recalled first baseman Chris Pritchett from triple-A Edmonton to replace the injured Mo Vaughn, but it appears Darin Erstad will remain at first base and Orlando Palmeiro in left field until Edmonds returns. Though he did not take so much as a ground ball at first base in spring training, Erstad has made a smooth transition from left field back to the position he played in 1997 and ’98. The Rangers will look to Sele, who threw six shutout innings in his first start, to stem the tide of Angel hits in the first two games of the series.