Innings an Issue With Hill

Ken Hill didn’t want to go on the disabled Sunday. The Angels put him there.

Manager Terry Collins said Ramon Ortiz and Jarrod Washburn will remain in the rotation the rest of the season, “and there may be others,” he added, implying that more young starters could be called up for auditions.

The oft-injured Hill missed 2 1/2 months of 1998 and has been on the disabled list twice this season.

He is in the second year of a three-year contract that includes a $6-million option for 2001 that is guaranteed if he reaches one of five thresholds for innings pitched or games started between 1998-2000.

Chuck Finley, Tim Belcher and Steve Sparks are in the rotation now, and Ortiz and Washburn make five. Hill, a $5.45-million pitcher with a disappointing 4-11 record, sees the writing on the wall.

Could the Angels be planning to limit Hill’s appearances this season, so as to reduce the chances of him pitching enough for his option year to kick in and take themselves off the hook for $6 million in 2001?

“No question, that could be an issue,” Hill said. “They’ll do what they need to do. . . . I’ve been in the game a long time and seen a lot. . . . I’ve seen more this year, though.”

Hill pitched 103 innings and started 19 games in 1998 and has thrown 123 2/3 innings and started 22 games in 1999 for a two-year total of 226 2/3 innings and 41 games started.

For the 2001 option to vest, Hill must pitch either 190 innings in 2000, 385 innings in 1999-2000 or 570 innings from 1998-2000, or start 55 games in 1999-2000 or 81 games in 1998-2000.

Because Hill had elbow surgery last season and will miss at least five weeks this season because of elbow, knee and groin problems, the three-year thresholds for innings pitched and games started are out of reach.

Good health would improve his chances of reaching the two-year thresholds (385 innings or 55 games started), but if the Angels shelve Hill this season they could eliminate seven starts and roughly 40 innings from the mix, making it much more difficult. Hill’s only chance then would be for a healthy and successful 2000 in which he pitched 190 innings.

Asked how he’ll find room in the rotation for Hill when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list, Collins said: “We’ll worry about that then.”

Hill doesn’t envision a major problem, “but you never know,” he said. “Ortiz and Washburn need to pitch. I don’t know if Chuck will be back, Belcher is here, I don’t know about Sparks. . . .

“Shoot, we don’t even know if we’re going to have a general manager or manager here, and we might have a new owner. There’s so much speculation, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

What the Angels do with Hill in late August will go a long way toward determining his future with the team.

“If you don’t want me here,” Hill said, “just trade me.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN (0-1, 8.44 ERA) vs. TIGERS’ JEFF WEAVER (6-9, 5.56 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Weaver was being touted as a rookie-of-the-year candidate after his 6-3 start, but the former Simi Valley High star, who is leaving about 100 tickets for family and friends tonight, hasn’t won a game since May 27. Washburn will be making his second start since being recalled from triple-A Edmonton. The left-hander gave up four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of Monday’s 6-1 loss to Chicago.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.