Starting Pitchers Share in Misery

They weren’t exactly dominating batters, but it was just a few weeks ago that all seemed well with the Angels’ starting pitchers. They had pitched into the seventh inning in eight of 11 games from June 8-20.

Then Steve Sparks was hit on the hand by a line drive.

Ken Hill left a game early because of “tightness” in his elbow.

Chuck Finley was ripped.

Tim Belcher broke the pinkie finger on his right hand tagging a runner out at home plate.

During that five-day span, the rotation unraveled and it has yet to mend.

In the last nine games, Omar Olivares is the only starter to go beyond the fifth inning, and he is 0-1 in those two starts. More bad news came Friday when elbow problems forced Hill onto the 15-day disabled list.

The Angels recalled left-hander Jarrod Washburn from triple-A Edmonton. Washburn, who was 6-3 with the Angels last season, was 0-4 with a 5.02 earned-run average this season with the Trappers. He missed seven weeks with strained cartilage in his rib cage.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa will come out of the bullpen to take Hill’s turn against Seattle on Monday.

Hasegawa did not make a start in 61 appearances last season and was 0-3 with a 6.62 earned-run average in seven starts in 1997. His last start came Sept. 27, 1997.

“Wasn’t it 10 days ago that we were trying to find ways to get the bullpen some work?” Finley said. “Now they are dragging a little bit.

“Bringing your relievers in like that may be fine early in the season, maybe even the first half of the season. But it can kill you the second half. I need to eat up some innings. Omar is going to eat up some innings. Sparks is going to get the job done.”

Belcher is out at least three weeks. Hill, who had elbow surgery last season, underwent whirlpool and ultrasound treatments Friday, but it was evident that he was not ready to pitch.

*

Manager Terry Collins made it official Friday--Todd Greene, who had shoulder surgery after the 1997 season, will not catch again this season.

“We feel it is in his best interest not to be back there as much,” Collins said. “It’s just the wear and tear of catching, throwing to second, throwing back to the mound, warming pitchers up, collisions at home plate.”

Greene hasn’t caught since June 12. He will play outfield and be used at designated hitter.

“No one has come to me and said, ‘You’re not catching any more,’ ” Greene said. “I want to be in the lineup first. Second is being a catcher. I just like playing the game. As long as I’m hitting, I’ll be fine.”

*

Among the Angel players struggling is third baseman Troy Glaus, who has seven hits in his last 59 at-bats.

Glaus’ performance at the plate this season hasn’t concerned Angel management. General Manager Bill Bavasi said he will not consider sending Glaus to triple-A, at this time.

“I saw him work himself out of a slump up here earlier this season,” Bavasi said. “I have no reason to believe he won’t do it again.”

Collins said that Glaus, who is hitting .229, will remain in the lineup, for his defense if nothing else.

“I can keep him out there as long as he saves us runs,” Collins said.

Glaus missed Wednesday’s game with a tender hamstring in his left leg, but played Friday.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (4-8, 5.17 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ GIL HEREDIA (3-5, 5.52 ERA)

Oakland Coliseum, 6:15 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--In his last two starts, Finley said he hasn’t felt comfortable on the mound, and the numbers prove it. He has allowed 15 runs in his last 8 1/3 innings. He gave up three home runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Texas Rangers Monday. “I took a couple days off and then started to make some adjustments,” Finley said. Oakland outfielder Ben Grieve, the 1998 rookie of the year, is heating up. He was hitting .356 in his last 20 games, raising his average to .247 before Friday. He has six home runs in his last 13 games.