At This Rate, Angels’ Hill Is No Bargain

If the Angel rotation has turned into a storefront display window, with contenders browsing through the team’s veteran pitchers for a good pick-up, Ken Hill didn’t exactly wow any shoppers Saturday.

The right-hander gave up four runs on nine hits in five unimpressive innings of the Angels’ 8-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles before a sellout crowd of 48,544 in Camden Yards, dropping the Angels 14 1/2 games behind Texas in the American League West.

Oriole third baseman Cal Ripken homered twice and drove in three runs, moving into 30th place on the all-time home run and RBI lists, as Baltimore handed the Angels their ninth consecutive loss, their longest skid since two nine-game losing streaks in the last two months of 1995.

Interest in Hill may have cooled on a 97-degree afternoon, especially considering Hill’s hefty price tag--he’s signed for $5.6 million next season--and the fact there is no warranty on his oft-injured elbow.

But Chuck Finley may be a more attractive alternative. The left-hander takes his turn in the showcase today in Camden Yards, and Cleveland plans to send a scout specifically to watch him pitch.

The Indians, according to a baseball source, will make a strong effort to acquire Finley before Saturday’s non-waiver trading deadline, and the Yankees are expected to join in the bidding as well.

Cleveland General Manager John Hart, hoping to learn more about Finley, had a 30-minute discussion Friday with Indian pitcher Mark Langston, a former Angel who has been encouraging the Indians to deal for his ex-teammate.

Of course, Langston’s strongest statement in favor of Finley may have come Saturday on the Yankee Stadium mound, where Langston gave up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 21-1 loss. With Jaret Wright sidelined because of a shoulder injury, it’s obvious the Indians need pitching help.

Additionally, Finley has a 16-9 career record against the Yankees, and the Indians are looking for any kind of edge they can get over New York for their anticipated championship-series showdown against the Yankees.

The question is, what are they willing to give up for Finley? The Angels would love right-handed power hitter Richie Sexson and pitcher Steve Karsay, who is expected to come off the disabled list soon, but the Indians don’t appear ready to part with either.

C.C. Sabathia, a left-handed pitcher who was the Indians’ No. 1 pick in 1998, also would interest the Angels, but Cleveland might be more willing to part with double-A right-handers Willie Martinez, who is 9-4 at Akron, or Jamie Brown, who is 5-5.

The Angels have turned their focus on the future because the present has become unbearable. Their scoreless-innings streak was extended to 15 Saturday before Randy Velarde tripled and came home on an error in the sixth, but by then the Angels were trailing by four runs.

Ripken homered to start the bottom of the sixth and added a two-run homer in the seventh, giving him 398 homers and 1,558 RBIs.

At least Angel Manager Terry Collins didn’t have to sweat this one out with the rest of the Angels. He was ejected in the fourth inning when he objected strongly to umpire Ed Hickox’s ruling that right fielder Tim Salmon had trapped the ball while making an apparent sliding catch of Ripken’s flare toward the line.

Salmon, who has been ejected only once in his seven-year career, also was stunned by the call.

“Tim Salmon never says, ‘Boo,’ he just plays the game,” said Collins, who watched the rest of the game from his air-conditioned office. “So when he says something, there’s some validity to it. He caught the ball. But that was not the game.” The Angels managed only six hits for the second straight game, though one was Charlie O’Brien’s two-run homer in the ninth. Collins said the Angels would have “a little different look” today, but they might benefit from a little different approach as well.

“This team has got some pent-up frustrations,” Collins said. “We have to relax, try to enjoy ourselves. . . . It’s no fun coming to the park when things aren’t going good, but we’re all in this game for one reason, we love it. We’ve got to enjoy playing.”

BRONX BOMBERS: In their biggest victory in 46 years, the New York Yankees routed the Cleveland Indians, 21-1. Page 6

MARTINEZ OUT: Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right shoulder. Page 6

GIANT TRADE: The San Francisco Giants acquired pitcher Livan Hernandez from the Florida Marlins for two minor-league pitchers. Page 8