ANGELS REPORT

The bullpen has been a safe haven for the Angels this season. While the injury-depleted offense has struggled and land mines have been exploding in the clubhouse, Angel relievers have been a soothing influence.

Led by closer Troy Percival and right-hander Mark Petkovsek, Angel relievers have combined for a 2.98 earned-run average, best in the American League and second in the big leagues behind Cincinnati.

What’s remarkable, besides Percival, is that there are no overpowering Angel relief pitchers and they have thrived despite the losses of Mike James, Pep Harris and Jason Dickson, all of whom had major roles the last few seasons.

“It’s a credit to these guys,” said Percival, who has given up only one hit in 14 1/3 innings since May 5, going 12 for 12 in save opportunities. “These guys all want the ball. That’s not something we’ve always had, guys who all want the ball in tight spots. They’re not worried about numbers or roles, just about getting the job done.”

Petkovsek is 4-1 with a 1.61 ERA and has allowed only three of 21 inherited runners to score. Shigetoshi Hasegawa is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA and has allowed two of 22 inherited runners to score. Al Levine is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA and has allowed four of 12 inherited runners to score.

If there is one weakness, it is the absence of a left-hander who can be counted on to retire the best left-handed batters in the league. Rookie Scott Schoeneweis, a converted starter, has had some success in that role and shows promise.

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Despite heavy turnover and a change in pitching coaches, from Marcel Lachemann to Dick Pole this season, the bullpen has been an Angel strength for the last three years.

The one constant: bullpen coach Joe Coleman, a former big league pitcher and pitching coach whose personality allows him to work equally well with the coaching and pitching staffs.

“Joe and Dick have a real good relationship,” Manager Terry Collins said. “They’re talking constantly about things. Having a [former] pitching coach as the bullpen coach, his personality has to be such that the pitching coach trusts the guy in the bullpen, and Joe and Dick are on the same page.”

Almost literally.

“I’m doing exactly what Dick would do if he was out there,” Coleman said. “The bullpen coach has to be an extension of the pitching coach. If he’s not, you’re going to have problems.

“We think the same way when it comes to mechanics, the approach to certain situations and stressing that the relievers have to have a spot in the strike zone they know they can throw to when times get tough.”

Give Collins credit too. One of his best decisions this season was opening with an extra reliever, which spread the workload while starters struggled to get out of the fifth inning the first month of the season.

“They haven’t been overexposed,” Coleman said of his relievers. “We have to make sure we’re not asking them to do something they can’t do, and having [seven] relievers for a while really helped.”

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Lachemann, now working as a minor league field coordinator for the Angels, was named pitching coach for the U.S. team in the Pan Am Games, which will be a qualifying tournament for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Arizona Diamondbacks, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West tonight and Saturday night.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090), KCTD (1540).

* Records--Angels 28-31, Diamondbacks 35-25.

* 1997 record vs. Diamondbacks (1998)--2-1.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ KEN HILL (3-4, 4.60 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’ ARMANDO REYNOSO (3-1, 4.47 ERA)

* Update--Starting pitching was expected to be a strength for the Diamondbacks, and it has been, but the key to their surge to the top of the National League West has been a potent offense that has averaged 5.9 runs a game. Center fielder Steve Finley, the former Padre, is batting .285 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs; Luis Gonzalez is batting .381 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs, and third baseman Matt Williams (.325, 17 homers, 57 RBIs) and second baseman Jay Bell (.298, 18 homers, 45 RBIs) have rebounded strongly from subpar 1998 seasons. Angel right-hander Omar Olivares, scratched from Wednesday’s start because of a strained left hamstring, is scheduled to return Sunday.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Chuck Finley (4-6, 4.35) vs. Andy Benes (4-5, 5.40).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Omar Olivares (6-4, 3.47) vs. Omar Daal (6-4, 3.44).