Process Flawed for Finley

The mechanical problems that have plagued Chuck Finley in his last two starts are not foreign to the 6-foot-6 left-hander.

“I pretty much fight my mechanics every night,” said Finley, who has given up 15 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings of his last two games. “I wasn’t surprised.”

The only difference this time is the duration of Finley’s struggles. When he loses balance throughout his delivery, as he did against Seattle last Thursday and Texas Monday night, it usually takes Finley an inning or two to correct himself.

He doesn’t need to go to the video room to detect his flaws. The 14-year veteran can feel when things aren’t right, and he’s been able to straighten himself out.

But Monday night, Finley threw 96 pitches in 4 1/3 innings and still couldn’t gain command of his fastball or breaking pitches, and the Rangers ripped him for nine runs, including three homers.

“I was prepared to give up 15 runs until I got it right,” Finley said. “But it never came. And when you don’t have command of your heater, it’s like dancing on hot coals out there.

“But I’ve been through this before. I’ll work it out. It’s not like I’m on the open sea with no place to go. The problem is I don’t have the luxury to fool around with this. I’ve got to get after it.”

*

Tim Salmon didn’t want to fess up, but the injured right fielder has never been one to withhold the truth, so he went ahead and admitted it: yes, Salmon hopes to begin hitting off a tee by the end of this week.

“I’ve been cleared to do more things, but I have to be careful not to build up my hopes too soon, because it just sets you up for another fall,” said Salmon, who will accompany the Angels to Oakland this weekend.

“It’s another step, but I won’t be encouraged until I can swing good off a tee. They’re baby steps right now. I can’t even set a [return date] at this stage.”

Salmon’s reluctance to discuss the sprained left wrist that has sidelined him since May 3 is understandable. He was optimistic about a quick return in May but went on the disabled list. He thought he’d be back in June but suffered a few setbacks.

It hasn’t helped that almost everywhere he goes, whether it’s the ballpark, to the movies or the supermarket, people ask the cleanup batter when he’s going to return. The most frustrating thing: Salmon doesn’t have an answer.

*

Reliever Mike Holtz has not appeared in a game since being recalled from triple-A Edmonton Sunday, but was involved in a situation Tuesday night that was reminiscent of Finley getting drilled by a line drive in the Angel dugout last season.

Holtz was warming up in the Angel bullpen when Juan Gonzalez’s eighth-inning home run nearly drilled him in the chest. Holtz got his glove up just in time to deflect the ball.

“That ball was right on me like an attack dog,” Holtz said. “I guess I managed to stay out of harm’s way--this time. Now, if it would have been Fin out there. . . .”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ KEN HILL (3-7, 4.97 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’ RYAN GLYNN (1-2, 7.46 ERA)

Edison Field, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--This could be Hill’s biggest start of the season, and not just because the Angels need a victory against their division rivals. The right-hander had to leave his last start in Seattle last Wednesday night because of tightness in his elbow, which is caused by an arthritic condition Hill has had all season. If Hill can’t bounce back tonight with a strong performance, or at least one in which he pitches without discomfort, he likely will join Tim Belcher on the disabled list, further thinning the Angel rotation and putting another huge dent in their playoff hopes.