Finley Prefers Stable Lineup

Veteran pitcher Chuck Finley has heard it all before, how having four good outfielders and a glut of quality designated hitters “are good problems to have,” but he’s not so sure.

“When they say that, they’re buying time before they do something else,” Finley said. “These things can cause distractions. I believe you put your best nine guys out there, and I think you have to have something set in stone, because that’s when you get the best results.”

Manager Terry Collins said Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds, Darin Erstad and Garret Anderson will all play the outfield, and it appears Anderson and Erstad will spend the most time at designated hitter.

But if Troy Glaus beats out Dave Hollins at third, the Angels will have two more attractive DH candidates in Hollins and Todd Greene.

Finley isn’t necessarily advocating trading an outfielder, though.

“You’ve got to hold on to as many guys as you can,” he said. “Because as soon as you get rid of one good one, something happens.”

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Collins said he was “sicker than a dog” Thursday, and an ugly, 3-hour 45-minute exhibition against the Oakland Athletics in Tempe, Ariz., provided no relief.

The Angels built a 16-3 lead in the sixth inning, largely on Glaus’ two hits and four RBIs and Jeff Huson’s three hits and two RBIs, but relievers Reid Cornelius, Darrin Winston and Geoff Edsell gave up 12 runs in the seventh and eighth before Toby Borland came on for the save.

Angel right fielder Matt Luke preserved a 16-15 victory by throwing out Mike Neill at the plate on a single in the ninth.