They’re Running in Hershiser Derby

The Angels are one of six teams that have expressed interest in former Dodger ace Orel Hershiser, a 40-year-old right-hander who is in the Cleveland Indians’ camp but is essentially a free agent.

Hershiser’s contract, which guarantees him $400,000 if he makes the team and can net $1 million more in incentives, includes a clause that allowed him to negotiate and sign with another club starting last Sunday.

The New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners also have expressed interest in Hershiser, who went 11-10 with a 4.41 earned-run average in 34 starts for the San Francisco Giants in 1998.

The Angel rotation appears set with Chuck Finley, Tim Belcher, Ken Hill, Steve Sparks and Omar Olivares, but the addition of another strong starter would allow them to move the versatile Olivares to the bullpen.

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That Anaheim-Seattle rivalry, dormant for much of 1998, sprung to life Wednesday when Angel catcher Phil Nevin and Mariner reliever Jose Paniagua touched off a near-brawl at the end of Seattle’s 9-3 exhibition victory in Tempe, Ariz.

The hard-throwing Paniagua, apparently upset when Orlando Palmeiro, who was not being held by first baseman Raul Ibanez, stole second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, buzzed a fastball by Nevin’s chin.

Two pitches later, Nevin popped out to end the game, and the two exchanged words. Both teams congregated around home plate, and no punches were thrown, but as Paniagua walked down the right-field line toward the team bus, Nevin challenged him to a fight.

More words were exchanged. Nevin then charged Paniagua, but Angel Manager Terry Collins and bench coach Joe Maddon were able to restrain Nevin before things escalated.

“I thought the pitch got away, and I was fine with it until after the game, when he was telling me he threw at me because Orlando stole second,” Nevin said, still steaming afterward. “That’s just not knowing the game . . .

“He says, ‘I’ve got your number,’ and I said I’ll give him my home phone number and let him come over to my house. People like that are a disgrace to the game. If he wants to throw at me, throw at my waist, you don’t throw a 95-mph fastball at my head. There’s no place for that.

“I don’t forget. He better hope he doesn’t run across me somewhere outside the field. I’m not going to back down from anything, you guys know me. If I do run into him, he’s not going to have an arm to pitch.”

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Pitcher Jason Dickson, diagnosed Saturday with torn cartilage in his right shoulder, will undergo arthroscopic surgery today, a procedure that is expected to sideline him for three to four months and possibly the season.

Dickson, who had a 17.47 earned-run average in 5 2/3 spring innings, suffered a tear in the labrum, the cartilage outlining the shoulder joint. Angel physician Lewis Yocum will perform the operation and should have a better idea of Dickson’s prognosis after surgery.

The Angels also announced that shortstop Gary DiSarcina (broken left arm), second baseman Justin Baughman (broken right lower leg), pitcher Jack McDowell (recovery from shoulder injury) and Pep Harris (recovery from elbow surgery) were put on the 15-day disabled list, and pitcher Mike James (recovery from elbow and shoulder surgery) was put on the 60-day disabled list.

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Sparks, who threw six shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs in his previous start, was bombed for seven runs--four earned--on nine hits Wednesday. Ken Griffey Jr. homered twice and Jay Buhner and Russ Davis also homered for the Mariners. Tim Salmon homered, and Troy Glaus, Randy Velarde and Andy Stankiewicz had two hits for the Angels.