Pritchett, Decker Recalled; Williams Sent to Edmonton

In a move designed to add power to their sagging lineup, the Angels recalled first baseman Chris Pritchett and infielder Steve Decker from triple-A Edmonton after Tuesday night’s game. Outfielder Reggie Williams was sent to Edmonton, and infielder Dave Silvestri was designated for assignment.

Decker, who can play first base, third base and catcher, hit .286 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in 37 games, and Pritchett hit .216 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 24 games.

With the left-handed-hitting Pritchett, who is a very good defensive player, and the right-handed hitting Decker, Manager Terry Collins probably will move first baseman Darin Erstad to left field, platoon Pritchett and Decker at first and move light-hitting Orlando Palmeiro back to the bench.

Palmeiro, who has started 29 of the Angels’ 39 games, will be used as a pinch-hitter to lead off an inning, a pinch-runner and a late-inning defensive replacement, a role he may be better suited for.

Pritchett filled in admirably for the injured Erstad last August and September, batting .288 with two homers and eight RBIs in 31 games. He was recalled briefly in April but had only two hits in 10 at-bats before being optioned to Edmonton.

The Angels also discussed a possible trade with the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Butch Huskey, who is batting .329 with four homers and 13 RBIs, but the Mariners’ asking price--two major league players, including a pitcher--was much too high.

Williams, who went two for 11 with five strikeouts in three games, was unhappy with the demotion and said he may ask General Manager Bill Bavasi to trade him or release him.

*

As you drive into downtown Baltimore, there is a large, silver cylindrical object with a sign billing it as “The World’s Largest Trash Can.” There are many in Lost-Its-Charm City who would like to stuff the whole Oriole team, especially Manager Ray Miller, into the big bin.

The underachieving Orioles, $84-million payroll and all, are 14-24, a shade better than the destitute Twins, and Miller’s job has been in serious jeopardy almost since the season opener.

The beleaguered Miller has been second-guessed in the media and lost the confidence of his players when, after an ugly 11-10 loss to Oakland on April 25, he told writers: “If you have any more questions, go into the clubhouse. They’re the ones making all the money.”

Wrote Baltimore Sun columnist Ken Rosenthal Tuesday: “Ray Miller should have been fired four times by now.”

Yet, there was Miller in the Camden Yards dugout Tuesday night.

“That doesn’t bother me--it never has,” Miller said of the constant speculation he’ll be fired. “I’m kind of a realist. I get ticked off when I get second-guessed, but everything I’m doing is to try to get us back in a ballgame.”

Collins, fired in 1996 after three seasons at Houston, could empathize with Miller.

“I’ve always believed you’ve got to go to the park, do the best job you can, make the decisions you think are right and stand by them,” he said. “The minute you let the press make decisions for you. . . . I know Ray well. He’s a strong man, a good baseball man, and he’ll handle this fine.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (4-3, 3.00 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’ SCOTT ERICKSON (1-5, 6.51 ERA)

Camden Yards, Baltimore, 4 p.m. PDT

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KCTD (1540), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Oriole right-hander Scott Kamieniecki, struggling with an 0-2 record and 23.40 ERA, agreed to a 20-day option to triple-A Rochester Tuesday, and right-hander Juan Guzman, scheduled to start Thursday against the Angels, has been pushed back to Saturday because of a stiff lower back. Jason Johnson, who was called up Tuesday to replace Kamieniecki, will start Thursday. Olivares will look to regain his control after walking six in a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees Thursday night.