Angels Lose Pitching Coach to Indians

Dick Pole signed a two-year contract to become pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, dealing a definite blow to the Angel pitching staff and a potential blow to the Angels’ hopes of re-signing free-agent pitcher Chuck Finley.

Pole guided a marginal and injury-riddled Angel staff to a 4.79 earned-run average in 1999--fifth-best in the American League--and developed close ties with Finley, the veteran left-hander who plans to test the market before considering a return to Anaheim.

“Chuck thinks the world of Dick Pole,” said Tim Shannon, who was recently retained as an agent for Finley. “Whether that will have a bearing on what team Chuck signs with, we’ll see.”

The contracts of Angel coaches expired Oct. 31, leaving them free to pursue other jobs, and Pole interviewed with Seattle, Milwaukee, Cleveland and the Chicago Cubs before settling on the Indians, five-time defending Central Division champions.

“I had a chance to go to a lot of places, but this is a great baseball venue, a great stadium with a great team that is two hours away from home,” said Pole, who lives in Dearborn Heights, Mich.

New Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman decided when he took the job that he would not hire any coaches without the input of the team’s new manager, a position Stoneman expects to fill by early next week.

But the delay cost the Angels a highly regarded pitching coach, and it may cost them third-base coach Larry Bowa and batting instructor Rod Carew, who have interviewed with Seattle.

“I know Dick is a quality guy, and it’s hard to sit here and not have a manager [who might have retained him],” Stoneman said. “But I wasn’t going to hire him and risk the manager clashing with him or any other coaches.”

*

Shannon said he is seeking a three-year deal for Finley, who turns 37 this month but has never had any major arm injuries. Tops on Finley’s priority list, according to Shannon, is a team that has a legitimate shot of reaching the World Series. “Chuck has said all along that if the situation is right he would love to finish his career in Anaheim,” Shannon said. “But at the same time, his No. 1 goal is to put himself in a situation where he has a chance to win.” . . . Bob Fontaine resigned as the Angels’ director of scouting and player personnel Wednesday to take a job in the Chicago White Sox scouting department. . . . Stoneman said he has had some “interesting” trade talks and would like to swing a deal at the general managers’ meetings in Dana Point, which end today. “We’re clearly seeking starting pitching,” said Stoneman, which puts him in the same boat as about 27 other GMs.