Maddon Is Not in Campaign Mode

The Angels are 10-3 since Terry Collins resigned as manager Sept. 3, an impressive record that can only enhance the chances of Joe Maddon going from interim manager to permanent manager. But Maddon is hardly using this Angel run as a platform for his campaign.

“I don’t see any banners in here,” Maddon said, surveying his office after the Angels’ 1-0 victory over the Royals on Wednesday night. “We’re just happy to be playing as well as we are right now.

“I thought what we needed to do was play well. It’s not necessarily about winning, it’s about the way you approach the game. Their focus, their preparation, has been top shelf. Guys are healthy, and they’re feeding off each other. There’s a lot of interaction out there now.”

Indeed, several players have said the atmosphere seems a lot more relaxed than it did a few weeks ago. Whether that has more to do with Collins’ resignation, a winning streak at the expense of some of the worst teams in baseball, or Maddon is irrelevant in Maddon’s eyes.

What is important is that the Angels, who had the worst record in baseball a few weeks ago, are finally playing some good baseball.

“They’re re-proving to themselves that they can do this and can do it well,” Maddon said. “It’s very important to go into the off-season playing well. If we finish well, hopefully that will be the last thing we remember about this year.”

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Though Maddon won’t openly lobby for the manager’s job, he received a strong endorsement from pitcher Chuck Finley on Wednesday night. “I’d take my chances with Joe Maddon on this team,” Finley said. “But I’ve always said, if you’re relying on a manager to go out and win games for you, you’re relying on the wrong person.” . . . Pitcher Tim Belcher, pulled from Tuesday night’s game in the third inning, was found to have inflammation in his right forearm and will miss at least one start. Maddon said Mike Fyhrie will take Belcher’s next turn in the rotation. . . . Garret Anderson extended his hitting streak to 16 games Wednesday night with a fourth-inning double and eighth-inning single. . . . Closer Troy Percival threw a scoreless ninth for his 30th save.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ RAMON ORTIZ (1-2, 5.83 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ JEFF SUPPAN (9-9, 4.42 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., 11 a.m. PDT

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090)

* Update--After an outstanding major league debut (one run, four hits, eight innings against Chicago Aug. 19) and an impressive second start (two runs, six hits, seven innings against Toronto Aug. 24), Ortiz, the Angels’ highly touted prospect, has been roughed up for 16 runs on 16 hits in 14 1/3 innings of his last three starts. But he made a slight adjustment in his bullpen workout this week, moving toward the first base side of the rubber. “One year ago I pitched this way--mucho strikes,” Ortiz said, combining English and Spanish. “Not mucho strike now. I have much better location when I pitch this way.”