Turnbow Might Get Rusty While Waiting His Turn

As the lowest man on the bullpen totem pole, it is Derrick Turnbow’s responsibility to carry the snack pack, which is filled with bubble gum, sunflower seeds, chewing tobacco and the like to the bullpen.

Nine games into the 2000 season, that has been the extent of Turnbow’s contributions.

The 22-year-old right-hander with a 95-mph fastball and improving breaking ball was the only Angel who didn’t play during the season-opening home stand. And if the starters continue to keep the Angels in games, there will be few opportunities for Turnbow.

Is this any way to develop one of the best young arms in the organization? It is when you’re a Rule V draft pick, as Turnbow was last winter, when the Angels plucked him from the Phillie organization and promoted him from the South Atlantic League, Class A, to the big leagues.

Rule V picks must be kept on major league 25-man rosters for the entire season or risk being lost. Before optioning Turnbow to the minor leagues, the Angels would have to offer him back to the Phillies, who would probably snap him up. If Philadelphia passed, Turnbow would have to clear waivers, giving 28 teams a crack at him.

The Angels love Turnbow’s arm and think he has a bright future as a starter, but he isn’t ready to contribute regularly at the big league level. Manager Mike Scioscia wants to use him in low-pressure situations, such as when a starter gets bombed early.

So the Angels are essentially sacrificing a year of development to keep Turnbow in their system.

“Ideally, he’d be pitching every five days in double A, no question,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “But there will be opportunities for Mike to get him some work. Stranger things than Rule V kids being productive in the big leagues have happened.”

Stoneman said he “hasn’t even thought about” demoting Turnbow, who went 2-2 with a 5.93 earned-run average in 13 2/3 spring-training innings. Turnbow has tried to stay sharp with bullpen workouts every other day, but could his growth be stunted by inactivity?

“He could be getting regular work in the minor leagues, but the positive side is that he’s in our organization, and we can work with him on a daily basis mentally, physically and fundamentally,” pitching coach Bud Black said. “Hopefully he’ll become a functional pitcher for us in some role.”

Turnbow, a Tennessee native who barely makes a peep in the clubhouse, admits he’s “getting a little antsy,” but he doesn’t look at this as a negative.

“I’m learning how to approach hitters and how to get major league hitters out,” he said. “I’d rather be here than anywhere else.”

*

Left fielder Darin Erstad has been the hottest Angel so far, with a .475 average, two home runs and 10 runs batted in in the first nine games, but he’s not about to get overconfident.

“The minute you start feeling good about yourself, the baseball gods will knock you on your tail,” said Erstad, who is trying to rebound from a 1999 season in which he batted .253 with only 13 homers and 53 RBIs.

“Am I going to hit this well all year? No. I’ve had a few bloopers fall, and those go your way when you’re going good, but I’m sure I’ll hit the crap out of the ball for outs a few times this year.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Chicago White Sox, three games.

* Site--Comiskey Park, Chicago.

* Tonight--4 p.m. PDT

* Record vs. White Sox--5-5 in 1999.

* TV--Channel 9, all three games.

* Radio--KCTD (1540) and KIK-FM (94.3) tonight and Sunday; KLAC (570) Saturday; XPRS (1090) tonight, Saturday and Sunday.

* Records--Angels 5-4, White Sox 6-4.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ KEN HILL (1-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. WHITE SOX’S MIKE SIROTKA (1-1, 6.52 ERA)

* Update--The Angel rotation, considered a weakness before the season, combined for a 3.54 ERA on the first home stand. The bullpen, considered a strength, had a 6.48 ERA. After two hitless appearances to start the season, Angel reliever Mark Petkovsek has given up five runs on five hits in two innings of his last two games. Chicago’s Frank Thomas, who hit .536 with four doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his first seven games and was named American League player of the week, could be limited to pinch-hitting this weekend because of a sore right foot. White Sox infielder Greg Norton, who hit .461 with 30 RBIs in spring training, is doubtful because of a strained left hamstring.

* Saturday, 11 a.m.--Kent Bottenfield (0-1, 3.86) vs. Kip Wells (0-1, 8.68).

* Sunday, 11 a.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (2-0, 3.00) vs. Jim Parque (0-0, 13.50).