Percival Gets a Vote of Confidence

Troy Percival’s return from the disabled list Saturday did not seem like a confidence-booster for him or Angel coaches--the reliever gave up a two-run home run to Travis Fryman in the ninth inning of a 9-5 loss to Cleveland.

But Manager Mike Scioscia saw enough positive signs from Percival to return him to the closing role, despite the fact Shigetoshi Hasegawa has been superb filling in while Percival recovered from an inflamed nerve in his elbow.

“Troy is our closer--he didn’t lose the position because of injury,” Scioscia said. “Our bullpen is much better with him closing and Shige shutting opponents down in the seventh and eighth innings. I think Troy is fine. He’s ready to get back onto the horse.”

That horse remained in the stable Sunday night. Percival was given the night off after throwing on three of the previous four days, either for Class-A Lake Elsinore, the Angels or in the bullpen.

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While the Angels await Chris Bootcheck’s final answer--the first-round pick still hasn’t attended classes at Auburn or accepted the Angels’ $1.6-million bonus offer--they continue to explore options for the money they have budgeted for Bootcheck, which seems to be burning a hole in their pockets.

Angel front-office executives and scouts spent an hour Sunday watching two prospects from the Dominican Republic, 16-year-old shortstop Carlos Rosario and 16-year-old pitcher Johan Quezada, work out in Edison Field.

Scouting director Donny Rowland spent Thursday in Tampa watching 19-year-old pitcher Manuel Basilio, 16-year-old shortstop Francis Araujo and 16-year-old third baseman Andy Marte, all from the Dominican Republic, work out.

The Bootcheck saga could go on for another week or two. Auburn is believed to have pulled its scholarship for the pitcher, and Bootcheck is considering a transfer to Georgia Tech, where classes don’t start until early September.

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There is a growing concern among the Angels that right-hander Seth Etherton, sidelined since Aug. 5 because of tendinitis in his shoulder, will be out for the season.

Etherton, who is 5-1 with a 5.52 earned-run average in 11 starts, has been throwing off a mound for more than a week but not at 100%. Jarrod Washburn, out since Aug. 8 because of a small stress fracture in his shoulder blade, has been throwing bullpen sessions for a week.

When asked about the progress of Washburn and Etherton Sunday, Scioscia said that Washburn “has a real probability of pitching again for us this year.” The implication was that Etherton may not.

“We’re not ruling out Seth,” Scioscia said, “but we have to take it very slowly.”

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Scioscia made it official Sunday, naming left-hander Scott Karl as his starting pitcher for Tuesday night’s game against Toronto. . . . Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis, who was hit in the left foot by a hard grounder Saturday night, underwent precautionary X-rays, which were negative. . . . Darin Erstad, who has started three games at designated hitter, will throw today and hopes to return to left field Tuesday or Wednesday.