So Far, Clemente Is Striking Out

Reserve outfielder Edgard Clemente would probably be better off playing every day in triple-A, but he has been in Anaheim all season, usually on the bench, struggling in a role that is foreign to him.

Clemente is out of options, meaning he would have to clear waivers--giving every team a chance to claim him--before being sent to the minor leagues.

“But the reason he’s here is not just because we can’t send him down; it’s because he’s the best man for that role,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We feel he can still contribute. There’s a need for his ability on this club.”

If Clemente plays to his abilities, that is. So far, he hasn’t, at least not offensively.

Clemente, 24, is a solid defensive player with an outstanding arm, but after going hitless in three at-bats in a rare start Wednesday night, he’s batting .218 with five runs batted in, 27 strikeouts--and no walks--in 75 at-bats.

He has shown virtually no patience at the plate--he acknowledges that--and the Angels may be losing patience with him.

They have been trying to upgrade their bench, preferably with a right-handed bat, before Monday’s nonwaiver trading deadline and are believed to have inquired about Ranger outfielder Chad Curtis, the former Angel and Yankee who is batting .259 with seven homers, 20 doubles and 32 RBIs in a reserve role.

“I’ve seen some progress, but he’s not producing the way we know he can, even with limited at-bats,” Scioscia said of Clemente. “He’s been striking out a lot. When he gets good pitches to hit, he has to put them into play hard. It’s a difficult situation, but he knows he can be more productive.”

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The plan when the Angels traded for Clemente in spring training was to use him as a reserve outfielder and a designated hitter against left-handed pitchers, sharing the DH spot with Scott Spiezio.

But with Clemente struggling and Orlando Palmeiro batting .321, Palmeiro has gotten a lot more playing time than Clemente, who has started 22 of 102 games, 15 in the outfield and seven at DH. He’s one for eight as a pinch-hitter.

The sporadic playing time has created a vicious cycle--the less Clemente plays, the fewer chances he has to find his batting stroke.

“When I get a chance to play, I get overanxious,” said Clemente, who started in left field Wednesday night. “I don’t try to swing too hard, but I see the ball and try to hit every pitch.”

Clemente, a nephew of Hall of Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente, has always been aggressive at the plate. He struck out 100 times or more in five straight minor league seasons, and his career high for walks in the minors is 53.

But the Angels took note of Clemente’s .253 average, eight home runs and 25 RBIs in 57 games--and 162 at-bats--for Colorado last season and figured he would continue that kind of offensive pace in Anaheim.

“I knew this was going to be hard for me,” Clemente said, “but there’s really nothing I can do [about my playing time].”

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The Angels will get no break from the barrage of left-handed pitchers they’ve been facing this month. The White Sox will start three, including rookie Mark Buehrle Saturday, in four games against the Angels this weekend. By the end of the weekend, the Angels will have faced 10 left-handed starters in 12 games. . . . Troy Glaus’ homer off Matt Perisho in the second inning Wednesday night was his 30th of the season, tying the Angel franchise record for homers by a third baseman, set by Doug DeCinces in 1982.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Chicago White Sox, four games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7

* TV--Fox Sports Net tonight, Channel 9 Friday night, Channel 11 Saturday, ESPN Sunday night.

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

* Records--Angels 54-47, White Sox 62-39.

* Record vs. White Sox--2-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

BRIAN COOPER

(4-4, 4.74 ERA)

vs.

WHITE SOX’S

JON GARLAND

(1-2, 8.22 ERA)

* Update--The last time the White Sox were in Anaheim near the trade deadline, in 1997, they dealt pitchers Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin to the Giants, a controversial move that all but conceded the A.L. Central title to Cleveland that season, even though the Indians were leading the White Sox by only three games at the time. There are no white flags hanging over Chicago this year--at least, not on the South Side. The White Sox, despite Wednesday’s late-inning collapse, have the best record in baseball and are getting MVP-caliber seasons from Frank Thomas (.331, 29 homers, 90 RBIs) and Magglio Ordonez (.326, 24 homers, 85 RBIs). Cooper looks to rebound from his worst start of the season, a seven-run, 10-hit, 3 1/3-inning performance against Oakland Saturday.

* Friday, 7 p.m.--Ken Hill (5-6, 6.15) vs. Mike Sirotka (9-8, 3.72).

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Kent Bottenfield (6-8, 5.61) vs. Mark Buehrle (1-0, 4.15).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Seth Etherton (5-1, 4.76) vs. Jim Parque (9-4, 3.95).

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.