Better-Than-Average Record Required to Win Division

Like many baseball observers, Seattle third-base coach Larry Bowa figured the American League West could be won with a record slightly better than .500. But the way the Oakland Athletics and Mariners are playing, it could take 95 wins to win the division, putting a a team 28 games over .500.

Entering Tuesday’s games, the AL West combined for a 160-135 record, the best in baseball. The A’s were 14 games over .500, the Mariners 13.

“I didn’t think it was a strong division--I thought everybody would beat up on everyone,” said Bowa, who spent three years as the Angels’ third-base coach before joining the Mariners this season.

“What people don’t realize is that Oakland has real good starting pitching, which gets overshadowed by its great offense. We have good balance, and if the Angels keep hitting like they’ve been, they’ll stay in it. I think pitching and defense will prevail down the stretch.”

If that’s the case, the Mariners are in very good shape. They entered Tuesday’s game with the league’s third-best earned run average (4.45), and their bullpen is vastly improved over the ragtag relief corps--remember Heathcliff Slocumb and Bobby Ayala?--that gave Manager Lou Piniella so many headaches in recent years.

One of their best young starting pitchers, Freddy Garcia, who has been out since April 16 because of a fractured tibia, is expected back next week. The Mariner defense ranks third the American League with a .965 fielding percentage.

First baseman John Olerud and second baseman Mark McLemore have only two errors each. Both lead the league in fielding percentage at their positions.

Shortstop Alex Rodriguez has only three errors, third baseman David Bell six, giving the infield a combined 13 errors. Angel third baseman Troy Glaus (14) and shortstop Benji Gil (13) have as many miscues.

“One thing we’ve done is we’ve caught the ball real well,” Bowa said. “And watching A. Rod every day . . . he makes plays that are unbelievable.”

*

Arthroscopic surgery on pitcher Jason Dickson’s right shoulder Tuesday revealed more extensive labrum damage than doctors anticipated. In addition to repairing the labrum, Dickson had his shoulder capsule tightened using a process known as thermal shrinkage.

Dickson, who missed the 1999 season after surgery to repair his labrum, will miss the remainder of the 2000 season and hopes to be ready to return by next spring training. But at 27, with two major surgeries on his resume, Dickson’s future looks shaky.

“With every surgery, you worry that it’s career-threatening,” Dickson said. “You can only do the rehab and hope for the best. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEN HILL

(3-4, 7.41 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

JAMIE MOYER

(6-2, 4.35 ERA)

Safeco Field, Seattle, 7 p.m.

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

* Update--Hill is making his first major league start since May 9 after being sidelined because of a strained rib-cage muscle. The Angels optioned reliever Lou Pote to triple-A Edmonton after Tuesday night’s game.