He Knows It’s Not Start of Something Big

Whatever hopes Kent Mercker carries into his first start as an Angel today, when the left-hander faces the Seattle Mariners in Safeco Field, they will not be false.

“If I throw a shutout or give up eight runs, it’s not going to change their long- or short-term plans for me,” Mercker said. “I’m not worried about what happens five days from now or 10 days from now. My objective is to pitch effectively for as long as I can.”

This is what Mercker, 32, came to Anaheim to do. He signed with the Angels fully expecting to win a rotation spot, and his contract, which can go from a base salary of $850,000 to $2.6 million if he makes 30 starts and throws 200 innings, reflected that.

Then the Angels traded for starter Kent Bottenfield in spring training, Scott Schoeneweis and Jason Dickson impressed coaches enough to win rotation spots, and Manager Mike Scioscia thought Mercker, who had considerable relief experience earlier in his career, was a better fit in the bullpen.

Mercker didn’t throw a fit, but he voiced his displeasure with the decision before reluctantly heading for the bullpen, where he went 0-1 with a 6.61 earned-run average in 10 appearances through April 28.

When Dickson went on the disabled list because of a strained left hip flexor last week, Mercker was the obvious choice to move into the rotation. But Mercker knows this isn’t an audition. It’s only a temporary gig.

Dickson was 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA before hurting his leg and giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings against Tampa Bay on April 28, and when he’s sound, he deserves his rotation spot back, no matter how well Mercker pitches.

Mercker has come to grips with this.

“What can I do?” Mercker said. “Why worry about things you can’t control? I was obviously disappointed coming out of spring training, but I’ve never been one to pout or create waves that might affect the guy next to me. Trying to understand it logically, there’s a political side to this game, and politics are everywhere.”

*

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, sidelined since Wednesday because of tightness in his right shoulder, played catch Friday and said his arm was feeling better. Scioscia said DiSarcina was available to pinch run or pinch-hit Friday night, adding that there’s a chance DiSarcina could return to the lineup Sunday. “I’m very encouraged that this is more likely a short-term thing and not a long-term thing,” Scioscia said. . . . Pitcher Tim Belcher, whose return from elbow surgery has been delayed because of a sore arm, threw for the first time in eight days Friday, playing catch on flat ground. Belcher did not know when he would make his next bullpen workout, which is a prerequisite to him returning to triple-A Edmonton for his rehabilitation assignment. . . . Reliever Al Levine, who returned home Thursday for the birth of his first child, is expected to return in time for today’s game.

TODAY

ANGELS’

KENT MERCKER

(0-1, 6.61 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

GIL MECHE

(0-3, 4.44 ERA)

Safeco Field, Seattle, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Going into Friday’s game, the Angels ranked third in the American League with 42 home runs, including 22 in their previous 10 games, but Angel pitchers had also given up 45 homers, second most in the league behind Kansas City’s 48. Though the Mariners, picked by most to win the West, have not played exceptionally well, they feel they’ve done well to remain in first place considering two of their starting pitchers, Jamie Moyer and Freddy Garcia, are on the disabled list. Seattle right fielder Jay Buhner, who did not start Friday because of flulike symptoms, is expected to play today.