Belcher Might Yet Elbow Way Into 2001 Rotation

General Manager Bill Stoneman, Assistant General Manager Ken Forsch and several top scouts will travel to Oakland next week for meetings with Manager Mike Scioscia and the coaching staff to conduct an extensive evaluation of the Angels with an eye toward 2001.

It should be interesting when the subject turns to pitcher Tim Belcher.

Three weeks ago, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Belcher, the veteran right-hander who has been hindered by elbow problems for two seasons, would not be back in 2001.

The Angels have a $5.1-million option on Belcher, which they can buy out for $1 million. Surely, they weren’t going to spend $5.1 million on a pitcher who made only four starts through August and will be 39 next season.

But Belcher opened some eyes--and may open some minds--with three solid starts since coming off the disabled list in early September, limiting the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Minnesota Twins to six runs on 17 hits in 21 innings.

Belcher was especially effective Sunday, maintaining the velocity and command of his fastball, split-fingered fastball and slider for 115 pitches--79 of which were strikes--over eight innings in a 1-0 loss to the Twins.

If Belcher closes the season with two more strong starts, the Angels might be forced to consider him for the 2001 rotation.

But at what price?

Probably not $5.1 million. It’s highly doubtful the Angels, barring no-hitters against the Rangers and A’s in his last two starts, will pick up Belcher’s 2001 option. “But that wouldn’t preclude us from having further contract discussions with him,” Stoneman said.

The Angels could offer a contract with a lower base salary and incentives based on games started and innings pitched. Belcher, who has contemplated retirement, said he won’t think about 2001 until 2000 is over, and neither Stoneman nor Scioscia would speculate on Belcher’s future.

“But the way Tim is throwing the ball now is better than he’s thrown in the last three years,” Scioscia said. “If his health problems are behind him and he can maintain this stuff, he can be very effective.”

*

The Angel bullpen has three wins, six saves and a 1.33 earned-run average (six runs in 40 1/3 innings) in its last 12 appearances, yielding only one home run. During that span, relievers retired 25 of 28 first batters and stranded 22 of 26 inherited runners.

Angel relievers lead the American League with 42 saves and rank fourth in earned-run average (4.06). Shigetoshi Hasegawa leads AL relievers in wins (10) and innings pitched (88 2/3).

Newcomer Ben Weber has filled in admirably for middle reliever-turned-starter Al Levine, left-hander Mike Holtz has done a superb job retiring lefties, and closer Troy Percival has five saves in his last five games.

“A good bullpen is essential if you’re going to be a championship-caliber club,” Scioscia said. “And you don’t have to be hit with a brick in the head to understand how much more magnified their contributions have been because the starting pitchers have not gone very deep into games all year.”

*

Left-hander Kent Mercker, sidelined since Sept. 3 because of a strained rotator cuff, will be available to pitch out of the bullpen tonight against the Royals.

Mercker was comfortable with his mechanics during a strenuous bullpen workout Saturday and felt no pain Sunday. Scioscia said Mercker would also be a candidate to start Saturday’s game at Texas, where the Angels will need a fifth starter for the first time in two weeks.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Kansas City Royals, three games.

* Site--Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

* Tonight--5 PDT.

* TV--None.

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

* Records--Angels 76-73, Royals 69-81.

* Record vs. Royals--5-4.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(6-5, 5.64 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

BLAKE STEIN

(6-4, 5.24 ERA)

* Update--A sweep of the series is almost imperative if the Angels are to keep their slim playoff chances alive. The Royals are developing a solid core of position players that includes first baseman Mike Sweeney, who broke Hal McRae’s 18-year-old club record for RBIs and ranks second in the league with 135; outfielder Johnny Damon, who could garner MVP votes with his .333 average, 16 homers, 41 doubles and 82 RBIs; and outfielder Mark Quinn, who leads AL rookies in home runs (20), RBIs (72) and slugging percentage (.497). But they rank last in the league in team earned-run average (5.57) and lack the pitching necessary to contend in the AL Central.

* Wednesday, 5 p.m. PDT--Al Levine (3-4, 3.43 ERA) vs. Mac Suzuki (8-10, 4.18 ERA).

* Thursday, 5 p.m. PDT--Scott Schoeneweis (7-8, 4.95 ERA) vs. Jeff Suppan (8-9, 5.25 ERA).