Percival Determined to Develop New Pitch

Closer Troy Percival’s mission this winter--and he has already chosen to accept it--will be to master a hard-breaking slider that he can add to his fastball and curve.

“I’m gonna to go to every end of the earth to find that pitch, whether I have to call Marcel [Lachemann, former Angel pitching coach] or go to San Diego to work with Bud [Black, current pitching coach],” Percival said. “It’s just a waste to not be able to throw an offspeed pitch.”

Percival also plans to consult San Francisco Giant closer Robb Nen, whose outstanding slider has been a huge factor in Nen’s 38-save season. Nen, like Percival, also rebounded from arm surgery.

“He’s a California guy, and hopefully he can help,” Percival said. “He’s been an inspiration to me. He struggled for a while, had surgery to remove a bone chip, and the next thing you know, bam, there it is.”

Percival may also try to perfect his changeup. He likes the slider because, when thrown at the knees, it looks like a fastball before breaking down and away. Percival has been relying almost exclusively on his 95-mph fastball and an overhand curve that breaks as much as two feet, top to bottom.

“The hook has been pretty good lately, but I’m going to need a slider or changeup because more people have seen the curve, and they’re laying off it,” said Percival, who threw 44 pitches while blowing a save in the ninth inning Wednesday night. “It’s a tough pitch to throw for a strike.”

Percival’s other priority this winter will be to build up his strength--he was unable to lift weights last winter while recovering from shoulder surgery. Though he gave up two runs and struggled Wednesday, the fact he felt no pain in his shoulder or elbow gave him peace of mind.

“There’s a lot of good knowing I threw 44 pitches, hit 95 mph and was still locating,” Percival said. “It gave me a true test of how my arm is going to hold up. As long as I come out of this year healthy, I know I’ll be OK next year.”

*

Angel reliever Kent Mercker made his first appearance since Sept. 2 Thursday night and survived a major scare in the seventh inning when a blistering Dave McCarty liner hit him in the lower back. Mercker, however, remained in the game. “I had a headache four months ago that hurt worse than that,” Mercker said, referring to his May 11 cerebral hemorrhage. “It got me in the love handle. If I was in good shape, it would have been a lot worse.” . . . The Angels officially announced Thursday they will move their triple-A team from Edmonton to Salt Lake City, which signed a two-year player development contract with the Angels. . . . Seth Etherton did not allow a run and struck out six in six innings of an instructional league intrasquad game in Mesa, Ariz., Thursday. Jarrod Washburn gave up two runs in six innings and struck out four in the intrasquad game. Washburn threw 73 pitches, and Etherton threw 69 pitches.

TONIGHT

* Opponent--Texas Rangers, three games.

* Site--The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

* Tonight--5 p.m.

* TV--Channel 9 all three games.

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

* Records--Angels 77-75, Rangers 70-83.

* Record vs. Rangers--4-5.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

LOU POTE

(1-1, 4.26 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

DARREN OLIVER (2-7, 7.24 ERA)

* Update--Outfielder Tim Salmon has been limited to a designated hitter role for five of the last seven games because of a sore right foot, but the sight of the Rangers’ home park should make him feel a little better. Salmon has a .432 career average (63 for 146) with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 37 games at the Ballpark in Arlington and is a career .399 hitter with 25 homers and 79 RBIs against Texas. Pote, the right-handed reliever, will spot-start tonight in place of Tim Belcher, who must begin serving a three-game suspension. Scott Karl or Derrick Turnbow will likely start Saturday.

* Saturday, 5 p.m.--TBA vs. Rick Helling (15-12, 4.13).

* Sunday, noon--Ramon Ortiz (6-6, 5.61) vs. Kenny Rogers (13-13, 4.54).