Scioscia: Regulars Won’t Rest Against Contenders

By the time the Angels start a season-closing week of games against Oakland and Seattle Monday, it’s very possible they’ll have gone from fringe contenders to potential spoilers. But Manager Mike Scioscia’s lineups will not reflect the fact the Angels are out of the race.

He will not subject himself to the criticism Davey Johnson endured in 1999, when the Dodger manager rested outfielder Gary Sheffield, who was nursing ankle and shoulder injuries, for the final two games of the season against Houston and did not start ace Kevin Brown on three days rest in the season finale.

Those decisions irked the Reds, who were battling the Astros for the National League Central title, and the Mets, who were battling Houston and Cincinnati for the wild card.

The Astros beat the Dodgers in the final two games to win the division by 1 1/2 games over the Reds, who went on to lose a one-game playoff to the Mets to determine the wild-card winner.

Asked if he would play his regulars against the A’s and Mariners if the Angels are eliminated by then, Scioscia said: “Absolutely . . . you’ve got to maintain the integrity of the game.”

Scioscia will probably give infielder Justin Baughman and catcher Shawn Wooten starts once the Angels are eliminated, but he will not field a team of substitutes unless his opponent is out of contention, as well.

“Any time a game has bearing on the standings, you want to put your best club on the field,” Scioscia said. “And our guys want to play whether they’re playing for something or not.”

*

Needing a reliever to start for the second consecutive game, Scioscia chose right-hander Derrick Turnbow to pitch against the Rangers tonight, a decision that disappointed Scott Karl.

Karl was acquired from the Rockies on Aug. 22 to bolster the rotation, but the left-hander gave up 12 earned runs on 23 hits in 11 1/3 innings of three starts, earning two losses and a no-decision, and was demoted to the bullpen.

Actually, it seems as if he was banished to the bullpen. Karl has pitched only once since Sept. 9, and he believes that does not bode well for his chances of returning to Anaheim next season.

“To me, if you have two games [where you need a spot starter] in one week and I don’t get one of them, it’s an indication they don’t have much interest in me as a starter,” said Karl, who won at least 10 games for the Brewers for four consecutive seasons from 1996-99.

“It’s a shame because I really like this place. I like the team, the management, the location. I’d like to be a part of it, but I can’t force them to start me. My track record is as a starter. I don’t get hurt, and I throw a lot of innings. I keep telling them I want to pitch, but it doesn’t matter.”

*

The Angels have won all four of the games reliever Al Levine has started this season, including three in the past two weeks, but don’t look for the Angels to convert the right-hander to a starter next season.

“It wouldn’t be a stretch for Al to become a starter, but his versatility in the bullpen would be more advantageous to the staff,” Scioscia said. “It’s essential to have those guys like Al and Mike Fyhrie to fill those [middle] innings effectively to give you a chance to win.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

DERRICK TURNBOW

(0-0, 4.09 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

RICK HELLING

(15-12, 4.13 ERA)

The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, 5 p.m.

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

* Update--A year ago, Turnbow was pitching in the Class-A South Atlantic League. Tonight, the winter Rule V draft pick will make his first major league start for a team that has not been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The Angels would be in good shape if Turnbow can go four or five innings and keep them in the game. Helling is 1-4 with a 7.09 ERA in his last six starts, including back-to-back games in which he gave up a combined 13 earned runs in four innings to Detroit and Chicago. The right-hander had gone 7-1 with a 2.83 ERA in his previous 11 games.