Bad Spring Tells Belcher That It’s Time to Retire

There’s an old baseball saying that when a pitcher is contemplating retirement, the hitters will usually make the decision for him.

Those batters spoke loudly and clearly this spring to Angel right-hander Tim Belcher, who took his cue and walked away from the game Saturday, ending a distinguished 14-year big league career that began with the Dodgers.

“My last two starts, I had a few guys 0-2, and they fouled off two or three of my maximum-effort pitches like it was nothing,” Belcher, 39, said. “No offense to the guys we were playing, but it wasn’t like it was Tony Gwynn up there. Once you lose the ability to put guys away, you know it’s time. . . . Age and injuries catch up to you. I ran out of bullets.”

Belcher, who won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1988 and was known throughout his career for his fiery nature, finished with a 146-140 record and 4.12 earned-run average, 42 complete games, 18 shutouts and 1,519 strikeouts.

The No. 1 pick in the 1983 draft, Belcher played for seven big league teams--the Dodgers, Reds, White Sox, Tigers, Mariners, Royals and Angels--but his two-plus years in Anaheim were marked by injury and frustration.

After signing a two-year, $10.2-million contract with the Angels on Dec. 18, 1998, Belcher sat out six weeks of the 1999 season because of a broken finger on his pitching hand--the first time since 1990 he’d gone on the disabled list--and most of 2000 because of elbow surgery.

Belcher had a 10.80 ERA in five spring starts, giving up 15 runs in 7 2/3 innings of his last two games, and though he felt sound physically, it was apparent he wasn’t going to make the rotation.

After being told as much in a meeting with Manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Bill Stoneman Friday, Belcher decided to retire before being released.

Scioscia gathered players for a meeting Saturday morning, and Belcher addressed the team briefly. There were some emotional farewells.

“This is probably the worst part of the game,” center fielder Darin Erstad said. “Not only was he a great teammate and competitor, he was a great friend. He’s a leader by example. He was always positive and had a fire in his stomach that not many people have. He’s the epitome of a gamer.”

Though Belcher was limited to nine starts last season, going 4-5 with a 6.86 ERA, he was a constant presence in the clubhouse.

“He was like a big brother,” left-hander Scott Schoeneweis said. “He was the guy I went to when I had to know something or how to act in certain situations. He will be missed. I was choked up when he left.”

Belcher, one of baseball’s most eloquent players, said the only time he got emotional during the decision-making process was Friday morning, while he shagged balls during batting practice.

“I thought, geez, this is the last time I’ll be on the field as a big league player,” Belcher said. “That was pretty tough. But I’m in a good place with this. When you’ve had good fortune and a lengthy career, it’s hard to find regrets.”

Well, maybe one.

“My only regret is God gave Greg Maddux my changeup,” Belcher said. “But I made due with what I had.”

Belcher instructed his agent, Scott Boras, and the Angels not to look for pitching opportunities elsewhere. Stoneman asked Belcher if he’d be interested in coaching or instructing at the minor league level, and Belcher said he might be open to such positions in the future.

First, he must adjust to life without baseball.

“There’s nothing like the thrill of being in the center of it all, on the mound in a big stadium, under the bright lights, getting big league hitters out--I’m going to miss that,” said Belcher, who will return to his Cardington, Ohio, home to be with his wife, Teresa, and two children.

“But I won’t miss that long walk off the mound after giving up a five-spot and the cheers turn to jeers.”

Notes

Right-hander Matt Wise may have thrust himself into the rotation picture with a 5 2/3-inning, two-hit shutout of Oakland in the Angels’ 11-2 exhibition win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium Saturday. Troy Glaus, Scott Spiezio and Bengie Molina each homered for the Angels. Oakland left-hander Barry Zito absorbed most of the punishment, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits in two innings. . . . First baseman Wally Joyner left the team to return to his Utah home for a ceremony honoring his mother, who is departing on a two-year Mormon mission to Puerto Rico. Joyner will return tonight and play Monday. . . . X-rays on Jose Canseco’s neck, which has been stiff for several days, were negative, and he played left field Saturday, knocking in two runs with a second-inning double. . . . Pitcher Jarrod Washburn, who lost seven pounds during his five-day bout with strep throat, hopes to throw in the bullpen today or Monday.

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Career Statistics

YR: 1987 TEAM: Dodgers W: 4 L: 2 ERA: 2.38 G: 6 GS: 5 CG: 0 SHO: 0 SV: 0 IP: 34.0 H: 30 R: 11 ER: 9 HR: 2 BB: 7 SO: 23 *

YR: 1988 TEAM: Dodgers W: 12 L: 6 ERA: 2.91 G: 36 GS: 27 CG: 4 SHO: 1 SV: 4 IP: 179.2 H: 143 R: 65 ER: 58 HR: 8 BB: 51 SO: 152 *

YR: 1989 TEAM: Dodgers W: 15 L: 12 ERA: 2.82 G: 39 GS: 30 CG: 10 SHO: 8 SV: 1 IP: 230.0 H: 182 R: 81 ER: 72 HR: 20 BB: 80 SO: 200 *

YR: 1990 TEAM: Dodgers W: 9 L: 9 ERA: 4.00 G: 24 GS: 24 CG: 5 SHO: 2 SV: 0 IP: 153.0 H: 136 R: 76 ER: 68 HR: 17 BB: 48 SO: 102 *

YR: 1991 TEAM: Dodgers W: 10 L: 9 ERA: 2.62 G: 33 GS: 33 CG: 2 SHO: 1 SV: 0 IP: 209.1 H: 189 R: 76 ER: 61 HR: 10 BB: 75 SO: 156 *

YR: 1992 TEAM: Reds W: 15 L: 14 ERA: 3.91 G: 35 GS: 34 CG: 2 SHO: 1 SV: 0 IP: 227.2 H: 201 R: 104 ER: 99 HR: 17 BB: 80 SO: 149 *

YR: 1993 TEAM: Reds W: 9 L: 6 ERA: 4.47 G: 22 GS: 22 CG: 4 SHO: 2 SV: 0 IP: 137.0 H: 134 R: 72 ER: 68 HR: 11 BB: 47 SO: 101 *

YR: 1993 TEAM: White Sox W: 3 L: 5 ERA: 4.40 G: 12 GS: 11 CG: 1 SHO: 1 SV: 0 IP: 71.2 H: 64 R: 36 ER: 35 HR: 8 BB: 27 SO: 34 *

YR: 1994 TEAM: Tigers W: 7 L: 15 ERA: 5.89 G: 25 GS: 25 CG: 3 SHO: 0 SV: 0 IP: 162.0 H: 192 R: 124 ER: 106 HR: 21 BB: 78 SO: 76 *

YR: 1995 TEAM: Mariners W: 10 L: 12 ERA: 4.52 G: 28 GS: 28 CG: 1 SHO: 0 SV: 0 IP: 179.1 H: 188 R: 101 ER: 90 HR: 19 BB: 88 SO: 96 *

YR: 1996 TEAM: Royals W: 15 L: 11 ERA: 3.92 G: 35 GS: 35 CG: 4 SHO: 1 SV: 0 IP: 238.2 H: 262 R: 117 ER: 104 HR: 28 BB: 68 SO: 113 *

YR: 1997 TEAM: Royals W: 13 L: 12 ERA: 5.02 G: 32 GS: 32 CG: 3 SHO: 1 SV: 0 IP: 213.1 H: 242 R: 128 ER: 119 HR: 31 BB: 70 SO: 113 *

YR: 1998 TEAM: Royals W: 14 L: 14 ERA: 4.27 G: 34 GS: 34 CG: 2 SHO: 0 SV: 0 IP: 234.0 H: 247 R: 127 ER: 111 HR: 37 BB: 73 SO: 130 *

YR: 1999 TEAM: Angels W: 6 L: 8 ERA: 6.73 G: 24 GS: 24 CG: 0 SHO: 0 SV: 0 IP: 132.1 H: 168 R: 104 ER: 99 HR: 27 BB: 46 SO: 52 *

YR: 2000 TEAM: Angels W: 4 L: 5 ERA: 6.86 G: 9 GS: 9 CG: 1 SHO: 0 SV: 0 IP: 40.2 H: 45 R: 31 ER: 31 HR: 8 BB: 22 SO: 22