Percival Seeks a Change of Pace

All-Star closer Troy Percival can touch 100 mph with his fastball, blowing his signature pitch past hitters. On occasion, he turns to his curveball, which tends to freeze hitters expecting a fastball some 20 mph faster.

By adding another pitch, Percival would almost seem to be greedy. He seldom enters the game before the ninth inning, and a guy who throws 10 to 20 pitches usually would not risk blowing one of them, and potentially blowing a save, on his third-best pitch.

That has not deterred Percival from working on a changeup this spring. Not surprisingly, he started out throwing the pitch too hard, but pitching coach Bud Black showed him a grip that allowed him to reduce the pitch speed from 90 mph to 84 mph. The effectiveness of the changeup rests in the ability to make it look like a fastball but throw it markedly slower.

“It’s actually becoming a solid pitch for me now,” Percival said.

Percival said he won’t throw too many changeups, most likely using the pitch on days he cannot command his curve. He said he threw the pitch “four or five times” in games last season.

“Until he uses it, we won’t know how good it can become,” Black said. “He’ll have to pick his spots with it.”

Donald Watkins, the Alabama businessman who has made preliminary offers to purchase the Angels and Minnesota Twins, issued a statement Tuesday confirming his pursuits. He did not identify the teams and said he had signed confidentiality agreements that would make further comment “inappropriate and impossible.”

Watkins met with Disney executives March 22 and is believed to have offered about $250 million for the Angels. He previously offered Minnesota owner Carl Pohlad a reported $125 to $150 million.

The White Sox confirmed that Watkins met March 23 with Chicago owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who is close to Commissioner Bud Selig. Watkins has sought out influential individuals, in part for their counsel and in part to offer assurances to owners skeptical about his net worth, which he privately lists at $1.5 billion. But Forbes magazine examined Watkins’ business interests in banking and energy and concluded “we have reason to doubt the number.”

In a letter to the editor, Watkins responded that Forbes was not provided with personal financial information and said he had not “asked the magazine to confirm my net worth.”

“In recent weeks, I have had several very positive discussions with individuals involved in Major League Baseball,” Watkins said in his statement. “They have assured me that my goal to become an owner of a Major League Baseball team is a concept which they look upon with favor as they continue to process my application.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

AARON SELE

(15-5, 3.60 ERA in ‘01)

vs.

INDIANS’

CHUCK FINLEY

(8-7, 5.54 ERA in ‘01)

Edison Field, 7

Radio--KPLS (830), XPRS (1090).

Update--Reliever Dennis Cook, on the disabled list because of a bruised rib cage, pitched in a simulated game Monday. He is scheduled to pitch one inning for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday and could be activated as soon as Saturday. With left-hander C.C. Sabathia starting Tuesday, Manager Mike Scioscia batted Benji Gil (.294 against left-handers last season) sixth and dropped Brad Fullmer (.202 against left-handers last season) to seventh.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.