Angels Have Staff Issues

NEW YORK — At the very time in the season the Angels hoped to count on the experience of Kevin Appier and Aaron Sele to guide them toward the playoffs, they must now worry about whether their veteran starters can stay out of the training room and on the mound.

With five weeks left in the regular season--or one if players strike next week and do not return--the Angels are tied with the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics atop the American League West. But, after Sele self-destructed in the Angels’ 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday, he complained of discomfort in his pitching shoulder.

The defeat left the Angels with a percentage-points lead in the division race. In the games behind column, all three teams are even, with one playoff bid guaranteed to the division champion and the wild-card berth possibly going to the second-place finisher.

Sele, 32, is scheduled to be examined today. Appier, 34, was forced from his Sunday start because of a strained groin and hip, but he reported no discomfort Tuesday and expects to make his next start.

Sele tied his career high by walking seven batters, four of whom eventually scored. He also gave up seven hits, and 15 of 29 batters reached base against him. He could not throw the ball where he wanted--49 of 100 pitches were balls--his breaking ball lacked its trademark sharpness, and catcher Bengie Molina said Sele’s fastball had lost about 2 mph.

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said Sele said nothing about his sore shoulder until after he was removed, with two on and none out in the sixth inning.

Scioscia said he was not upset that Sele had not spoken up sooner, saying that there was “no huge red flag” alerting the coaching staff to the injury and that veteran pitchers traditionally know how much pain they can tolerate.

“It comes down to the ability to pitch through this,” Scioscia said.

Sele agreed, using Yankee starter Andy Pettitte as an example.

“You’re not going to feel perfect for all your games,” Sele said. “Look at what Andy did.”

Pettitte gave up 10 hits--including a third-deck, three-run home run to Garret Anderson--and still won. He walked none. The Angels scored five runs in the third inning and presented Sele with a short-lived 5-2 lead.

“I went back out there and spit it right back out,” Sele said. “When you stink, you stink.”

He refused to blame the shoulder pain for the poor performance.

“If I don’t feel good enough to pitch, I won’t take the rubber,” he said.

If neither he nor Appier do, that could greatly hurt the Angels’ pennant chances. Jason Giambi, who homered off Sele, said the Angels and A’s have a slight edge over the Mariners because the Angels start with Appier, Sele and Jarrod Washburn and the A’s start with Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. The Mariners, meanwhile, just added Angel discard Ismael Valdes to their rotation.

“Right now, the way the Angels are pitching and the A’s are pitching, you’d have to give them the nod,” Giambi said. “We just came from Seattle, and they’re still trying to find that combination of guys throwing well.”

But the Angels aren’t overflowing with depth to replace Appier or Sele for more than a spot start or two. Scott Schoeneweis, who started the season in the rotation, has not thrown more than two innings since June 25. Relievers Al Levine or Scot Shields could make a spot start. At triple A, Matt Wise is on the disabled list because of a sore right elbow, Lou Pote has started only four games and Chris Bootcheck seven. Mickey Callaway, who last started a major league game for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999, might be the best option, if one is needed.

In the meantime, first place is crowded, but the Angels don’t mind sharing for now, considering they were 24 games out of first on this date last year.