Setup Man Might Be Down on the Farm

With the Angels searching for a hard-throwing setup man, should they trade for one--or promote the one they already have?

Francisco Rodriguez, 20, the Angels’ Venezuelan prodigy, has been dominant at the triple-A level. In 13 innings at Salt Lake, he has struck out 19, walked three, given up one run and held opponents to a .156 batting average.

In 1995, the Angels broke in closer Troy Percival as a setup man for Lee Smith.

Could the Angels break in Rodriguez as a setup man for Percival?

“Stuff-wise, no doubt. He’s definitely the real deal. He probably needs to get a little more experience,” said Salt Lake coach Mike Butcher, who pitched for the 1995 Angels. “At that stage, I think Troy was a little more polished.”

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The Angels plan to adjust their starting rotation after the All-Star break so that Jarrod Washburn and Ramon Ortiz can pitch as many games as possible against the first-place Seattle Mariners.

The Angels trail Seattle by four games and face the Mariners six times in the first 17 games after the break.

Washburn is expected to start next Thursday, in the first game after the break.

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Armed forces personnel overseas will be saluted as part of the Fourth of July celebration at tonight’s game.

There will be a pregame ceremony on the field at 5:30 p.m. and during the game fans will have an opportunity to send either a personalized digital video message to a family member or friend overseas or a general message of thanks.

A Give Thanks America kiosk where the messages can be recorded will be located at the Gate 4 courtyard area. Also, pre-recorded messages by Angel players will be shown on the scoreboard during the game.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEVIN APPIER

(6-6, 4.52 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’

TRAVIS DRISKILL

(5-1, 4.12 ERA)

Edison Field, 6

TV--Fox Sports Net.

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

Update--Designated hitter Brad Fullmer was examined by team doctors Wednesday and missed his second consecutive game because of what the Angels called flulike symptoms. Tonight’s game is sold out.