Is Watkins Going Too Low?

Donald Watkins, the Alabama businessman pursuing the purchase of the Angels, has informed Disney officials he believes the franchise is worth no more than $200 million, a source close to the negotiations said Friday.

If Watkins submits an offer for that amount, the most pressing question surrounding the negotiations could shift from whether Watkins can satisfy nagging concerns about his ability to afford the team to whether Disney would be willing to sell at that price.

Disney paid $140 million to buy the Angels in 1996 and another $98 million to renovate Edison Field, so a $200-million sale price would not allow the company to recover those costs, let alone any operating losses. The Angels reported losses of $100 million from 1995-2001, according to figures released by the commissioner’s office.

Forbes magazine values the Angels at $195 million. In a memo to clubs about debt limitations, Commissioner Bud Selig defined the franchise value as twice the annual revenue of a team, subject to appeal. The Angels reported revenues of $92 million last season, which would place their value at $184 million.

Disney asked $300 million for the Angels during sale negotiations three years ago. Last fall, when Selig tried to broker a sale to John Henry, then the owner of the Florida Marlins, Disney is believed to have told major league officials it would have accepted $250 million.

Watkins declined to comment. Angel President Paul Pressler could not be reached for comment.

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When the Angels decided to demote starting pitcher Scott Schoeneweis and replace him with rookie John Lackey, they had a problem. The Angels sent Lackey to triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, and players sent to the minor leagues must stay there for 10 days, barring an injury to a major leaguer.

So reliever Al Levine, who has pitched despite tendinitis in his right shoulder for most of the month, was put on the disabled list.

In his last 11 innings, Levine has given up eight runs, seven walks and 17 hits. He’ll concentrate on strengthening his shoulder; he says he feels discomfort on some pitches and his delivery is out of whack.

“I could pitch,” Levine said, “but I’ve been so bad why would you want me to?”

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Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, selected as a National League coach for the All-Star game, is confident that right fielder Shawn Green, starter Odalis Perez and closer Eric Gagne will also represent the club July 9 at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

The selections will be announced Sunday, and Tracy would like starter Kazuhisa Ishii added to the list.

“I’ll lobby hard for four,” he said. “The fact that I’ve been asked to be a coach, I think I would have the right to just inquire. Obviously, it could be told to me that that’s really none of my business, but I at least want to inquire as to who some of the other candidates are that we’re comparing and contrasting that fourth spot to.”

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Tracy plans to continue riding Gagne in the second half, saying the right-hander is not close to being overworked.

If anything, Tracy said Gagne might benefit from an increased workload despite having already converted 29 of 30 save opportunities.

“His pace has been great,” Tracy said. “You can make a case that he has been somewhat underused because of the number of saves he has and the [number of] pitches he’s used.”

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Dave Hansen welcomed the opportunity to start at designated hitter Friday, but it precluded him from a shot at tying coach Manny Mota’s club record for pinch-hits.

Hansen has 105 hits as a pinch-hitter, one shy of Mota’s mark set during a Dodger career that spanned parts of 13 seasons.

Hansen credits Mota, who had 150 pinch-hits during his 20-year career, for his success.

“I’ve already said he’s the best pinch-hitter there ever was,” Hansen said. “He put the role of the pinch-hitter pretty much on the map. And he did it by himself. I don’t think he had anybody around like I do with him as a mental mentor so to speak.”

Mota said he will be happy when Hansen ties his record and proud when he breaks it. “He’s not only a good hitter, but he is a great clutch hitter,” Mota said. “His mental preparation is what makes him so good. He is a great pro.”

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Minor league field coordinator Terry Collins, arrested Thursday in Augusta, Ga., and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, remains on the job while the Dodgers determine how to handle the matter.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

AARON SELE

(6-5, 5.54 ERA)

vs.

DODGERS’

KAZUHISA ISHII

(11-3, 3.36 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090), KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Sele has lost his last two starts, giving up 17 hits and 11 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Tonight’s game is expected to be a sellout.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.