Percival’s Focus Is on Saves, Not ERA

To Angel closer Troy Percival, few statistics are as useless as earned-run average. If he blows a save opportunity, he failed. If he saves the game, he did his job. And he loses no sleep if he gives up a run or two along the way.

But his 1.96 ERA, if it holds up, would be his best in seven seasons as the Angel closer. Here’s one reason: Never this season has Percival entered a game with the Angels trailing. Closers usually work an inning in defeat every now and then, if they haven’t pitched in a few days and need to stay sharp, but the four-time All-Star is grateful that Manager Mike Scioscia has avoided using him that way.

“Scioscia uses me so well,” Percival said. “He doesn’t mind not using me for seven or eight days as long as I do my work. And I’ve been able to get consistent save opportunities. The team has played well enough and pitched well enough to keep me sharp.”

By avoiding prolonged losing streaks, the Angels have not been forced to choose between using Percival for a mop-up inning or letting him sit idle for a week. And, with the staff pitching well--the Angels have not posted a team ERA below 4.00 since 1992, but they’re at 3.78 today--Scioscia and pitching coach Bud Black have not been forced to use Percival because the rest of the relievers have been ineffective or exhausted.

And, as Percival acknowledges, there is nothing more likely to inflate his ERA than using him in a non-save situation.

“It’s adrenaline,” he said. “When the game’s on the line, you have a tendency to pick your mental game up a notch.

“If I’m not going full speed, I’m useless.”

*

The Angels’ first-round draft pick, Virginia Tech pitcher Joe Saunders, is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in five starts at Class A Cedar Rapids. The Angels signed him for a $1.825-million bonus, passing on touted Texas high school pitcher Scott Kazmir, in part because they were among many clubs that believed Kazmir might hold out for perhaps twice as much.

Kazmir, projected as a top-five pick, went to the New York Mets as the 15th pick. He held out for two months before signing with the Mets for $2.15 million, but Angel Scouting Director Donny Rowland said he had no regrets about selecting Saunders.

“We like Kazmir. We think he has a chance to be really good,” Rowland said. “We think Saunders has a chance to be really good too, and he should be quicker [to the major leagues].”

ON DECK

Opponent--Tampa Bay Devil Rays, three games.

Site--Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tonight--4.

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

Records--Angels 82-54, Devil Rays 47-89.

Record vs. Devil Rays--5-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(15-5, 3.38 ERA)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’

JORGE SOSA

(1-6, 5.44 ERA)

Update--X-rays Sunday and a CT scan Monday did not show any fractures in the left elbow of third baseman Troy Glaus, hit there by a pitch in Sunday’s game. Glaus is questionable for tonight’s game.

Wednesday, 4 p.m.--Kevin Appier (13-9, 3.71) vs. Tanyon Sturtze (3-14, 5.06).

Thursday, 4 p.m.--Mickey Callaway (1-0, 3.00) vs. Paul Wilson (6-9, 4.14).