Sox Fit, Schoeneweis Says

Scott Schoeneweis still hasn’t resolved in his mind the reasons that led the Angels to trade him to the Chicago White Sox two weeks ago. All the reliever knows is that he has been given a chance to contribute to a pennant contender, and that’s good enough for him.

“I have thought a lot about what really happened and why did they not want me anymore,” said Schoeneweis, who returned Monday to Edison Field for the first time since the July 29 trade that sent him to the White Sox for reliever Gary Glover and two minor leaguers. “When I left, it came to a time where both parties were at the end of their rope with each other.”

Schoeneweis had openly complained before the trade about what he perceived as a diminished role in the bullpen, eventually initiating a closed-door meeting with Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Bud Black. But the former starting pitcher said Monday that he didn’t know whether his vocal displeasure played a role in the trade. “I really don’t know what the reason was, if there was anything I said or did that got me out of there. I don’t think on my behalf that anything I did or said was that bad.”

Schoeneweis, 1-1 with a 9.00 earned-run average in five games since joining the White Sox, said that although his role with the White Sox remains undefined, he’s pleased to be in the playoff hunt.

“I think it’s a good situation for everyone involved,” said Schoeneweis, who surrendered four runs in one-third of an inning against the Angels on Monday. “I think I’ve been given an opportunity over here to contribute.... I wasn’t happy about what my role was or ended up being [with the Angels], but I still gave 100% and got the job done.”

Schoeneweis addressed the fact that he and Angel castoff Kevin Appier, now with the Kansas City Royals, are engaged in a tight race in the American League Central as the Angels find themselves on the brink of another meaningless September.

“It’s nice being in a pennant race over here,” Schoeneweis said. “A good change.”

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General Manager Bill Stoneman said he would not commit to resting injured standouts Troy Glaus and Darin Erstad for the remainder of the season, although the Angels are likely out of playoff contention and the extra time off could help ensure the players return injury-free in 2004.

Dr. Lewis Yocum, the Angels’ medical director, examined Glaus and Erstad on Monday and recommended that Erstad continue physical therapy on his right hamstring, which has bothered him practically the entire season. Glaus is scheduled to undergo a repeat MRI exam on his sore right shoulder today. There is no timetable for either player’s return.

“We’ll listen to what the medical people say,” Stoneman said. “That’s going to be what guides us. We’re not interested in doing anything that’s going to jeopardize next year for either of those two guys or anybody else. If the doctors say to us, ‘Hey, this might damage their chances for next year,’ we’re going to be listening to that.”