All-Star Changes Could Set Up Donnelly

OAKLAND -- Angel Manager Mike Scioscia offered the strongest suggestion yet that Brendan Donnelly could make the American League All-Star team, saying he did not want a bullpen composed entirely of closers in a game he is supposed to manage to win.

“You’ve got to structure your ‘pen,” Scioscia said. “You can’t do that with four closers, or you better hope the game’s over in nine innings.”

Donnelly, the Angels’ setup man, has an 0.42 earned-run average, best in the major leagues for pitchers with more than 40 innings. He has pitched two innings seven times this season.

As the AL manager, Scioscia will choose four of the 12 All-Star pitchers, in consultation with major league officials. He said the selections are still being finalized, so the possibility remains that all four of those spots might be needed for players from teams not otherwise represented on the All-Star roster.

All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday.

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After Francisco Rodriguez made his first two pitches Friday, Oakland Manager Ken Macha called time and asked that umpires investigate whether the pitcher’s dark prescription goggles were blinding hitters. The umpires permitted Rodriguez to wear them, and several Angels accused Macha of gamesmanship.

“I was getting glare,” Macha said. “Every time he turned his head, the sun flashed off them.”

Said Rodriguez: “It’s stupid. I don’t know what the manager is trying to do. He didn’t say anything in my warm-up. He said something when I had an 0-2 count. They’re trying to get me out of concentration.”

Macha said he did not notice the glare until the second pitch. He also noted that Rodriguez returned for his second inning with clear goggles, a change Scioscia said Rodriguez made because the sun had dipped below the stands.

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With the contracts of Kevin Appier and Aaron Sele expiring after the 2004 season, the Angels are optimistic that Class A Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Ervin Santana could be ready to join the major league starting rotation in 2005.

Santana, 20, who leads the minor leagues in strikeouts, has given up four hits in his last 20 innings. In the most dominant season by an Angel pitching prospect since fellow Dominican Ramon Ortiz led the minor leagues in strikeouts at Class A Cedar Rapids in 1997, Santana is 9-1 with a 2.33 earned-run average, leading the California League in victories and ERA.

Santana and Rancho Cucamonga catcher Jeff Mathis, were selected to represent the Angels in the July 13 Futures Game, the prospect showcase held as part of the All-Star game festivities.