Dickson Gets a Trip to Bullpen

Jason Dickson, who gave up five runs and nine hits in a 3 1/3-inning stint against Tampa Bay in his last start, will be skipped in the rotation and start working out of the bullpen tonight.

Dickson, who has an 0-3 record and an 11.77 earned-run average, would have pitched on Thursday, which is an off day before the Angels begin a seven-game trip to Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Boston.

“This is not a penalty because he’s not pitching good,” Manager Terry Collins said. “This is because I’ve got three guys [Chuck Finley, Ken Hill and Jack McDowell] who I don’t want to throw off schedule.”

Dickson took the decision in stride, saying he wasn’t really surprised.

“I’m not pitching up to expectations and I understand that,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to the bullpen and getting some work done. If I get it straightened out down there, then it’s a great move.”

Jim Edmonds had trainer Rick Smith add a little extra tape to his sprained right wrist in the middle of batting practice Monday, but he declared himself ready to go afterward.

“It felt fine,” he said.

“He came in this afternoon and said, ‘It feels much better, I’ll play,”’ Collins said. “and I said, ‘Great, but not tonight.’ The good news is, he’ll probably play [today].”

Collins changed his mind and used Edmonds in center field in the ninth inning.

Collins isn’t happy with the Angels’ start--”it’s frustrating for me, for the players, for management, for the fans”--but he wants everyone to remember that the season is less than three weeks old.

“I’d be lying if I said it’s not important to get off to a good start,” he said, “but if you’re going to get into a funk, and every team does, I’d rather do it now when you’re just revving up than have it collapse on you in September.

“I’ve been there and that will rip your heart out.”

Team physician Lewis Yocum, General Manager Bill Bavasi, trainer Ned Bergert, second baseman Randy Velarde and Collins will meet today to plan the next two weeks of rehabilitation for Velarde’s surgically reconstructed right elbow. The next step will be extended spring training in Mesa, Ariz. Collins said it’s possible Velarde will report to Mesa by May 1. . . . Finley, when told of rumors that Tampa Bay players were accusing him of scuffing the ball: “Which ones? The ones who should be in triple A? I don’t need to cheat.” . . . Collins was saying that he would like to attend the Indy 500, Kentucky Derby and Masters someday, so someone suggested he quit his job and become a sportswriter. “If we don’t start winning,” he said, smiling, “I might have to.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JACK McDOWELL

(1-1, 3.86 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’

DOUG JOHNS

(0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

* TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090)

*Update--Johns flew in from Baltimore’s triple-A Rochester affiliate Monday and was activated after Monday night’s game. The left-hander was 11-15 in two seasons, 1995 and ’96 with Oakland. The Orioles signed him as a free agent last June. He was 0-1 with a 1.69 earned-run average in two starts with Rochester this season. McDowell’s last two outings were exactly the kinds of performances the Angels were hoping for when they signed him in February. In 14 innings, he gave up 14 hits but only four earned runs, walked three and struck out 13. In five games before Monday, the Angels were averaging fewer than seven hits and three runs per game.