McDowell Could Be at End of Road

By CHRIS FOSTER

Aug. 9, 1999 12 AM PT

Pitcher Jack McDowell said his time with the Angels, and possibly his career, ended with a poor performance in a 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

McDowell went four innings, giving up five runs and eight hits. Afterward, he said he didn’t expect to be with the Angels much longer.

“I won’t be getting the ball again,” he said. “The bullpen is probably not an option.”

That would probably mean the end of McDowell’s 11-year career. There was some interest in McDowell before the trading deadline.

Since then, he has given up 14 runs in seven innings, covering two starts. Whether a deal could be worked out now depends on whether McDowell clears waivers, which would seem probable considering his last two starts.

Or the Angels could just release McDowell and allow him to look elsewhere.

Manager Terry Collins said that he and General Manager Bill Bavasi will talk about McDowell’s future. Collins has said that he would like to look at some of the organization’s younger pitchers in the last two months of the season.

If McDowell does not pitch again this season, he said he would probably retire, leaving him questioning whether he could still pitch.

“I’m not going to sit around seven months, then try to make someone’s roster in spring training,” said McDowell, who had shoulder surgery during the off-season.

“It’s really weird because I won’t know what I have left at the end [of my career].”

McDowell, 33, is 127-87 lifetime. He won the Cy Young Award after going 22-10 with the Chicago White Sox in 1993.

He is 0-4 with a 8.05 earned-run average this season.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Cleveland Indians, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7

* TV--Fox Sports West, all three games.

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

* Records--Angels 46-64, Indians 66-44.

* Record vs. Indians--1-2

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.