Bottenfield Makes a Splash

It didn’t take long for Kent Bottenfield’s reputation to find him. One start into his Angel career, Bottenfield has been accused of doctoring the baseball, this time by Yankee hitter Shane Spencer.

After Bottenfield gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Yankees on Tuesday night, Spencer told the New York Times that at least one baseball acted improperly.

“It wasn’t a slider,” Spencer said of a 3-2 pitch that turned out of the strike zone. “It was a four-seam fastball lubed up. Well lubed up.

“It’s no big secret. The guy wanted to add a little extra on it or something.”

It’s not the first time Bottenfield has heard it, and he took the news of Spencer’s accusation with a grin.

“I couldn’t care less,” he said. “I’m glad they think it.”

Bottenfield, who has less-than-electric stuff, won 18 games for the St. Louis Cardinals last season after having won 18 games in his previous six major league seasons. At 31, he has become a precision pitcher, and frequently gets incredulous looks such as Spencer’s.

“My stuff isn’t good enough for anyone to think I’m cheating,” Bottenfield said. “But, I’ll tell you how dead set against [cheating] I am. If I get a ball that’s scuffed, I give it back to the umpire.”

He added that he would have “zero respect” for a pitcher he found to be cheating. At the same time, he said, if hitters believe he is doctoring the ball, he’ll take the advantage.

“I’m glad [Spencer] said it,” Bottenfield said. “Now the rest of the league will be looking for it. That’s one more thing they’ll think about.”

Bottenfield said that what Spencer saw was a slider, not a four-seamer.

“He must not be seeing the rotation very well,” Bottenfield said dryly.

*

Bottenfield’s first two pitching opponents as an Angel--Roger Clemens and, on Sunday, Pedro Martinez--have won the last three AL Cy Young Awards.

“They’re not hitting,” Bottenfield said. “Actually, it might help if they did.”

*

Released by the Angels two days before the season, Tom Candiotti has yet to get a big league employment offer.

As a result, he will consider pitching in Japan, where knuckleballers are even rarer than they are in the majors, and might look at a front-office or broadcasting job.

“If the hitters told me it’s time to retire, I’d go,” he said from his home in Castro Valley, Calif. “They haven’t told me yet.”

*

Based on Thursday’s start for Class-A Lake Elsinore, Ramon Ortiz is expected to start Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The final evaluation will be made after this weekend’s bullpen session. . . . Jarrod Washburn, recovering from a strained right side, started Friday night for Lake Elsinore. In three innings he threw 63 pitches and allowed three hits and two runs. . . . Tim Belcher threw on the side Friday night, is expected to throw a simulated game Sunday morning and will pitch April 14 for Lake Elsinore.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEN HILL

(0-1, 3.38)

vs.

RED SOX’S

BRIAN ROSE

(7-6, 4.87 in 1999)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net

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

* Update--Ken Hill, looking to rebound after a disastrous 1999, starts after a good first effort against the Yankees in the season opener on Monday. He is 5-2 with a 4.50 ERA in nine career starts against the Red Sox. Rose led Red Sox starters with a 3.26 spring ERA.

* Tickets--(714) 634-2000.