Minor Hitch for Ortiz?

Of all the problems Ramon Ortiz has had this season, confidence would not seem to be one of them. The young right-hander from the Dominican Republic has shown no fear since being called up to the Angels last August.

“But there’s two different kinds of confidence,� Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s confident he belongs in the big leagues, but does he have the confidence he can be a championship-caliber pitcher? This guy has a high ceiling. The key is finding the best avenue for him to reach it.�

The question the Angels are pondering: Would sending Ortiz down a rung on the ladder help him to reach that ceiling quicker?

Ortiz is 2-2 with a 6.90 earned-run average in six starts. He has struck out 21, walked 20 and given up nine home runs in 30 innings. He seemed to iron out some of his mechanical flaws in his last two starts, but he made several glaring mistakes Monday night when he gave up eight runs--seven earned--on six hits, including three homers, in 3 2/3 innings against the A’s.

Ortiz is 24 and has long been considered the Angels’ top pitching prospect, but there is some concern his confidence could be damaged and his growth stunted if he continues to get hit hard in the big leagues.

With Jason Dickson due to return from the disabled list Saturday and Kent Mercker coming off a strong start (five scoreless innings) in Dickson’s place last Saturday in Seattle, the Angels could keep Mercker in the rotation and send Ortiz to triple-A Edmonton, where he would have the chance to find his command in a low-pressure environment.

Ken Hill’s injury Tuesday could keep Ortiz in the big leagues, but the Angels could also recall Jarrod Washburn from Edmonton to replace Ortiz.

“Obviously, you consider that with any young pitcher,� Scioscia said. “The big picture is always in your mind. You keep every option open to best serve his long-term development.�

The other option is to let Ortiz grind it out in Anaheim the way Tom Glavine did in his first full season in Atlanta, when the left-hander went 7-17 in 1988 before developing into a Cy Young Award winner.

“Some guys pitch through it and turn out OK,� Scioscia said. “If Ramon has to take a step back to get his stuff right, that will be considered.�

*

His first throw on a double play in the first inning Monday night was fine. So was his second throw on a grounder in the third. But two of Gary DiSarcina’s next three throws bounced six feet in front of Mo Vaughn at first, and it was obvious the Angel shortstop’s ailing right shoulder was not right.

DiSarcina was pulled from the game after the fifth inning and put on the 15-day disabled list late Monday night. Benji Gil takes over again as the starter--this is DiSarcina’s second stint on the DL this season--and the Angels recalled infielder Trent Durrington, a second baseman with some shortstop experience, from Edmonton to replace DiSarcina on the roster.

“Taking nothing away from Benji, because he’s been a key component to holding things together,� Scioscia said, “but Gary is such a veteran player, the glue to the club, and he orchestrates a lot of things that happen out there. I hope he’s not out for long.�

*

The A’s did not get the Troy Percival they were used to Monday night. About half of the hard-throwing Angel closer’s 21 pitches in the ninth inning, including all three strikes to Olmedo Saenz, were curveballs.

“I get out there and try to overpower guys sometimes, but I’ve got to use my curve,� Percival said. “I’ve made myself throw it. No matter how many times you do this, you can still be stupid once in a while.�

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KENT BOTTENFIELD

(3-3, 3.74 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’

MARK MULDER

(1-0, 5.63 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

Radio--KMPC (1540), KIK-FM (93.3), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Since getting bombed for nine runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 12-11 loss to Toronto on April 20, Bottenfield has given up only four earned runs on 17 hits and struck out 18 in 21 innings of his last three starts, wins over Seattle and Tampa Bay and a no-decision against Detroit. Mulder, a left-hander who was the second overall pick in the 1998 draft, is coming off three straight no-decisions. Going into Tuesday night’s game, the Oakland bullpen had given up 25 earned runs on 42 hits in 18 innings of six games for a 10.71 ERA, going 0-4 with a save and three blown saves.

* Tickets: (714) 663-9000