Demoted Ortiz Criticizes Scioscia

In his harshest comments during a season in which he has repeatedly asked to be traded, Ramon Ortiz reacted to another demotion to the bullpen Sunday, lashing out at Manager Mike Scioscia.

“I don’t feel good, the way he used me this year in the organization,� said Ortiz, who has been sent to the bullpen three times since opening the season as a starter.

“I’m a good pitcher. I won 16, 15 games every year, but this year, he don’t respect me.�

Scioscia, using two days off over the next week to pare his rotation, elected to go with Aaron Sele as the starter Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, leaving Ortiz as odd man out.

Scioscia said, however, that Ortiz remained an option over the final month for a team that will need five more outings from a fifth starter.

“We have every bit of respect for him and his talent,� Scioscia said. “Unfortunately, from the middle of last year to the beginning of this year, he really struggled as a starter.�

In his latest stint as a starter, Ortiz was 2-2 with a 4.86 earned-run average in seven starts while filling in for the injured Jarrod Washburn, who is expected to return Saturday from a strained chest ligament.

Ortiz has excelled as a reliever, going 1-2 with a 1.89 ERA.

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Scioscia said he had not argued with Phil Cuzzi in the third inning of the Angels’ 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday because he disagreed with the second base umpire’s call on a close play at second, but because the umpire should have asked for a second opinion.

Minnesota second baseman Augie Ojeda tagged Chone Figgins going to second on David Eckstein’s slow roller on the play.

“What upset me was ... that he had a bad angle and could not see a definitive tag and called the guy out and would not go over to get another umpire’s opinion,� Scioscia said.

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With Ortiz adding depth in the bullpen, the Angels optioned reliever Matt Hensley to triple-A Salt Lake and promoted utility man Adam Riggs, who was hitting .331 with a team-leading 29 homers and 90 runs batted in for the Stingers.... Jered Weaver is not expected to attend classes today when the fall semester starts at Long Beach State, allowing the Angels to retain exclusive negotiating rights with the 12th overall pick in the June draft.