Belcher Nearly Ready to Return to Rotation

It has been a strange July for pitcher Tim Belcher. He has spent the month on the disabled list, only the second time in 12 years the right-hander has been sidelined because of injury. And he has not heard his name in one trade rumor.

“That’s a first for me,” said Belcher, who has been traded twice in midseason and has been mentioned in dozens of rumors. “I think that’s because Omar [Olivares] has had a good year [and is attracting trade interest], Chuck [Finley] is a hotter commodity, and I’ve been on the disabled list.”

That last part could change soon. Belcher probably will need to pitch one more simulated game Saturday in Anaheim before returning to the rotation next week.

He threw three simulated innings Tuesday but felt enough discomfort in the right little finger he broke in late June to know he wasn’t quite ready to return.

Belcher threw Tuesday with his ring and little fingers taped together because it eased the pain, but baseball rules wouldn’t allow him to do that in a game.

“We’ve talked about Super Gluing the fingers together,” Belcher said. “If we could figure out a way to get them apart without a skin graft, I might do it. Hopefully, it will get better next week and I won’t need to do that.”

With the Angels out of the division race, there is no need for Belcher to rush his return. But he said that would be a dangerous approach.

“I hope this team doesn’t have the attitude that it’s playing out the string,” Belcher said. “That’s the worst attitude to take, and that wouldn’t be very professional. It opens up a whole new can of worms. There’s always something to play for, if nothing else, for your pride and dignity.”

During Belcher’s absence, the Angels made a push before the All-Star game to get back into the race but then collapsed, losing 11 consecutive games and falling 16 games behind leading Texas.

“Obviously, it has been no fun sitting around and watching this, and it doesn’t make it easier when you’re not participating,” Belcher said. “But it could be worse. We could be the Dodgers. They’re taking a lot more heat than we are.”

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If Finley is still an Angel this weekend, that could create an awkward--and interesting--situation at Edison Field on Saturday night. He is scheduled to start in a game at 7 against the Minnesota Twins, but the trade deadline is 9 that night.

Finley could begin the game as an Angel . . . and end it as a Cleveland Indian. If a deal for the left-hander were consummated Saturday night, the Angels would have to pull Finley from the game in the early innings.

“After three innings,” Finley said, “I may have to call up to the press box and say, ‘Is [Angel General Manager] Billy [Bavasi] there.’ ”