Morgan Boosts Stock as Dodgers Win, 4-2

Mike Morgan and John Wetteland, battling for the fifth starting spot in the Dodger rotation, got in their final tuneup of spring training in the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the Angels Saturday night before 30,155 at Dodger Stadium.

After giving up two singles in four innings in the second game of the Freeway Series, Morgan gave up a two-out home run to left fielder Dante Bichette in the fifth inning.

Angel pitcher Mark Langston thought Morgan was sharp on the mound as well as at the plate, after he singled off him.

“I played with him in Seattle and I know he can pitch,” Langston said. “He looks like he’s on his game, but I didn’t know he was on his game offensively.”

Does Morgan think the Dodgers will make the decision based on Saturday’s game?

“I don’t think that has anything to do with it,” said Morgan, who gave up two runs and nine hits in eight innings this spring. “I think they’ve already made their decision. It can’t just all of a sudden come down to the next to last day of spring training and all of a sudden make a decision. You can’t have one guy in limbo.”

Have the Dodgers made a decision?

“We haven’t told (Morgan and Wetteland) and I’d rather let them hear it first,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said,.

The favorite to win the job and start Friday’s game at Houston, Morgan said he hoped to refine his changeup against the Angels. But Bichette hit a changeup over the center-field wall.

Wetteland, who had an 11.25 ERA in three spring outings coming into the game, was testy when a reporter approached him before the game and asked if the game would determine who won the job.

“Personally I don’t give a . . .” Wetteland said. “I don’t mean to sound coarse, but that’s a question that’s been asked me since back in the winter. I try to focus and concentrate on getting the hitter out. I don’t think I have to worry about anything else. That’s their decision.

“Given a choice between (starting and relieving), I would definitely want to start. I was sent to winter ball to work on a changeup and a curveball to start, not to come out of the pen and throw curveballs for three innings.”

Wetteland lasted only two innings after replacing Morgan, giving up an unearned run, one hit and walking two before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter.

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, thinks too much is being made of who wins the job.

“A lot of people have focused on who the fifth and sixth starting pitcher is going to be,” Claire said. “Whether it’s Mike Morgan or John Wetteland, I don’t think it’s critical.”

Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles last season, Morgan led the the league with a 1.79 ERA at the All-Star break but finished 6-11 as a starter.

Morgan was sent to the bullpen after midseason because the Dodgers wanted to get a look at Wetteland, 23, one of their best prospects.

Morgan adjusted to the bullpen, compiling a 1.72 ERA as a reliever. Wetteland finished with a 2-6 record and a 4.97 ERA as a starter. He threw 16 wild pitches, one shy of the club record held by Sandy Koufax.

Langston was sharp in his fourth spring game, giving up one run and four hits with four strikeouts in five innings.

“It was my best outing of the spring,” said Langston, who is scheduled to face Seattle Wednesday night. “It felt like I could have easily gone into the seventh. My last three outings I was really working on offspeed pitches and tonight I went to the fastballs. Offspeed takes me longer to get a feel for. Right now I feel comfortable with all my pitches.”

Freeway Series Notes

The Dodgers put relief pitcher Jim Gott on the 15-day disabled list. Gott, who underwent surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his right elbow last May, still hasn’t fully recovered from the surgery. “I think we’ve seen in the last couple of outings that Jim is not ready,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. Acquired as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Pirates in December, Gott received a signing bonus of $100,000 and a guaranteed salary of $200,000. But the contract contained $700,000 in incentive clauses based upon how much time he spends on the active roster.

The Dodgers sent right-handed pitchers Jeff Bittiger and Mike Maddux to Albuquerque and the club also purchased the contracts of right-hander Don Aase and left-hander Mike Munoz from Albuquerque. The Dodgers said they will option catcher Darrin Fletcher and left-hander Terry Wells to Albuquerque after today’s game against the Angels.

The Angels also made several roster moves, cutting pitcher Mike Smithson and sending pitcher Rich Monteleone and catcher Ron Tingley to Edmonton. They also optioned pitcher Mark Clear and infielder Bobby Rose to Edmonton and placed catcher Bill Schroeder on the 15-day disabled list.