Glover Finds Himself in a Familiar Position

At this rate, Gary Glover might have to check his uniform to make sure he’s not still pitching for the Chicago White Sox.

The Angel reliever, acquired last week in a multiplayer deal for left-hander Scott Schoeneweis, has pretty much maintained the role he filled for the White Sox since arriving in Anaheim. That is, pitching infrequently and in less-than-ideal circumstances.

“It wasn’t working out where I was able to get into games,” said Glover, who had a 4.54 earned-run average in 35 2/3 innings for the White Sox. “We were playing 2-1, 3-2, 1-0 ballgames where, whether we were winning or losing, the manager [Jerry Manuel] didn’t have the confidence to put me in those situations.”

Since coming to the Angels, Glover has given up one run in three innings while pitching in blowout losses to the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. He surrendered a two-run double to the first man he faced as an Angel.

Making matters worse, Glover did not exactly receive a memorable endorsement from General Manager Bill Stoneman, who said the motivation to obtain Glover involved the two minor leaguers acquired in the trade, Tim Bittner and Scott Dunn.

“If you pull one of those guys out of the deal,” Stoneman said, “we don’t have a deal.”

On the bright side, Glover has joined what he labeled “a stud bullpen” and has nearly two months to impress the Angels.

“I’m probably going to fit in toward the bottom of the pen right now,” Glover said, “and maybe be able to soak up some key innings and hopefully keep the team in the game along the way.”

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Greg Jones recorded more than six strikeouts for every walk he issued this season at triple-A Salt Lake, the primary reason the 26-year-old reliever finds himself in Anaheim earlier than expected.

“He had an incredible walk-strikeout ratio in triple A, and those are things that show us he’s ready for a challenge in the major leagues,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Jones went 2-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 33 games for the Stingers, but his 56 strikeouts and nine walks had scouts buzzing.

“I had been keeping my walks down,” Jones said. “My improved consistency was probably the biggest thing.”

The right-hander hasn’t been able to maintain his command in three major-league innings, walking two while striking out three, but he hasn’t given up a run.

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The Kansas City Royals are among several teams that have expressed interest in obtaining Kevin Appier, released by the Angels Wednesday after going 7-7 with a 5.63 ERA. Appier, who worked out for the Royals on Sunday, cleared waivers Monday and was awaiting results of an MRI exam on his sore pitching elbow, which had limited his effectiveness.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Boston Red Sox, three games.

Site -- Fenway Park, Boston.

TV -- Channel 9 today and Thursday, ESPN Wednesday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KWKU (1220).

Records -- Angels 53-57, Red Sox 64-46.

Record vs. Red Sox -- 3-3.

Wednesday, 4 p.m. PDT -- Aaron Sele (6-8, 4.88) vs. Pedro Martinez (7-2, 2.42).

Thursday, 4 p.m. PDT -- Ramon Ortiz (13-8, 4.21) vs. John Burkett (8-5, 4.86).