Cooper Hangs On to Big League Hope

TEMPE, Ariz. —  The bus had returned from Monday’s 6-2 Cactus League loss to Colorado in Tucson, and Angel pitcher Brian Cooper was heading toward the Tempe Diablo Stadium clubhouse door when Manager Mike Scioscia called him into his office for a meeting.

This probably could mean only one thing for a young pitcher on the fringe of the rotation--Cooper figured he was being sent back to the minor leagues. “My heart was pounding, big time,” he said.

A few minutes later, Cooper could exhale. He was still in the big leagues. Scioscia merely wanted to discuss Cooper’s performance, in which Cooper didn’t have his best stuff but managed to escape giving up only one run on four hits in five innings.

It wasn’t Cooper’s best game of the spring, and it wasn’t his worst, but with the season opener six days away and two rotation spots up for grabs, Cooper felt it was his most important.

“It’s kind of funny, you work your whole life to become a major league pitcher and it all comes down to one start,” Cooper said. “We’ve all been walking around on eggshells, but it’s a lot better to be here not knowing [your future] than to be down there [in the minor leagues] and knowing.”

Cooper finished Cactus League play with a 7.20 earned-run average in 15 innings, striking out eight and walking seven. He is in the mix with Jason Dickson, Scott Schoeneweis, Kent Mercker and Tom Candiotti for the final two rotation spots, but Cooper was not told Monday when he would pitch again, so his chances aren’t considered great.

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Ramon Ortiz took a huge step in his recovery from a slight shoulder tear Monday, throwing three scoreless innings for triple-A Edmonton against Tacoma at Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Ariz.

Ortiz gave up one hit, struck out four and walked none. He was so efficient in his 30-pitch outing that he threw in the bullpen after leaving the game. His fastball was clocked between 90 and 94 mph, slightly off his usual 95 mph, and he was able to throw his slider and changeup.

While the Angels break camp and return to Anaheim on Wednesday night, Ortiz will remain in Arizona to start another minor league game Saturday. Barring a setback, he is expected to join the Angel rotation for an April 11 game against Toronto.

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Closer Troy Percival, who had shoulder surgery last October, gave up a solo home run to Terry Shumpert and retired three other Rockies on ground balls Monday.

“I have my old stuff in the bullpen, but I have to take it to the mound,” said Percival, who has a 5.63 ERA and has given up four home runs in eight innings.