Angels Do Spot Check

For a bright-eyed 20-year-old who has never seen the neon lights of the Big Apple, it is a chance to shine in a spotlight he can’t even imagine. For a hardened 39-year-old, it might be lights out.

There was elation and disappointment in the Angel clubhouse at Edison Field on Saturday and it had nothing to do with their 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners in front of a sellout crowd of 43,202.

The reactions came after the Angels unveiled their 25-man roster for the division playoff series against the New York Yankees that begins Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Teams can make further roster adjustments if they qualify for the next round.

Included on the roster announced Saturday is 20-year-old September call-up Francisco Rodriguez, the right-handed reliever who tied Nolan Ryan’s franchise record by striking out eight consecutive batters.

Rodriguez will join fellow relievers Troy Percival, Scott Schoeneweis, Scot Shields, Brendan Donnelly and Ben Weber, and starters Jarrod Washburn, Kevin Appier, Ramon Ortiz and John Lackey on the first-round roster.

The everyday players will be starters David Eckstein, Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson, Brad Fullmer, Scott Spiezio, Troy Glaus, Bengie Molina and Adam Kennedy, and reserves Orlando Palmeiro, Shawn Wooten, Benji Gil, Jose Molina, Alex Ochoa and Chone Figgins.

Left out are Dennis Cook, the 39-year-old left-hander who came off the disabled list Sept. 1 after sitting out 52 games because of a torn rotator cuff; Aaron Sele, the right-hander who will be making his first start in today’s regular-season finale since tearing the rotator cuff in his throwing arm Aug. 20; and Mickey Callaway (2-1), the right-hander who pitched a career-high eight innings Saturday to beat the Mariners.

The list is tentative because the Angels don’t have to turn it in until Tuesday, but it isn’t expected to change unless there is an injury in today’s game.

“I am pretty excited,” said Rodriguez, who has never set foot in New York, much less Yankee Stadium. “I’m 20 years old. I’m the rookie guy. I just do my job, but I never thought I would make the playoff roster.”

Cook was not happy to see his name left off the list.

“I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “I still think I can help. I’m maybe the only guy who does, but I still think I can help in the playoffs. But there are guys throwing better than me and you’ve got to go with those guys, the hot-handed guys. Everyone who was put on the roster is deserving, so I have no gripe.

“I’ll still be around and hopefully I can offer advice that can maybe help somebody.”

Is Cook, who began his career with Class-A Clinton in 1985, contemplating retirement?

“I will go home,” he said, “be a dad and figure everything out after that.”

When Callaway took the mound Saturday, he had not been informed of his status for the playoffs.

Early on, he was struggling to stay in the game. After giving up a single to Luis Ugueto and walking Willie Bloomquist, there was a conference at the mound.

“I was a little rusty,” said Callaway, who last pitched Sept. 18.

But he shook off that rust to retire the next three batters and went on to hold the Mariners to three runs and eight hits with a career-high six strikeouts and two walks.

After the game, Callaway was informed he would not be back on the mound in the division playoffs.

“I always kept a positive attitude,” he said, “but I certainly understand.”

The Angels unloaded on Seattle starter Ryan Franklin (7-5) for eight runs and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings, but only two of those runs were earned. That’s because of an error by Ugueto in the sixth inning, in which the Angels went on to score seven runs.

Designated hitter Brad Fullmer had two hits, including a triple, giving him five hits in 10 at-bats in the last two games. Reserve shortstop Alfredo Amezaga also had two hits, boosting his average to .583 (seven for 12) since being added to the roster this month.

But the only roster that matters now is the one that goes into effect Tuesday, the one that offers a career springboard to some and a diving board to others.