Finley Hit by Bat, May Miss Opener

TUCSON — An Angel team already besieged with spring training injuries took another major hit Saturday when Chuck Finley was struck below the right eye by an errant bat during batting practice at Tempe, Ariz.

Finley, the team’s projected opening-day starter, was taken to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital, where a CAT scan revealed a broken bone below the eye. Nineteen stitches were needed to close the cut.

The veteran left-hander, who sat out a week in February because of shoulder tendinitis, will be held out of action for 7-10 days, making him extremely doubtful for the start of the season.

Pitcher Mark Gubicza (shoulder injury) and second baseman Randy Velarde (strained forearm) are also questionable for the start of the season, and closer Troy Percival is sidelined or at least a week because of back spasms.

Finley was standing next to the batting cage while reliever Mike James was taking his swings, and the bat flew out of James’ hand, striking Finley in the face.

“It was like standing still and having someone slug you--I just got smoked,” Finley said by phone from his hotel room. “I was just standing there, and the next thing I know I’m laying on the ground with blood running down the side of my face.”

Finley never lost consciousness, and he spent about three hours at the hospital. His jaw was stiff and sore and his eye was almost swollen shut.

“I look like Rocky Balboa,” Finley said. “The other day I felt so bad for J.T. [Snow, who broke the lower left eye orbit when he was hit by a Randy Johnson pitch] and now I’m in the same boat.”

Finley, who is second on the Angels’ all-time win list with 129, said he wasn’t sure whether there was any risk of long-term damage to his eye.

“They didn’t tell me much,” he said. “They were in the corner whispering a lot, though. I don’t know where I’m at in terms of starting the season. I just want to do what they tell me so I don’t damage my eye.”