DODGERS HONED; ANGELES HURTING : ANGELS 2, DODGERS 0.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

The Dodgers and Angels completed the Freeway Series Sunday and headed off in different directions. In fact, potentially opposite directions.

The Dodgers, with their few spring questions answered in a resounding affirmative, appear sound and potent and fully capable of leading the field in the National League West. They are so flush, in fact, that they had the luxury of sending last year's setup reliever, Antonio Osuna, to Albuquerque with the final cuts so he can work out a few kinks in his pitching form.

The Angels, despite the euphoria that comes from tagging their civic rivals with two straight defeats - including a 2-0 decision Sunday before 18,647 fans at Anaheim Stadium - could be in for a much rougher start.

Their depth was thin entering this season and now, after taking quite a few knocks in spring training, they'll have to begin play Wednesday night with their best pitcher, Chuck Finley, on the disabled list; another starter, Mark Gubicza, minimally prepared because of a sore shoulder in the spring; and their No. 1 second baseman, Randy Velarde, out of action with a bum throwing elbow.

An Angels team that finished last in a weak American League West in 1997, losing 91 games, might be hard-pressed to overcome these deficiencies in the season's early weeks.

At least they came out of this weekend with an upbeat outlook. But keep that asterisk handy; Allen Watson's six-inning shutout occurred against a lineup that bore a distinct resemblance to the Albuquerque Dukes after about two innings.

``You just don't want to take a chance of a foul tip or (a player) getting hit,'' Dodgers manager Bill Russell said of his decision to pull his regulars early in the contest. ``You don't want any freak things to happen this last day of spring.

``I wanted to give everybody a couple of innings. That's all they need.''

And if the Angels conveniently overlooked this fact and emerged from the weekend with their breastbones jutting out, well, there's probably no harm in that.

``We threw the ball real well this weekend,'' said manager Terry Collins, whose team came into the Freeway Series with a composite ERA of 8.26, worst in the major leagues. ``Our pitching staff stepped it up a notch.''

Watson, who joined the Angels from the San Francisco Giants this winter in the J.T. Snow trade, seemed relieved to have finally done so - if only against the Dodgers' scrubs. He entered the game with an 0-3 record and 12.18 ERA but emerged from it with a three-hitter, five strikeouts, no walks and the Freeway Series Most Valuable Pitcher award.

``It takes a long time in spring training to work with the catchers and get everything figured out,'' he said.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, will hope Osuna will soon do the same. In Triple-A.

The hard-throwing right-hander gave up 16 hits, eight walks and 11 earned runs in eight innings of spring work. His demotion earned right-hander Darren Hall and his 1.69 ERA a spot on the roster in a middle-relief role.

``We felt (Osuna) needed to go down there, work on his mechanics and get his control back,'' said Russell. ``When he does that, he'll come back and help us to a successful season. It's a tough decision to make because he did so well for us last year. But he knows what he has to work on.''

Most of the Dodgers, by contrast, came out of the spring with all the signs of being finely tuned.

Catcher Mike Piazza, who hit two home runs Friday night and earned the Freeway Series Most Valuable Player award, finished the spring with a .388 average and team highs in homers (five) and RBI (16).

Rookie Wilton Guerrero, while trouncing the field in the second-base derby, batted .342. Raul Mondesi came in at .329, Todd Hollandworth .293, Brett Butler .286 - and, more important, feeling relatively chipper one year after his battery of treatments for throat cancer.

``We feel very confident,'' said Russell. ``We feel we have a better team than last year.''

And the Angels? That determination will probably hinge on whether they can overcome their spring setbacks.

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Photo

Photo: Dodgers shortstop Greg Gagne makes an off-balance throw to retire the Angels' Jack Howell.

Associated Press