Ex-Angel Manager Collins Arrested

Dodger minor league field coordinator Terry Collins, who managed the Angels from 1997-99 and the Houston Astros from 1994-96, was arrested early Thursday morning and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Richmond (Ga.) County Sheriff’s Office.

Collins, 53, was stopped on an Augusta, Ga., street at about 2 a.m. He was also charged with operating an unsafe vehicle and driving without a license on his person.

“He was driving on a flat tire, which is what drew our attention to him,” Maj. Richard Weaver of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office told Rob Mueller of the Augusta Chronicle. “He just kept driving.”

Collins, who is in his first year with the Dodgers, stumbled out of his vehicle after being pulled over, police said. “He was staggering,” Weaver said. “He was obviously impaired and failed a sobriety test.” Collins was arrested and taken to the Richmond County Jail, where Weaver said he failed a Breathalyzer test.

Collins, who was in Augusta to join the South Georgia Waves, the Dodgers’ affiliate in the Class-A South Atlantic League, remained in jail for 14 hours before being released after meeting bond requirements. He did not attend Thursday’s game.

Collins guided the Angels to a 214-235 record before resigning by mutual consent in early September 1999, a season in which the Angels finished last in the American League West. He was hired by Dodger director of player development Bill Bavasi, who was the Angel general manager during Collins’ tenure in Anaheim.

“We’ve been informed of the situation,” Bavasi said, “and we’re handling it internally.”

*

Adrian Beltre has ended his media boycott, but the third baseman said his refusal to speak to reporters for three weeks had nothing to do with those covering the team.

“Sometimes I just don’t want to talk to anyone because it reminds me too much of how bad I’m playing,” Beltre said. “The last few weeks, I’ve had so much on my mind I’m going crazy. I wasn’t enjoying life at all. I wanted to get that all out of my mind.”

Beltre was batting .283 on May 17 and was on such a roll Manager Jim Tracy moved him from seventh to second in the order. But in the next 36 games, Beltre is 23 for 128, his average sliding to .237, and he has committed eight of his team-high 13 errors.

Beltre, only 23 but in his fourth full year in the big leagues, has frustrated Tracy at times with his lackadaisical play and inconsistent at-bats, so much so that he has been in the manager’s office for numerous closed-door meetings in recent weeks.

Tracy, who rarely criticizes his players publicly, even took a shot at Beltre earlier this week, saying, “If there’s one guy who should have some Gold Glove awards on his mantel, it’s him.”

*

Reserve catcher Chad Kreuter, who developed a large hematoma, or pooling of blood, on his left shin after bruising it during a collision at second base against Boston on Sunday, was put on the 15-day disabled list after Thursday’s game. He will be replaced by David Ross, who was batting .276 with five homers and 30 RBIs for triple-A Las Vegas.... Tracy has been selected by Arizona Manager Bob Brenly to serve as a National League coach for the July 9 All-Star game in Milwaukee. Tracy, who said he was “flattered to have the opportunity,” is the first Dodger manager since Tom Lasorda in 1993 to coach in the All-Star game.