Spring Training Roundup : Sconiers’ Absence Becoming Sort of a Mystery

A mystery continued to surround the whereabouts of Angel first baseman Daryl Sconiers Sunday.

Sconiers had told the Angels on Thursday that he would report Sunday, but he missed his third workout and still had not checked in Sunday night.

His attorney, Nick Lamprose of San Jose, said the episode has been a surprise to him since he was under the impression that Sconiers had initially planned to report for the first full-squad workout on Friday and did not know he hadn’t until Saturday when a Southern California associate read it in the papers.

“I just finished talking to Sconiers’ wife and his mother,” Lamprose said late Sunday night, “and they said Daryl had told them he would be there tonight. They couldn’t tell me why he hadn’t gone in the first place.”

The 26-year-old designated-hitter candidate and backup to Rod Carew has now been fined $735, based on $245 per day.

General Manager Mike Port said he, too, did not know where Sconiers was or why he had asked for permission to report late.

Port said that only his secretary, Leslie Wilson, had talked to Sconiers when he called Thursday.

“I suppose if something serious were to befall him,” Port said early Sunday, “we’d hear about it eventually, but in the meantime, camp goes on. We have concern, but the greater concern should be on Daryl’s part. There’s competition here and he was expected to be involved in it.

“If he were to call and say he needed our help we’d do everything possible, but we’re in the dark. We haven’t heard from Daryl or his agent.”

Why a $245 fine? Any fine of $250 or more is subject to the grievance procedure.

Ken Forsch, who did not pitch last year after dislocating his shoulder in his second start, will start the Angels’ March 13 Cactus League opener against Seattle.

At Peoria, Ariz., Milwaukee outfielder Dion James separated his right shoulder while diving for a fly ball during batting practice and is expected to be out of the lineup for at least two months.

James, the Brewers’ best rookie last season, had just signed a contract Saturday and was participating in his second workout.

At Sarasota, Fla., Al Vermeil, brother of former Philadelphia Eagles’ Coach Dick Vermeil, has been hired to increase the speed of the Chicago White Sox players.

Vermeil runs a fitness clinic. “My training can’t make anyone fast,” Vermeil said, “but it can make them reach their potential speed.”

At St. Petersburg, Fla., the New York Mets have denied published reports that center fielder Mookie Wilson will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

“We are pleased with Wilson’s progress,” trainer Steve Garland said. “We are very optimistic that within a week Mookie will be able to put stress on his shoulder. There are absolutely no plans for surgery.”

At West Palm Beach, Fla., Atlanta Braves third baseman Bob Horner took batting practice and reported no pain in his right wrist.

Horner, who underwent surgery less than three months ago to repair the twice-broken wrist, was not expected to be ready for workouts for several more days.

At Lakeland, Fla., Chet Lemon, the Detroit Tigers’ All-Star center fielder, has signed a contract extension with the club that binds him to the world champions through 1991.