Spring Training / Angels : Mauch Seemingly Irons Out the Flaw in Jackson’s Swing

Reggie Jackson’s best spring swings have come when he’s played right field.

Jackson is hitless in four at-bats as a designated hitter this spring.

He’s hitting .500 (11 for 22) with eight runs batted in as a right fielder.

The figures seem to confirm Angel Manager Gene Mauch’s belief that Jackson is more productive when he’s more involved, a theory Jackson accepts, too.

Still to be determined, however, is how much playing time Jackson will actually receive.

Mike Brown, Ruppert Jones and Juan Beniquez are still in contention. The Angels obviously still hope that the 25-year-old Brown fulfills his minor league promise, a development that would limit Jackson’s field appearances.

Brown is 9 for 27 with four RBIs after being restricted early by a pulled muscle in his left leg and a bruised right hand.

“How we sort this out remains to be seen,” General Manager Mike Port said Saturday, “but on the basis of what he’s done this spring I imagine we’ll try to get Reggie in as many games as the situation allows.”

Jackson, 38, has played cautiously in the field, but not to the detriment of the defense. He has often said that the only way for him to get a Gold Glove is to go to Standard Brand and buy the paint. He is convinced, however, that he can still be an adequate fielder. He also believes that his strong spring does not stem entirely from the fact that he has been playing in the field.

He credits a talk with Mauch for convincing him that he can also be more productive by playing a smaller game, reducing his swing and putting the ball in play.

“Gene told me that he doesn’t care if I fail to hit even one home run,” Jackson said, “but that he believes I still have the capability of hitting .280 rather than .230. I’m swinging better than I have at any time in the last 10 springs.”

Angel Notes

A makeshift lineup that included only two veterans--Rod Carew and Rob Wilfong--defeated Cal State Fullerton, 4-1, before 3,118 fans at Palm Springs Saturday. Third baseman Bill Merrifield drove in two of the Angel runs with a double and ground out. Tony Mack, Scott Oliver and Julian Gonzalez scattered nine Titan hits . . . The Angel ‘A’ team lost to the Chicago Cubs, 5-4, at Mesa, Ariz. Geoff Zahn, who has allowed only one run in 12 innings, worked five innings, yielding three hits. Tommy John, who had said he can’t afford the luxury of one bad performance, gave up six hits and three runs in three innings. The game was tied, 4-4, when Luis Sanchez walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth. A botched pickoff play and an error by reserve shortstop Craig Gerber turned the walk into the decisive run. . . . General Manager Mike Port said he is satisfied that Reggie Jackson and Brian Downing are free of blame regarding the incident with a heckling fan Friday at Tucson.