Spring Training / Angels : Forsch Is Ailing, Swan Failing, John Railing

The Angels put Ken Forsch on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, then watched Craig Swan pitch ineffectively in a 4-3 exhibition loss to San Diego.

The regular season opens in five days, but the names of the Angels’ fourth and fifth starters remain unknown.

General Manager Mike Port said he would wait until the Freeway Series concludes Sunday before exploring the options with Manager Gene Mauch and making a final roster cut and rotation decision.

Even now, amid the uncertainty, Port and Mauch are unwilling to make a commitment to Tommy John, who has enjoyed a strong spring despite feeling certain he does not fit into the Angels’ plans. Even now, after frequent claims that they want to treat him with the dignity his career record deserves, the Angels won’t tell John where he will be next week.

John was asked Thursday what his reaction will be if it’s Anaheim, where he might seemingly be a last-resort addition to the Angels’ staff.

“It will be hard to feel good about it,” he said. “Granted, I’m a professional player who is paid very good money to pitch, but I’m also a human being. If I do stay, it will be kind of like I’m doing it by default.

“At the same time, I love the guys here, and I’ll do everything I can to help them win.

“It’s just that the management here--male and female--makes it desirous to be elsewhere.”

John alluded to Port and Jackie Autry, the wife of Angel owner Gene Autry.

He reiterated that they have been telling him since November that he didn’t fit into their plans, implying he was too old and making too much money for a team dedicated to the austerity of a youth movement.

“They kept telling me that the only way I can help the club is if someone gets hurt,” John said. “Well, if I can’t help a healthy club, how can I help a club that isn’t?

“If I didn’t figure in their plans in November, I don’t want to figure in their plans in April.

“I want to pitch. I’ve proven this spring that I still can. But I want to pitch for a club that appreciates me, and I don’t think that’s the case here.”

There were rumors Thursday of lingering interest in John by the Chicago Cubs, but Port said he was unaware of it and that he had still not received any trade inquiries regarding John. It is believed that the club has finally given John’s attorney, Bob Cohen, permission to make his own trade, but John said it is too late and “the chances of a deal are dead.”

John added: “Mike kept saying that he wanted to treat me fairly, that he didn’t want to embarrass me. Well, is it fair to take me to the last day before making a decision? It is fair to take me to the last day and then release me, which is a real possibility?

“Mike is talking out of both sides of his mouth and isn’t capable of making a decision. He’s completely befuddled. He can’t do anything without her (Mrs. Autry) telling him what to do. Everything he’s told me is exactly the same wording as I’ve heard from her. I told him, ‘Mike, at least paraphrase it.’ ”

All Port would say Thursday was that he will delay his final decisions until the 11th hour and that the continued competition would “help guys stay sharp.”

The decision to put Forsch on the disabled list was not a surprise.

The veteran right-hander had recovered from the dislocated shoulder of last year only to encounter an elbow strain restricting his exhibition work to four innings. The elbow has been improving, but the Angels thought it might have been a risk to send him out against the Dodgers in the Freeway Series.

“If we’d then had to put him on the disabled list,” Mauch said, “it would have delayed his return. This way, we think we can get him ready in simulated games to pitch in Minnesota April 17.”

Forsch approved the move, saying he can now build his strength back gradually.

Who will replace him? Who will be the fourth and fifth starters? Mauch said it might be John or Swan or Jim Slaton, whom he would prefer to keep in long relief.

He also said it still might be one or both of the two rookies, Bob Kipper and Rafael Lugo. They will pitch the Palm Springs finale today.

Swan, meanwhile, was tagged for seven hits and two earned runs in 4 innings Thursday. He has given up 16 hits and six earned runs in the nine innings of his last two appearances.

Mauch’s reaction: “I’m pulling for every guy who goes out there now to be razor-sharp, but’s let’s see what the options are before I get into it. I’ll have a better idea tomorrow.”

Angel Notes

It was another big outing for rookie left-hander Pat Clements, who was called on with runners at first and third and one out in the fifth. Clements got left-handed hitter Terry Kennedy, who had homered off Craig Swan, on a tap to third, leading to a rundown put-out of the runner on third. He then struck out left-hander Graig Nettles. . . . Manager Gene Mauch said later that he asked Nettles his opinion of Clements and got this response: “Keep that bleepity bleep left-hander in the bleepity-bleep American League. I don’t want any of that.” . . . Brian Downing had three hits and two RBIs. . . . Gary Pettis celebrated his 27th birthday. . . . The Angels break camp after today’s game and will send Mike Witt against the Dodgers’ Bob Welch in Friday night’s Freeway Series opener at Dodger Stadium.