Corbett Wins by Waiting Out the Fates : Reliever Survives Hard Times to Become a Bullpen Savior Again

Doug Corbett had an ice bag on his right elbow, another strapped against the ribs under his right arm and still another lashed to his left knee.

He also was sporting a weary smile. It had been too long since he hurt so good.

Corbett had just finished pitching three innings to save Don Sutton’s long-awaited 296th victory Wednesday night. And while Sutton may have waited eight months for No. 296, Corbett could give the dean of the Angels’ staff a clinic on the waiting game.

Corbett, who has made three trips to the mound in the last five days and has two saves to show for it, has been waiting four years to regain the form that helped him save 40 games in two seasons (1980-81) with Minnesota. He made 127 appearances in those two seasons, more than any other American League pitcher.

But he’s spent part of all four years with the Angels in the minor leagues and has heard a lot more boos than cheers when he did show up in Anaheim Stadium. He’s 10-12 with just 14 saves as an Angel.

“There’s so many variables in this game,” Corbett said, slumping into the director’s chair in front of his locker before Thursday night’s game against Toronto. “Last year, I was hurt almost from the first week of the season until the last.”

Corbett’s save Tuesday in Boston was his first since July 28, 1984, and Wednesday’s marked the first time he’d recorded back-to-back saves since his first two appearances as an Angel in 1982.

Last season, Corbett, 33, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove bone spurs and scar tissue, but the right-hander says his problems have been more mental than physical.

“I would say my mental preparation was more of a problem than anything physical,” he said. “I’ve always had the same physical ability that God gave me.”

During his prolonged slumps, however, the question of how he used that ability kept coming up. Corbett’s mechanical problems have been an oft-discussed topic over the years.

Manager Gene Mauch, who called Corbett’s number often when he managed the Twins in 1981, doesn’t want to get caught up in that kind of conversation these days, though.

“When a guy’s going good, I avoid analysis every chance I get,” Mauch said. “I know it’s part of being a big leaguer, but I’ve seen so many guys who are going good read the papers and get paralysis from analysis.

“I’ll tell you this, though. This is the happiest Doug’s been in four years. He’s got control again and there’s nothing that can make a player happier than having things under control.”

When a guy’s going good, Mauch also doesn’t shy away from going with a good thing. In 1982, Mauch was openly criticized by some of his players for going with Corbett too often when the struggling reliever lost seven straight and finished 1-9 on the year.

“I have tendency to ride ‘em hard and put ‘em away wet,” Mauch admits, imitating a jockey in the home stretch.

Corbett doesn’t mind, though. He’s been in the barn for too long.

“Yeah, I was pretty wet for two years in Minnesota,” he said, smiling at the recollection of the good old days.

Corbett’s 1.59 earned-run average this season is reminding a lot of people of the pitcher the Angels traded Tom Brunansky for in 1982. Former general manager Buzzie Bavasi once called the deal “a mistake,” but Corbett thinks he has plenty of time left to prove Bavasi wrong.

He imagines himself having a big impact on the Angels’ fortunes this year and what Corbett sees in his mind’s eye has been transforming itself into reality lately. On the recommendation of pitching coach Marcel Lachemann, Corbett has been working on imagery with mentalist Ken Ravizza.

Corbett says that not only has his mental approach vastly improved, but the sessions have had physical benefits as well.

“In the past, I’ve pitched five minutes on the side every day to stay sharp,” Corbett said. “Now, I can do that pitching in my mind and save a lot of physical wear and tear.

“That game I pitched in Milwaukee (Sunday) was my fourth outing of the season and it came after a long (14-day) layoff. But I felt as sharp as if I’d been pitching all along.”

He looked pretty good, too, throwing 2 innings of scoreless ball in the Angels’ 5-3 loss. It was an outing that had a great deal to do with Mauch’s decision to give Corbett two save opportunities this week.

“I’ve developed this sort of tunnel vision when I’m out there,” Corbett said. “I was telling Ken today it reminded me of the years in Minnesota. Everything is blocked out, all my energy is focused on my job.

“I’m getting so high, so involved, that I have to clench my fists and scream at the end of the inning to come down.”

Mauch, of course, wouldn’t mind if Corbett whistled Dixie after each pitch, as long as his long-lost sinker rediscovers its old tricks.

And then everyone will be happy . . . including the guy who supplies the ice for the Angels’ clubhouse.