Making an Exception to the Ruhle : Angels Give the Veteran Right-Hander One Last Chance

It wouldn’t seem logical to take the pitcher with the worst winning percentage in the majors the past two seasons--a 35-year-old journeyman who has played for three teams since 1984--and start him for your first-place club in the middle of a pennant race.

But Angel Manager Gene Mauch is making an exception to the Ruhle.

Vern Ruhle, who was 2-10 for the Cleveland Indians in 1985 and 1-9 for the Houston Astros in 1984, will start for the Angels tonight against the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim Stadium.

This is the same Vern Ruhle who:

--Began the 1986 season as a batting practice pitcher for the Angels.

--Spent three weeks pitching for the San Jose Bees, an independent team in the Class-A California League that specializes in rehabilitation projects such as Steve Howe, Mike Norris and Darryl Sconiers.

--Spent a month pitching for the Orange County A’s, a semipro team.

--Was offered a minor league contract with the Angels and spent 1 1/2 months at Triple-A Edmonton before the Angels called him up July 18.

“It’s quite a story in a way,” Ruhle said Thursday night. “To come back from the situation I came from is kind of awesome.”

It will be even better if Ruhle’s debut as an Angel starter goes as well as his last relief appearance. Ruhle, who has a 1.84 earned-run average in 14 innings, earned the start by pitching seven scoreless innings against the Mariners on Sunday in relief of starter Ray Chadwick, who allowed four runs and failed to record an out.

Ruhle will become the Angels’ fifth No. 5 starter.

Jim Slaton, Mike Cook, Ron Romanick and Ray Chadwick all have been No. 5 starters this season. Slaton, who was released in June, now pitches for the Detroit Tigers. Romanick and Cook are back at Edmonton, and Chadwick’s status with the Angels depends on Terry Forster’s recovery from an ankle injury and Ruhle’s effectiveness as a starter.

“Being the fifth starter is a very delicate job,” Ruhle said. “You need a guy who can throw strikes and possibly fill in in the bullpen. I’ve had experience in that role, and I don’t feel intimidated by it.”

Ruhle had his best season in 1980 after replacing J.R. Richard, who had suffered a stroke, in the Astros’ rotation. He went 12-4 and helped Houston win the National League West.

Ruhle has had only one other winning season (8-5 in 1983) in what has been a rather undistinguished, 12-year major league career.

Ruhle has a career record of 66-85 and has been on the disabled list six times--for a combined seven months--for a variety of injuries, including a ruptured disc, an arm strain and a hamstring pull.

“I’ve had some disappointments, but I’ve been blessed just to be able to play in the major leagues for several years.”

He wasn’t blessed with an overpowering fastball. He has been a control pitcher who tries to get ahead of the batters and make them hit his pitch. He has relied on an assortment of breaking balls, a slider, a changeup and a fastball--even if it is in name only.

And he relies on experience.

“Not everyone has a Nolan Ryan fastball,” Ruhle said. “You have to take the gifts you have and use them to the best of your ability. I like to think I’m the kind of pitcher who is competitive, can keep you in the game, and has a good idea of what’s going out there.”

After nearly being forced into retirement this year, Ruhle is just glad to be out there. He spent spring training with Oakland, but the A’s didn’t want to give up a second-round 1986 June draft pick to Cleveland (as the required free-agent compensation) to sign Ruhle. Neither did anyone else.

So, Ruhle waited. He threw some batting practice for the Angels, made three starts with the Bees, and several more with the Orange County A’s. The Angels liked what they saw and signed Ruhle on June 7.

Ruhle, sitting in the Angel dugout Thursday night, reflected on his days in the minor leagues and said it wasn’t a bad experience.

But, he was quick to add, “There’s no question this is where you want to play.”