Burleson and Corbett Latest Angel Releases

Another day, another two Angel veterans become ex-Angel veterans.

On Friday, infielder-designated hitter Rick Burleson and relief pitcher Doug Corbett went the same way as Terry Forster and Vern Ruhle did Thursday. In an announcement concerning six of the Angels’ potential free agents, General Manager Mike Port said the team will not offer 1987 contracts to Burleson, who batted .284 in 93 games, and Corbett, who went 4-2 with 10 saves.

Port also said he will attempt to negotiate new contracts with catcher Bob Boone, third baseman Doug DeCinces and outfielder Brian Downing. Reggie Jackson, who has publicly said that the Angels have no plans for him next season, was officially left in limbo by Port, who said he is “hopeful of meeting with Reggie Jackson within the next two weeks.”

Friday’s announcement brings an end to a pair of Angel careers that progressed similarly--beginning with much promise, followed by four years of disappointment and then revitalization in 1986.

Corbett, who turns 34 next week, came to the Angels in 1982 after saving 40 games in two seasons with the Minnesota Twins--amid acclaim that he would emerge as the Angels’ bullpen savior. But Corbett struggled through four years of injuries and inconsistency, failing to spend an entire season in the major leagues until 1986.

In 1986, Corbett finished second on the club in saves and appearances (46 games) while recording a 3.66 earned-run average. He won Game 4 of the American League playoffs, pitching three innings of hitless relief.

Burleson, 35, was a three-time All-Star shortstop with the Boston Red Sox before his trade to the Angels in December, 1980. He batted .293 for California in 1981 before basically missing the next four seasons with two tears of his right rotator cuff muscle.

By simply making the Angels’ 1986 roster, Burleson qualified for comeback player of the year consideration. He worked out at second base and shortstop during spring training but played sparingly in the field during the regular season. Of Burleson’s 93 appearances, 46 were limited to designated-hitter duty.

Reached at his home in La Habra Heights, Burleson said he wasn’t surprised by the Angels’ decision.

“It’s obvious they didn’t feel I fit into their plans,” he said. “I think everybody knows I was not happy with the amount of playing time I had this year. Yes, I did come to the plate 300 times, but never with any consistency. I can’t think of more than twice when I played two days in a row.

“I thought when I did get the chance to play, I did fairly well. But I never really did feel a part of it.”

Burleson backed up Dick Schofield at shortstop, an assignment he could accept. Schofield had the best season of his career and is regarded among the league’s top defensive shortstops.

But Burleson appeared in just six games at second base, a position that was shared by since-retired Bobby Grich (.268) and Rob Wilfong (.219). In early September, when Manager Gene Mauch started rookie Gus Polidor at second base, Burleson accusing Mauch of “burying me,” saying, “I don’t like the man and I don’t care who knows it.”

Friday, Burleson admitted that the second base situation had been a yearlong frustration for him.

“Gene Mauch obviously had no faith in me defensively,” he said. “If I can’t play at second base when neither of the second basemen they have are opening any eyes offensively . . .

“At 35, maybe my days at shortstop are over, but by no means is second base out of the question. I never said anything until they played Polidor ahead of me.

“Yes, I spoke out. Maybe I’m paying for it now. If they take that personally, well, that’s too bad.”

More likely, as Burleson conceded, Port used the five-year, $4.4-million contract Burleson signed in 1982 as his main consideration.

“They took a beating with my contract the first time around and I’m sure they didn’t want to take a chance and sign me again and have me go down again.

“I don’t want to go out with a bitter feeling. They stuck with me while I was hurt and trying to come back. But, after all, I was under contract. I worked hard to come back and I felt I played well in the role I was given.”

Burleson said he will continue his accustomed off-season training regimen this winter with the assumption that he will play again. He wants to play somewhere where “I can back up at shortstop and second base, or platoon at second or even play second on an everyday basis.

“If it happens, it happens. Right now, I’m going to start working out on the weights and wait to see who’s interested.”

Burleson said he had one major regret about his career with the Angels.

“I’m disappointed how the six years went, with all the injuries,” he said. “When I came out here, I was one of the top-rated shortstops in the game.

“But in ‘81, we had the (players’) strike and we missed 50 games. The next year, I was hurt in the 10th game of the season. People here didn’t get to see the player I was.”