Angel Notebook : This Year, Darrell Miller Is Just Another Name

The Darrell Miller project continues, at least in the mind of Darrell Miller.

This time last year, he was the Angels’ catcher of the future, receiving a crash course in the art of receiving pitches. He was the experiment of the spring, and his every move behind the plate was studied and charted. His progress was considered special priority.

Twelve months later, Miller is back. Maybe a few people have noticed. His position is presently vacant--Bob Boone is gone, at least until May 1--but there has been no groundswell to rush Miller in as a successor. Over the winter, contenders named Butch Wynegar and Jack Fimple were brought in, and veteran Jerry Narron retains the higher status on the catching depth chart.

This spring, Miller is just another name, competing with so many others for the 24th spot on the Angel roster. If the Angels haven’t called the grand experiment off, they have at least focused their attention elsewhere.

And Miller has to find a way to regain it.

“I have to prove myself, over and over and over,” Miller said. “It makes spring training a do-or-die situation.

“Last spring, I had a great feeling about things. They thought I was going to be the backup catcher, I worked toward that. There was a lot of attention given to it.

“This year, there are so many variables, no one’s saying much of anything.”

Between this spring and last, of course, things have happened that helped shove Miller into the background. There was the home-plate collision in Palm Springs with Chicaco Cub catcher Steve Christmas, resulting in a knee injury that lingered on through the summer. There was Miller’s demotion to Edmonton in May to make room for Jack Howell. There were the signings of Wynegar and Fimple.

But the unkindest cut, according to Miller, was inflicted when major league teams cut back from 25 to 24 players. “When they ended up with the 24-man roster, it killed me,” he said.

Angel Manager Gene Mauch agreed.

“He would’ve made the club if they hadn’t chopped down to 24,” Mauch said. “He might make it, even with that, this year.”

Toward that end, Miller says, “I have a plan.”

A good part of it entails hitting. Miller must do so often. And with a triple and a single in Thursday’s 13-9 loss to the Cleveland Indians, he kept his spring batting average at .500--5 for 10.

Then, there’s preparation. “I’ve got a home computer with all the hitters in the American League in there,” Miller said. “I’ve got their tendencies listed. I want to study them.”

And, finally, there’s versatility. Instead of concentrating on learning the finer points of catching, Miller spent time during the winter working out at all the outfield positions and third base.

“I want to be a full-time catcher, but my niche, so far, is being someone who can play a lot of positions,” he said. “The other day, I played center field in the B game and caught the A game. I’ve had to change my work ethic and practice all the positions. I just want to be ready everywhere.”

Angel Notes Thursday’s loss to Cleveland left the Angels with a spring record of 1-6. Pitchers Ray Chadwick and Mike Cook didn’t exactly help their own causes. Chadwick gave up six runs in the first inning--although four Angel errors contributed--and left with two out in the third inning, trailing, 9-1. He allowed eight hits, a walk and four earned runs. Cook came on to pitch the next 2 innings, yielding five hits and three earned runs. “Some of the kids I’ve been excited about didn’t look quite as I’d hoped,” was Gene Mauch’s assessment. . . . Devon White and Mark McLemore both had two hits. White is now batting .433, McLemore .375. . . . Donnie Moore will make his first performance of the spring today when the Angels play the Milwaukee Brewers at Chandler, Ariz. Mauch said Kirk McCaskill’s debut will probably be Monday.