Angels : Mauch Tests Begin; Results Expected in Three Days

When Angel Manager Gene Mauch decided to leave the team and have physical testing because of a lingering illness, club owner Gene Autry suggested that Mauch proceed directly to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. It is near Mauch’s home and, Autry said, “We’ll get one of the best doctors there to give him the examination.”

Mauch, however, rates most doctors just above Dave Henderson on his list of favorite people, so when it came down to selecting an attending physician, Mauch went with an old friend--Angel team doctor Jules Rasinski, who works at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

Monday, Mauch checked into St. Joseph for his first round of tests. Later, Rasinski reported: “He hates hospitals, but he feels fine, he feels comfortable. I would hope to have all the results within three days.

“He wants to announce everything when it’s all done.”

That’s good, because Monday, Angel General Manager Mike Port was of little help on the matter. Before reporters could ask him about Mauch, Port had publicist John Sevano type out a terse press release that read:

“Although some members of the Angels organization have been updated regarding plans for California Angels Manager Gene Mauch, there will be no further statements on the situation unless they are made by Gene Mauch or his physician.”

The release carried the headline: “Gene Mauch Announcement.” It was an announcement to announce there would be no announcement.

Add Mauch: Before arriving in Mesa, Ariz., to assist in the special case of Johnny Ray, outfield instructor Lee Walls turned down an offer to provide similar assistance to new Dodger left fielder Kirk Gibson.

Walls chose the Angels for one reason: “I’m a Gene Mauch man.”

The relationship between Mauch and Walls dates more than 30 years, when both were playing in the old Pacific Coast League. Walls, then with the Hollywood Stars, relates a story from those days:

“Gene was playing for the (Los Angeles) Angels and one inning, he slides into second really hard. He knocked our second baseman, Monty Basgall, on his butt, cut him up around the ankles.

“Bobby Bragan was managing for us and he tells us, ‘The first guy who gets on base, wipe that . . . out.’ So, I’m the next one to get on, and the guy after me hits a ground ball to third. I go into second base--and I take him to Cleveland, I hit him so hard. Gene just gets up and doesn’t say anything.

“The next day, he comes up to me and says, ‘Son, that’s the way to play this game’ and walks away. Ever since that day, he’s had my respect.”

That’s how Mauch has remained, Walls said--aggressive, tough, seemingly impervious to pain. Angel Notes

Angel shortstop Dick Schofield fouled a ball off his right ankle during Monday’s 9-8 exhibition defeat to the Seattle Mariners and had to be removed from the game. Schofield was taken to Desert Samaritan Hospital in Mesa for X-rays, which were negative, according to Cookie Rojas, the Angels’ acting manager. . . . Monday’s defeat dropped Rojas to 3-1 in his new role as manager, although the Angel hitters remain on a roll. With eight more runs and nine more hits, the Angels are averaging 10.3 runs and 14 hits a game under Rojas. . . . Paced by two-run doubles by Mark Ryal and Bob Boone, the Angels scored five runs in the fifth inning and took an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh. But there, pitchers Jack Lazorko and Bryan Harvey faltered--Lazorko allowing Seattle three runs to tie and Harvey balking in the winning run.

The Angels cut their roster to 35 in preparation of breaking camp Wednesday and moving to Palm Springs. Those remaining behind in Mesa to begin minor league camp will be pitchers Greg Bargar, Vinicio Cedeno, Mike Cook, Roberto Hernandez, Vance Lovelace and Urbano Lugo, catchers Edwin Marquez, John Orton and Erik Pappas, and outfielder Dante Bichette. Three nonroster pitchers will accompany the team to Palm Springs--Terry Clark, Stewart Cliburn and Ray Krawczyk.