Angels : Buckner Is Ready If Needed, Even in a Pinch

Bill Buckner knew months ago that this would be a strange spring. He also had a bad feeling that a season of discontent might follow.

After 17 years in the big leagues and 2,598 hits--more than any other active player--he would arrive in camp without a guaranteed spot on the roster for the first time in almost two decades.

“Buckner called me before camp opened and said he didn’t want to be excess baggage,” Angel Manager Gene Mauch said. “He explained why he couldn’t hit with more power last year (a sore left ankle) and said he had worked really hard during the off-season to strengthen it.

“Brian Downing is this team’s designated hitter, but then Kirk McCaskill was our No. 2 starter last year and you know what happened. You can never have too many good players.”

At first, Buckner didn’t think that sounded very promising. He said he wanted 200 to 300 at-bats this season and didn’t figure he’d get that many with the Angels. He still insists he could help some team as a full-time designated hitter, but his attitude is changing as the regular season nears.

“I’ve never been in this position and it’s kind of uncomfortable, but I’m playing it day to day,” Buckner said. “(Wally) Joyner’s going to play first and Downing’s certainly got his foot in the door for the DH job. I’m not getting as many at-bats this spring as I’d like, but I’ll just have to do my best when I get the chance.”

It doesn’t come much better than Buckner’s best. Last season, in 183 at-bats after the Angels signed him as a free agent in July, he hit .306. He hit .273 in 286 at-bats with Boston and had more than 120 hits in a season for the 16th time.

Buckner doesn’t really have anything to prove, except maybe that he can still hit when used sparingly.

And that may be a best-case scenario. Buckner could be released before the start of the season.

“It’s happened before,” Buckner said. “I’ve been released before, I’ve been traded before. It depends who’s talking about me being released. If it’s a reporter, I’m not worried. If it’s the manager or the general manager, then I’ll start worrying.”

So far, no one’s been forced to make a decision.

Sunday, Buckner got his first start of the spring and was 1 for 3 in the Angels’ 15-0 victory over Cleveland at Angels Stadium. He has five hits in the last six games.

“Buck was outstanding last year but in order to maintain that sharpness, there’s a certain amount of time you have to play,” Mauch said.

Buckner always has been at least a semi-regular player, so he doesn’t know exactly how much playing time he needs to keep his career average hovering around .300.

“I’ve never had to worry about it or do it before, so I just don’t know,” Buckner said. “Right now, I’m looking at being a pinch-hitter, maybe a DH once in a while and a couple of games at first.

“You figure if you’re the No. 1 pinch-hitter, that’s worth 40 at-bats a year. Then, if I got 20 games at DH, that would be another 80 to 100 and maybe 10 games at first and that would be another 40-50.”

If he had another set of legs--stronger legs--Buckner wouldn’t be counting his trips to the plate before they hatched. But ankle, tendon and bone chip surgeries have reduced his effectiveness in the field and now all that’s left, at 38, is that pure, sweet stroke.

But he’s not ready to even consider letting go of the game.

“I can use the money, but it’s not that,” he said, smiling. “Pinch-hitting can be challenging and stimulating. On the other hand, I’d like to play more. And if I get hot, who knows? He (Mauch) just might decide to keep me in there.”

Angel Notes

The Angels unleashed their triple threat on Cleveland Sunday. Devon White tripled twice, and Jack Howell and Bob Boone each had triples as the Angels collected 18 hits. They left Indian starter John Candiotti shell-shocked after scoring 9 earned runs in 4 innings against the knuckleballer. White was 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs, Boone was 3 for 3 and scored twice, Wally Joyner was 2 for 3 and scored twice, and Chili Davis had a two-run homer. . . . Meanwhile, Mike Witt continues to win and look good doing it. Witt picked up his fourth-straight victory, pitching five innings and giving up just two hits while striking out five. . . . Joe Johnson allowed two hits in two innings, and Stewart Cliburn and Brian Harvey each pitched one perfect inning of relief. . . . Greg Minton, suffering from a sprained elbow ligament, threw for 10 minutes on the sidelines Sunday but had to quit when he started to increase his velocity and the pain increased as well. “I hit 60 miles per hour and vapor lock set in so I quit,” Minton said. “But I keep going up 10 miles per hour each time I throw. Right now, I might be able to get out my son’s high school team. Now, I’ve got two more days of complete and utter boredom before I throw again. If I keep gaining 10 miles per hour every time, pretty soon, Nolan Ryan look out.” . . . A group of Angel officials headed by Vice President Michael Schreter leaves today on a fact-finding trip to Florida. A number of Florida cities are attempting to lure clubs with Arizona-based spring training facilities, and the Angels’ lease with the city of Palm Springs expires after next year. The group will meet with a number of Palm Springs city officials before departing for Florida.