Angels : Mauch Ready to Take His Place in the Dugout

Friday afternoon, behind a fenced-in tunnel that connects the two dugouts here at Angels Stadium, Gene Mauch worked his way into managing shape. He clapped, clowned, shouted, peered and paced, just as he had before chronic bronchitis sent him packing two weeks ago.

Mauch, dressed in street clothes, his system rid finally of antibiotics that had left him woozy at times, appeared fit and happy. And why not? Today, he said, he will return to uniform, out of the tunnel and into--at last--the Angel dugout.

“I’ll be out here tomorrow,” Mauch said Friday between innings of the Angels’ 10-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

And that was that. Before reporters could ask another question, Mauch bounded up the tunnel steps and was gone. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said.

Acting manager Cookie Rojas, behind in his duties as the team’s advance scout, said earlier this week that he expected Mauch back by today or Sunday.

Even General Manager Mike Port, known for his knack of keeping a secret, said “maybe,” rather than the customary, “It’s day to day,” when asked about Mauch’s possible return today.

Not that Mauch didn’t enjoy himself Friday. After all, the Angels ended an ugly two-game losing streak in which they had been outscored, 24-1.

Angel starter Mike Witt, having one of his finest spring camps, allowed just three hits and one run in six innings. Witt was followed by Stewart Cliburn, who continued to impress Angel coaches with two innings of scoreless pitching, and Donnie Moore, whose one-inning appearance was his best to date.

Angel hitters enjoyed themselves, too, especially third baseman Jack Howell, who collected three hits, including a home run, his first of the spring and only his sixth run batted in.

Wally Joyner had three hits--two of them doubles--and three RBIs. Chili Davis added three singles, and Devon White had two hits and two RBIs.

But no one had more fun than Mauch, who spent the entire game in that cramped tunnel, checking the radar gun, chatting with coaches and players, yelling instructions to catcher Butch Wynegar, predicting hit-and-run plays and pitchouts and admiring the pitches of Giant reliever Scott Garrelts. Street clothes or no street clothes, Mauch immersed himself in the game.

Now he will change back to his double-knit baseball pants and the familiar No. 4 jersey.

Rojas will do a clothing switch, too, before flying home to Miami today and then making his way to the camp of the Chicago White Sox--the Angels’ opponent opening day--in Sarasota, Fla.

“I’ve got to pick up my stuff and start scouting,” Rojas said. “I should be able to see six or seven games. Then I’ll go right up to Chicago.”

Kevin Uhlich, Angel director of operations, and Mike Schreter, Angel executive vice president-treasurer, returned to Palm Springs Friday after a three-day tour of major league training facilities in Florida.

The Angels’ lease with the City of Palm Springs ends in December, 1989, though the team holds a five-year option to renew. But unless the city upgrades the present Angels Stadium facilities, Uhlich said the Angels may be forced to look elsewhere, mainly Florida.

Uhlich said that the Angels want a second playing field, an expanded clubhouse, training room, press box and seating facilities. “(The stadium) really needs an overhaul,” he said.

Angel Notes

Mike Witt raised his 1988 spring training record to 5-0 and has allowed just 6 earned runs in 27 innings. “But it’s not unusual for Witt to have a good spring,” Gene Mauch said. “Guys who can get (the breaking ball) over early in the spring normally do pretty well.” Witt was 3-0 with a 1.97 earned-run average last spring. Said Witt: “I’m just trying to get in a nice groove and carry it on into the beginning of the year. But everything is out the window on Day 1 (of the regular season).”