Angels : DiMichele Does His Job and Makes the Roster

In the wake of Monday’s first wave of roster cuts, Angel Manager Cookie Rojas said Tuesday that no more personnel decisions will be made until this weekend’s Freeway Series.

But that doesn’t mean Rojas hasn’t formed some ideas about the 24 players he will take to Chicago next Monday.

Count rookie left-hander Frank DiMichele among the relief pitchers. Once again, in the Angels’ 4-2 loss to San Diego Tuesday, DiMichele did his job, facing one batter--name of Tony Gwynn--and retiring him on an inning-ending chopper to second base.

You can also paint non-roster pitcher Ray Krawczyk into the picture, judging by the rough draft Rojas provided of his 1988 bullpen after Tuesday’s game.

“The way Donnie Moore has pitched his last two outings, he looks like our stopper,” Rojas said. “DeWayne Buice is looking good. DiMichele will be our left-hander--he’s been throwing very well all spring. And Krawczyk will probably be our long reliever.”

That figures to leave one bullpen seat open for Stewart Cliburn, Jack Lazorko or Joe Johnson. “You’ll know by Friday or Saturday,” Rojas said. “All of those guys have a chance.”

Rojas also set up his starting rotation for the first week of the regular season. Mike Witt will pitch opening day, followed by Dan Petry and Chuck Finley in Chicago, then Kirk McCaskill pitching the home opener against Oakland April 8, followed by Willie Fraser the next day.

Now, onto the position players.

Monday’s release of Mark Ryal and the demotion of Darrell Miller also tipped Rojas’ hand on his bench. He said there is a pretty good chance he’ll keep six outfielders, meaning that--with both Ryal and Miller gone--Tony Armas and George Hendrick figure to earn spots as reserves.

Ryal was also a left-handed pinch-hitter, a role Rojas has designated for Bill Buckner. Butch Wynegar will be the backup catcher and Gus Polidor the backup shortstop, thus filling the club’s five reserve openings.

So, basically, the only suspense left for the Angels during the Freeway Series is the winner of the annual Lefty Phillips Award and the winner of this year’s final bullpen berth.

DiMichele all but clinched his assignment by the pitches he threw to Gwynn. Needing one out to get out of the ninth inning, DiMichele worked Gwynn to a 1-2 count--with Gwynn swinging and missing badly on a 1-1 slider--before inducing an easy ground-out.

“I haven’t seen Tony Gwynn take a swing like that in three days,” said Angel pitching coach Marcel Lachemann. “We asked DiMichele to get one hitter out and that’s a pretty good one. Only one of the two or three best in baseball.”

After 9 spring appearances, DiMichele has an earned-run average of 0.82. Krawczyk, in 7 outings, has 3 saves and a 2.89 ERA. Both are rookies and Buice was one in 1987. Should Cliburn, who spent 1985 with the Angels, also make the cut, that would give the Angels four relievers with a grand total of two years’ major league experience.

Chuck Finley calls it “Nightmare on Sunrise Street, Part III”--his horrific 8-run, no-out start of last Saturday, when Finley helped usher in the Cookie Rojas era with a 17-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Having had three days to mull over those numbers, Finley returned to the mound Tuesday and managed to get six outs this time.

He also gave up three more runs, raising his spring ERA to an even 8.00.

“Finley made a lot of mistakes out there,” Rojas said. “He got behind on a lot of hitters and it hurt him.

” . . . He’s the one (starting pitcher) who still has to get all his stuff together. I have confidence he can do it--I think he can do it, I’ve seen him do it. But he has to get into that frame of mind. He has to have confidence in himself.”

Toward that end, Lachemann and Finley chatted for about 20 minutes following the game.

“He just said, ‘Don’t get your head down,’ ” Finley said. “I started out strong this spring and now I’ve hit a snag. He told me none of this counts once the bell rings.”

Finley is assured a berth in the rotation--at least at season’s start--because the Angels want a left-handed starter and Finley is the only candidate they have.

“A lot of teams have left-handed hitters,” Rojas said. “To make it through the season with all right-handed starters is tough to do.”

Finley’s left-handedness is the reason he will pitch the third game of the season at Chicago. The White Sox start a predominantly left-handed-hitting lineup.

But to stay in the rotation after that is entirely up to Finley. Remember Urbano Lugo?

“I’ve just got to pick myself up and get back on track,” Finley said. “I’m throwing OK . . . “

Finley pointed to his head.

“I’ve just got to think a little more.”

Angel Notes

Manager Cookie Rojas has made it official: Second baseman Mark McLemore has won the leadoff spot in the Angels’ lineup. “I think he’s doing a hell of a job with it so far,” Rojas said. “He’s walking a lot, he gives us speed at the top of the lineup and him being a switch hitter is also a plus. He’s also improved his fielding tremendously this spring. The confidence is setting in. He’s going to be the best second baseman in this league for many years.” Brian Downing, last year’s leadoff man, said he was glad to relinquish the role to McLemore. Kind of. “We’ll be much better off with him batting first,” Downing said. “His speed is something they didn’t have with me. I had the walks (106 last season), so it’s a matter of what you prefer. With me batting further down, it gives us nice lefty-righty balance down in the order, which should be good.” Still, Downing admits he will miss seeing his name atop the Angels’ lineup card. “I initially balked at batting first; I was always a first-ball hitter in the past,” he said. “I took me awhile to be patient, which you have to do as a leadoff hitter. Then, I got to enjoy it. I liked making pitchers start out the game by having to throw 25 pitches to me. Overall, it was my most satisfying year individually, as far as being a team player and contributing where the club needed me the most. Of course, the rest of last season is another story.” . . . More from Downing: “This will be a difficult adjustment, but I’ve been adjusting my whole life. I’ve played a different position every year of my career. But, I’m here. I don’t care if I hit ninth. I’m a survivor. Fortunately.”

Admit another Angel into the no-smoking section. Along with Gene Mauch, DeWayne Buice has given up cigarettes. And how long has it been, DeWayne? “Three weeks, six hours, 27 minutes and 18 seconds,” Buice said with a grin. “I quit before Gene. I’m the pathfinder. But I never smoked as much as he did. Fortunately, I get to play baseball. I get to work it all off out on the field.” . . . Greg Minton threw on the mound for 12 minutes Tuesday--a longer workout, but less strenuous that his last 10-minute stint. “He threw longer but at less intensity,” said Angel team therapist Roger Williams. “We backed him off to about 65-70% velocity. He was up to 90% the last time and had discomfort in his arm the next day. He felt decent throwing today and we’ll see how the arm reacts tomorrow.” . . . Mike Witt pitches today’s Palm Springs finale for the Angels, facing the San Diego Padres’ Ed Whitson. It will be Witt’s last tuneup before his opening-day start. Thus far this spring, Witt is 5-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 27 innings. . . . Probable pitching matchups for the Freeway Series: Friday--the Angels’ Dan Petry against the Dodgers’ Tim Belcher; Saturday--Chuck Finley against Don Sutton; Sunday--Kirk McCaskill against Shawn Hillegas.