Angels Aren’t Playing Up to Their Potential

Has it been a month already? A whole month of Cookie and getting creamed? An April when the Angels would have challenged for the worst record in the American League had it not been for birds of a hapless feather, the Baltimore Orioles?

I know it’s early. I know 139 games remain. I know anything can happen. After all, I listen to Al Conin, too.

But I also know the Angels are stumbling about, in search of an identity. No longer are they The Little General’s troops, marching along as if they were all attached to the same puppet string. Gene Mauch is retired, and with him goes a certain sense of predictability, of focus.

This is Cookie Rojas’ team now. It has been his, in one form or another, since March 11, when Mauch first left the Angels to undergo a physical examination. Since then, the Angels have lurched toward inconsistency. They are a team in transition: from the iron will and presence of the legendary Mauch to the agreeable but unfamiliar ways of the rookie manager Rojas.

Twenty-three regular-season games have passed, each one revealing another glimpse of Rojas’ methods. In the process, we also have learned a little something about the Angels themselves. So for report card enthusiasts everywhere, here are those April Angel grades. And don’t forget to have General Manager Mike Port sign them.

Classes:

1) Elementary Clubhouse Atmosphere . . . A+.

If nothing else, Rojas has loosened up a previously somber clubhouse, going so far as to allow George Hendrick and Wally Joyner to conduct kangaroo court proceedings after each Angel victory. Needless to say, court hasn’t been in session much.

Hendrick serves as chief magistrate, which is fine, since he doesn’t have much to do these days. Joyner, who has gained considerable respect and clout in the clubhouse, serves as a de facto court administrator. Awards are presented for worst swing, worst fielding (fast becoming a race between outfielders Chili Davis and Johnny Ray), worst baserunning, worst temper and most exemplary pitching. It’s silly stuff, but the team is closer because of it, unlike last season, when the younger and older players kept their distances. Credit Rojas for the change. Kangaroo court during the Mauch regime? Most likely never would have happened.

2) Basic Game Strategy . . . C.

Rojas began the season by walking briskly to the pitcher’s mound at the first sign of trouble. Ace starter Mike Witt still has the hook burns from when Rojas sent him to the dugout not once, but twice with leads.

Nowadays, Rojas seems more hesitant to relieve his starters. Two possible reasons: His bullpen has allowed more hits than a blackjack dealer, or he realized that his pitchers deserve a chance to finish what they start.

So Rojas has shown he is flexible. But do his moves always make sense?

In condensed form, Rojas thus far has played for a tie on the road, used reliever Stewart Cliburn as a pinch-runner, named rookie reliever Frank DiMichele on the opening day roster, only to send him down after minimal use, pulled starters, granted carte blanche to several Angel baserunners and retained a set lineup.

Some good, some bad, some experimentation.

3) Introduction to Reality . . . C-.

Too often in the first month, the new manager saw the Angels through Rojas-colored glasses. Repeat after me: This is not a first-place team . . . this is not a first-place team . . . this is not a first-place team. Third, maybe, and only if Jupiter is aligned with Mars. Fourth, probably. Fifth, with little or no difficulty. But first, as Rojas, Port and Joyner have suggested? Sorry, don’t see it.

The Angels weren’t exactly subjected to the Murderer’s Row of scheduling in April. The Chicago White Sox, the Oakland Athletics, the White Sox again, the Seattle Mariners, the A’s again, the Mariners again, followed by the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The A’s, I understand. Talented, potent. The White Sox will be in St. Petersburg before they challenge for a division title again. The Mariners deserve to play inside a dome, where nobody can see them. The Tigers have Sparky Anderson, Alan Trammell, Matt Nokes, Jack Morris, Darrell Evans and pizza. The Blue Jays aren’t doing any better than the Angels.

And yet the Angels are 10-13.

What happens in May, when the Angels must face the surprising Cleveland Indians five times, the New York Yankees six times, the Boston Red Sox five times?

Rojas insists that the Angels will be fine. So do Port and Joyner. Maybe the Angels will be fine, but not by playing the way they did in month No. 1.

4) Introduction To Communications . . . B.

Ask Rojas a question and he answers it. The quotes aren’t as clever as the ones supplied by Mauch, but they often are surprisingly honest. Rojas isn’t afraid to criticize his players or himself. Nor is he afraid to defend a decision or performance.

Rojas said at season’s beginning that he would be available to reporters, “win or lose.” He has, and he never has made a beeline for the door after a game. And get this: He hasn’t blamed the media for anything, yet.

5) Remedial Pitching . . . C.

How was Rojas to know that his starting pitching would hold up well enough, but that his bullpen would finish the month with just four saves?

He didn’t, which probably explains the early showers for Angel starters. Now he knows better.

Witt, 1-2 with a 5.29 earned-run average, is usually a slow starter; his 5.18 ERA during last April indicates that much. Willie Fraser is 3-0. Chuck Finley, though owner of a losing record (2-3), has pitched better than the statistics suggest. Kirk McCaskill and Dan Petry have shown signs of recovering their earlier form.

Meanwhile, Angel relievers have provided little comfort. Entering this weekend’s games, opponents were batting .433 against Donnie Moore. DeWayne Buice ended April with the team lead in saves (a whopping 2) and blown save opportunities (3). DiMichele, the only left-hander in the bullpen, is long gone. Cliburn is the apparent long reliever. Ray Krawczyk has been relegated to mop-up duty. Bryan Harvey, only recently recalled, has been impressive.

6) Defensive Baseball 101 . . . C.

The grade would be D-minus if only the outfield was in question. Pity the hobbled center fielder, Devon White, who is flanked by Johnny Ray and Chili Davis. Ray is new to the outfield, and it shows. Davis was supposed to be familiar with the outfield, though you wouldn’t know it so far.

And now for honor students:

--Third baseman Jack Howell and Ray (but only if he leaves his glove in the dugout). Howell has played excellent defense and is hitting for average and power--all the things he said he would do if given the chance to play every day. Ray has had a remarkable offensive start, what with his average, which at times is stuck in the .400s, and his runs batted in, which are among the league’s elite.

And those staying after school:

--Joyner, who is off to an un-Wally-like start. In April 1986, Joyner had a .333 average, 6 home runs and 16 RBIs. In April 1987, he had a .297 average, 5 homers and 19 RBIs. This year, he had a .256 average, 1 home run and 6 RBIs.

So this is what Rojas has been given, a team that on paper should be better than what was presented last season. And in a sense, Rojas is better suited to this particular roster.

But there’s the rub. His Angels are closer and more talented than a year ago. Now when do they start playing like it?