Angels Win but Put 2 on Disabled List

Butch Wynegar and his wife, Gretchen, drove past a palm reader’s shop Friday. Wynegar wanted to stop, but Gretchen told him to keep driving.

“She said she didn’t think we wanted to know what was in the future,” Wynegar said.

It appears she was right . . . unless there’s something spectacular in store for Wynegar when he retires from baseball. At this point, his future in the game doesn’t look too bright.

Before beating the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2, Friday night, the Angels placed the 32-year-old catcher and second baseman Mark McLemore on the 15-day disabled list. Wynegar’s arthritic right big toe is acting up again, and McLemore is still experiencing numbness in his right hand because of nerve irritation in the elbow.

Angel Manager Cookie Rojas must be beginning to wonder if Gene Mauch had a few sessions with the crystal-ball set before he retired this spring.

In front of 24,458 Friday night at Anaheim Stadium, the Angels snapped a five-game losing streak, so no one in the California clubhouse is complaining. But the Orioles have won just twice on the road this season, and American League hitters pounded Oriole starter Jeff Ballard for a .344 batting average last season.

Ballard gave up 10 hits and all 4 runs Friday night. Dick Schofield hit a home run to lead off the game. A double by Brian Downing and a run-scoring single by Wally Joyner accounted for run No. 2. And, the Angels put together a pair of runs in the fifth on three hits, a passed ball and a two-run single by Tony Armas.

Chuck Finley, who is fast becoming the Angels’ most reliable starter, went 7 innings and scattered 6 hits. He allowed more than one hit in only the second inning when Mickey Tettleton hit a two-run homer to left.

Rojas hasn’t had many chances to savor a win, but this one will probably be little consolation when he looks over his depleted roster. At the moment, his starting center fielder (Devon White), his starting second baseman (McLemore), one of his top relievers (Donnie Moore) and his No. 2 catcher (Wynegar) are on the disabled list.

“I’m a baseball manager,” Rojas said, shaking his head in dismay. “I don’t know what medical science can do for these guys. I just hope I can get them back as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, we’ll have to do the best we can with the players we have.”

Utility player Darrell Miller and first baseman Jim Eppard were recalled from the triple-A Edmonton club to fill out the roster. So, Rojas has a left-handed pinch-hitter (Eppard) who was hitting .262 in the minors and a backup catcher (Miller) who has 28 RBIs in 154 major league games. And his only left-handed reliever (Sherman Corbett) had two saves and a 3.40 earned-run average in the minors.

Mike Port, Angel general manager, admits that this was not exactly what he had envisioned in the exhibition season, but he insists it’s too early to panic.

“We’ve seen a variety of things (go wrong), yes, but the bottom line is we have to bow our necks and find out how to do a better job,” Port said. “Every club has to make course corrections during a season, and some years you have to make more than others.

“If we come across a (trade) and it’s the right thing for the club, we’ll do it. But I still submit that we have ability, and I think it’s a case of some players trying so hard, they’re not accomplishing anything.”

That was not the case with either Wynegar or McLemore, however. Wynegar was hitting .255 with 1 homer and 8 RBIs in 26 games. Six of his 14 hits were of the extra-base variety and two of the RBIs were game-winners.

Wynegar, who played in just 31 games last season because of the toe, says he is beginning to wonder how much longer his feet will take the abuse.

“When Dr. (Lewis) Yocum did the surgery last year, he said the other foot looked almost as bad,” Wynegar said. “But I made it through the spring OK and was tickled by that. And it was coming back pretty well with a little rest most of the season, so I was happy with that. But the last 10 days to 2 weeks, it just wasn’t recuperating.

“I wasn’t too happy when I got the call from Mike (Port) today--the last thing in the world I wanted to do was go on the DL again--but I wasn’t helping the team so what could I say?”

Wynegar thinks the two-week rest will help, but said there is nothing that can be done in terms of rehabilitation besides ice, some time in the whirlpool and anti-inflammatory medication.

McLemore’s injury may not be career-threatening, but it’s certainly baffling. The 23-year-old second baseman, who was hitting .251, underwent an angiogram Thursday to determine if a blood clot was blocking a vein. Port said the test did not reveal any abnormalities . . . or any answers.

“They haven’t found the cause of the numbness, but the doctors said he wouldn’t be available until Monday because of the test itself,” Port said. “And there’s no assurance the numbness will be gone by then, so we thought this was the best move.”

The Angels haven’t made a lot of good moves--on the field or off. In fact, the unofficial award for best move of the year by an Angel goes to Mauch.

Angel Notes

Donnie Moore was moved to the 21-day disabled list to make room for Butch Wynegar and Mark McLemore on the 15-day list. A team can only have two players on the 15-day list. The move isn’t really a setback for Moore, who pitched a couple of simulated innings before Friday night’s game. Next for Moore will be a rehabilitation stint with the Class-A Palm Springs Angels next week. He would have been eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday but said he wouldn’t be ready until the next Sunday (June 5), anyway. “I felt good,” Moore said of his 15-minute workout. “Last time I threw, I felt the knee a little, but this time it didn’t bother me at all. I’m not that hot on the idea of going to Palm Springs, but I guess it’s the best thing.” Manager Cookie Rojas said Moore will pitch two one- or two-inning outings in Palm Springs. “He threw the ball better today than he has in a long, long time,” Rojas said. Moore said the quality of his stuff has not been the problem, however, so he’s going to concentrate on improving his control in Palm Springs. “I need to face some hitters and iron out my location (problems),” Moore said. “I’ve been throwing the fastball between 92 and 93 miles per hour. I’ve had a good slider and a decent forkball. That’s what’s been so frustrating about not getting anyone out.” Moore has a 2-2 record, one save and a 6.97 earned-run average in 10 appearances.

Dick Schofield was in the leadoff spot for the first time this season. Brian Downing was hitting third in the order. “Schofield gives us some speed at leadoff,” Rojas said, “and the way Downing’s been hitting the ball, maybe he can help us.”