ANGELS : Rader Quickly Decides to Put Ray at Second--’at the Moment’

Deciding how to best deploy his talented pitching staff may be Doug Rader’s biggest decision, but it wasn’t the first one made by the Angels’ manager.

Before the sun had set on the first day of camp Tuesday, Rader said that the second base job belongs to Johnny Ray “at the moment,” and added that he might use Mark McLemore elsewhere.

Ray and McLemore have competed at second for the past two springs: McLemore opened the season at second in ‘88, but Ray won out in 1989, despite McLemore’s .345 spring batting average.

Ray, 32, led the Angels’ regulars last season with a .289 batting average. However, he fell out of Rader’s graces when he failed to run out a pop-up late in the season. Ray couldn’t get to Mesa from his off-season home in Oklahoma in time for Tuesday’s workout, but like other players who ran afoul of airline connections, he was expected in camp today.

McLemore, who has experience at shortstop and third, began last season at triple-A Edmonton but was recalled April 6 after Ray was injured. McLemore batted .243 in two stints with the Angels and .244 in 114 games with Edmonton.

“The main thing we need to address is we’ll never know the capabilities of Mark McLemore if he continues to get so much playing time in the minor leagues and gets shuffled around,” Rader said. “He needs to pass the test at the major league level. We need to have Mark on the major league club and give him quality at-bats to see if he’s the player we think he is. One of our real goals this year is that we provide that for Mark.”

McLemore smiled when asked if he’d mind playing another infield position. “It’s not a matter of whether I’m happy or not. It’s a matter of going out and doing the job,” he said. “Every year I’ve been in camp, there’s been a second baseman there (ahead of him.) If I ever come to camp and there’s not a second baseman there, that’s when I’d be surprised. But that’s what this game is all about--competition. I can deal with it. I’m not going to back down.”

He would also like a shot at hitting leadoff, one of the weak spots in the Angels’ lineup.

“I’ve been a leadoff man my entire career. I’m used to that slot and I feel very comfortable there,” said McLemore, who drew 49 walks and had 26 stolen bases with the Trappers last season. “I’m definitely capable of getting on and creating havoc, stealing bases or whatever needs to be done to bother opposing defenses.”

None of the Angels reported to camp with a serious injury. Only shortstop Dick Schofield, who pulled his left hamstring while running, had any complaints Monday, and trainer Rick Smith said Schofield’s pull was considered minor and would limit him for only a few days.

“I didn’t see any casts or crutches, when guys came in,” Smith said. “They had an excellent workout today. We’re just making sure everybody knows they’ve got to stretch before they work. We just want them to use common sense and be reasonable.”

Mark Langston expected to feel some stiffness today after his first venture onto the mound, but the Angels’ $16-million man considers that a small price to pay.

“It’s exciting to be here,” said the 29-year-old left-hander, who drew crowds of autograph seekers when he walked around the complex at Gene Autry Park. “I had a good workout, which was exactly what I needed. I threw on the side all during the lockout, but you know you’re behind, and once you get here you realize you really have to work. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while.”

Someone had to be getting rich off the lockout. Several fans at Gene Autry Park wore T-shirts with the inscription, “Great Cactus League Lockout 1990,” above the image of a baseball covered by a padlock.