Baseball ’90 PREVIEW : Angels: Better, But So Is Division : Preview: Langston solidifies pitching, but team needs more runs to compete with defending champion A’s and stronger Royals.

The Angels admire the versatility of the Oakland A’s pitching staff and are modeling theirs along the same lines.

Angel Manager Doug Rader admires A’s Manager Tony LaRussa for what he calls LaRussa’s “feel for the needs of other people.” Rader successfully incorporated that sensitivity into his own approach last season, which helped turn the Angels into contenders for most of 1989.

But will Rader and the Angels admire Oakland from afar again this season, or can they close the eight-game gap that separated them from the eventual World Series champions?

“You have to say the A’s have been the class of baseball the last two years, but I think our offense is better and we’ve improved ourselves pitching-wise,” pitcher Kirk McCaskill said. “The key will be offense. We just didn’t score enough runs to win the whole thing.

“That big lead we had in home runs (early in the season) disguised the fact that we really weren’t scoring many runs. We were regarded as an offensive team, but that really wasn’t the case.”

Although they added prize free-agent pitcher Mark Langston, they haven’t added any impact players to their offense since last season. A solid leadoff hitter is a more urgent need than the power-hitting outfielder that General Manager Mike Port has said he’d like to acquire, and they could have the perfect leadoff man in Devon White--if White can only be convinced of that.

Here are 10 questions and possible answers regarding the Angels’ season:

Q: How will the Angels deal with their pitching riches?

A: Carefully.

“Having such a great staff makes it fun every night, not just the night you go out there,” Langston said. “Knowing the team is going to be in the ballgame every night makes it a lot of fun.”

For all the talk about giving up one of their six starters to acquire a run-producing outfielder, Port is more likely to let his assets accrue interest for a while. Aside from the uncertainty about the starters’ readiness following the lockout-shortened spring, the Angels could command a much higher price later, when other teams gauge their pitching shortcomings and the Angels’ strengths.

The Angels could devise a formidable left-right-left-right-left sequence with left-handers Mark Langston, Chuck Finley and Jim Abbott and right-handers McCaskill and Bert Blyleven. That would be more than enough to keep any team off balance. Mike Witt seems to be the outsider, but he’s valuable insurance, especially until the starters’ condition can be ascertained. And if he gets off to a good start, he could increase his value on the trade market.

Pitching coach Marcel Lachemann has setup men, finishers and long relievers galore. Bryan Harvey fought control problems (41 walks in 55 innings) but emerged as a top short reliever with 25 saves. Scott Bailes can go long or short. It may be a matter of getting each enough work to be effective.

Q: What are the Angels’ strengths?

A: Not to be repetitive, but their strong suit is pitching.

Langston, lured to Anaheim by a five-year, $16-million contract, is one of the game’s top left-handers. Although he was only 74-67 with Seattle, he played for some dreadful teams and will prosper with a strong defense behind him. Whether Blyleven, at age 39, can repeat last season’s 17 victories is questionable, but there appears to be enough depth and talent everywhere else to compensate if he doesn’t. Finley joined the ranks of the AL’s elite last season and McCaskill crashed some barriers, too.

The biggest questions surround Witt. The 29-year-old right-hander’s win total has decreased and his ERA has increased in each of the last three seasons, leaving him with a 9-15 record and 4.54 ERA in 1989. Can he rebound? Can he be content as a spot starter? Can he pack quickly if Port trades him?

Fielding was another strength last season for the Angels, whose team fielding percentage of .985 ranked second to league-leading Baltimore by .001. The slick infield provided the foundation for the pitching staff’s success last season and will be crucial again.

White has been a Gold Glove winner in center field each of the past two seasons, and the sterling glovework of third baseman Jack Howell, whose .974 fielding percentage was tops in the major leagues, helps compensate for his light bat. Shortstop Dick Schofield has led AL shortstops in fielding three times, and three-time Gold Glove winner Lance Parrish is still among the game’s top defensive catchers.

They compare well with Oakland and Kansas City in pitching and defense.

Q: So, what are their weaknesses?

Runs. Or more precisely, the lack thereof. Chili Davis was the top run-producer last season with 90 RBIs, which was among the lowest team-leading totals in the AL. The Angels ranked 11th in team hitting and 12th in RBIs despite leading the AL with 145 home runs, statistics which seem paradoxical but can only mean that they hit a lot of bases-empty homers. Their on-base percentage of .311 was 13th and they struck out a collective 1,011 times, most in the league.

And, despite leading the AL in home runs, they had only two players with 20 or more: Howell and Davis. That same two ranked among the AL leaders in strikeouts with 129 and 125, respectively.

They were also vulnerable to left-handers, hitting .247 as a team. Howell was the most obvious example, hitting only .140 against lefties.

Last one: depth in the outfield, or lack of same. White, Davis and Claudell Washington are a solid trio, but Max Venable could be the only reserve. Brian Downing, still valuable as a designated hitter, can’t play the field anymore.

Q: What did they add, or lose, during the offseason?

A: They strengthened their strengths with the signing of Langston and the acquisition of Bailes from Cleveland. Utility infielders Donnie Hill and Rick Schu, signed as free agents, could also prove useful.

They lost Tony Armas, who was invited to camp as a non-roster player but failed to report. He provided some big hits last season and could have been a spark again. It can be argued that they lost Robin Yount, who elected to re-sign with Milwaukee, and Joe Carter, whose rights were traded from Cleveland to San Diego. But they never really had either player--except in their sights. Classify that under what might have been.

Q: Can Jim Abbott do it again?

A: He was remarkably poised as a rookie, and his 12-12 record doesn’t begin to measure the scope of his achievements. He’s got the right stuff in his head and his left arm. He’s adding a changeup to contrast with a fastball that’s as lively as any in the major leagues, and that’s vital to allowing him continued mastery over hitters.

In short, he can repeat.

Q: Which players are pivotal to their pennant chances?

A: White is the offensive catalyst. If he sulks over hitting leadoff, which he says makes him uncomfortable, the Angels will go nowhere. If White develops more patience at the plate, working out a few more walks and striking out fewer times, that could make a huge difference to the offense. The third and fourth hitters can drive people in--but the leadoff and No. 2 hitters have to get on base first.

Davis, one of the few Angels who hit better in the second half of last season than the first, is also a key. Finley made a quantum leap from 9-15 in 1988 to last season’s 16-9, and he’ll need to stay at that level for the Angels to contend. Wally Joyner’s RBI totals have declined from 117 in 1987 to 85 in 1988 and 79 last season, and the Angels need him to reverse that trend.

Harvey’s 25 saves was a key last season, and he must resolve his control problems to remain successful. Willie Fraser (short relief) and Bob McClure, who will be brought in to face only a hitter or two, are also pivotal figures.

Q: Who’s in for a fall?

A: Blyleven is the obvious nominee here, because of his age. But he has stayed in excellent shape and has incentive--he’s 29 victories short of 300 for his career. Finley might have trouble equaling his success of last season, but he’s got the pitches to do it. So does McCaskill.

Q: Who will improve this season?

Abbott, with a new pitch. White, because he’ll realize that good leadoff hitters can command the same kinds of salaries as home-run hitters. Barring injury, Lance Parrish should avoid another second-half fade and improve on last season’s .238 batting average.

Q: Who’s at second? Who’s at third? No, Howell’s at third.

A: Rader wants versatility and is considering platooning at second. That could backfire, given that familiarity is a major factor behind successful double-play combinations. Johnny Ray is supposed to be at second and, with Schofield on the disabled list with a pulled hamstring, Kent Anderson probably will start the season at short. But Mark McLemore could be at short. Or second. Unless Hill is there. That is if Hill isn’t playing third when Howell’s resting.

Some answers could come right away. Howell injured his ankle and will miss the first few days of the season, meaning the starting third baseman and shortstop are on the bench. Anderson will be at shortstop and either Hill or Schu will be at third.

Q: In 25 words or fewer, what can we expect from the Angels this season?

A: Superb pitching from starters and relievers. Low-scoring games. A concerted effort by Rader to avoid another late-season slide. Third place, maybe second.

CATCHER

Eager to prove that his late-season fade in 1989 was because of injuries and not age, Lance Parrish came to camp ready to go. Parrish, who will be 34 in June, was one of the spring’s top performers at the plate and behind it. He was throwing runners out with ease, and driving them in with regularity. His sagacity in handling the pitching staff last year was a key to its success, and there’s no reason to expect less. “I’m really going to enjoy working with him,” Langston said. . . . Bill Schroeder, recovered from elbow surgery, should be a satisfactory backup defensively.

FIRST BASE

Wally Joyner made only four errors last season for a .997 fielding percentage, tops among AL first basemen who played in a minimum of 110 games. But his run production fell for the second consecutive season, to 79, far from the 100 and 117 he drove in in 1986 and ’87. The Angels can’t afford to see that decline continue. . . . His backup should be Schroeder, who played eight games there last season. Schroeder has occasional power. He hit six home runs in 138 appearances last year, including five homers in his first 46 at-bats.

SECOND BASE

Established as the regular second baseman last season, Johnny Ray enjoyed an upturn in average but a downturn in other crucial offensive categories. His .289 average was ninth best in the league, but 17 points lower than in 1988; he had only 16 doubles and 62 RBIs, compared with 42 doubles and 83 RBIs the year before. He hit .304 left-handed but only .262 with one home run and 21 RBIs right-handed. . . . Donnie Hill, formerly of Oakland and the Chicago White Sox, can spell Ray at second. . . . Mark McLemore could also see time there.

THIRD BASE

Jack Howell led major league third baseman with a .974 fielding percentage, but he hit a career-low .228 and collected only 52 RBIs, despite hitting 20 home runs. Howell, who bats left-handed, strikes out at an alarming rate, fanning 125 times last season and 130 in 1988. He hit .140 against left-handers, one of many Angels who couldn’t decipher lefties. . . . Howell could miss the first week of the season with a sprained ankle. Either Hill or journeyman Rick Schu, who batted .216 in 98 games with Detroit last season, will replace Howell in the lineup.

SHORTSTOP

Dick Schofield’s defensive play at short is beyond reproach, but his batting (.228 last season with four home runs and 26 RBI) has been a weakness. A strained hamstring--unrelated to the leg injuries that put him on the disabled list twice last season--is likely to put him on the disabled list for the first week of the season. . . . Schofield’s likely replacement, Kent Anderson, is a capable fielder and light hitter, but Rader likes him because he was the starting shortstop for much of the time the Angels spent in first place last season. . . . McLemore or Hill can also play short.

OUTFIELD

Center fielder Devon White won his second straight Gold Glove award last season and earned additional recognition of being named to the All-Star team. Fleet enough to run down almost anything. Uses his speed to become a terror on the basepaths--he had 44 stolen bases last season--but could create even more havoc if he were more selective at the plate. His 129 strikeouts were excessive. He isn’t thrilled about hitting leadoff, though he could thrive there and give the third and fourth hitters someone to drive in.

Chili Davis led the Angels in RBIs for the second straight season with a career-high 90 in 1989, and his 22 home runs was also tops on the team. He showed a marked improvement defensively, reducing his errors from 19 in 1988--when he played right field--to six in left.

Claudell Washington isn’t the strongest defensive outfielder, but his .273 average and 13 home runs were more than respectable. A major injury to any of these three could be devastating.

Dante Bichette, the 1989 spring phenom, could hang on as the reserve outfielder despite hitting only .210 in 48 games with the Angels last season.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Brian Downing, the club’s all-time leader in games played with 1,565, raised his average to .283 last season but contemplated retirement because of persistent rib muscle problems. A fierce competitor, he felt compelled to make one more try for what he called the “magical ring.” Still one of the best designated hitters in the league, he had 543 of the 629 at-bats by Angel DHs in 1989. His physical condition and speed make him an unlikely candidate to play anywhere in the field. But his leadership--and bat--would be missed if he retired or reinjured his ribs.

STARTING PITCHING

Mark Langston. Bert Blyleven. Chuck Finley. Kirk McCaskill. Jim Abbott. . . . Langston, one of the game’s top left-handers over the past six years, was the most sought-after of last winter’s free agents . . . Finley’s 2.57 earned run average was the league’s second-best last season, his complete games third and his 156 strikeouts ninth, and his confidence continues to blossom. . . . Abbott is working on an off-speed pitch to mix in with his lively fastball and excellent slider, and he might need that third pitch to be effective when AL hitters get their second full season of looking at him. . . . Anything short of his remarkable 17-5 performance of last season will create doubts about whether Blyleven is aging. Still, at 39, he’s going strong. . . . McCaskill, finally free of arm problems, recorded a career-best ERA of 2.93 last season and tied for second in the AL with four shutouts. . . . Whether Mike Witt (9-15 last season, the third straight year his victories declined) starts or relieves is unclear, but he has to prove himself again at age 29. He will begin the season as a reliever.

RELIEF PITCHING

The bullpen was 21-16 with a collective 2.89 ERA last season, second only to Oakland . . . Right-hander Willie Fraser prospered as the setup man with a career-best 3.24 ERA and only 23 walks in 91 2/3 innings. . . . Closer Bryan Harvey was bothered by control problems and issued too many walks (41 in 55 innings) but he was sharp enough to earn 25 saves in his second season. . . . Right-hander Greg Minton’s 2.20 ERA was his lowest since 1982 and he stranded 36 of the 59 runners he inherited. Left-hander Bob McClure, who lowered his ERA from 5.40 in 1988 to a career-low 1.55 last season, will again be brought in to get an out or two in pressure situations . . . The additions of left-hander Scott Bailes (middle relief) and right-hander Mark Eichhorn bolster the bullpen’s depth.

ANGEL ROSTER (FINAL MOVES PENDING)

PITCHERS (15)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 25 Abbott, Jim L-L 6-3 200 09/19/67 CALIFORNIA 43 Bailes, Scott L-L 6-2 184 12/18/62 Cleveland 28 Blyleven, Bert R-R 6-3 205 04/06/51 CALIFORNIA 46 Clear, Mark R-R 6-4 215 05/27/56 None 36 Eichhorn, Mark R-R 6-3 200 11/21/60 ATLANTA Richmond 31 Finley, Chuck L-L 6-6 212 11/26/62 CALIFORNIA 27 Fraser, Willie R-R 6-1 206 05/26/64 CALIFORNIA 34 Harvey, Bryan R-R 6-2 215 06/02/63 CALIFORNIA 12 Langston, Mark R-L 6-2 190 08/20/60 Seattle Montreal 15 McCaskill, Kirk R-R 6-1 196 04/09/61 CALIFORNIA 33 McClure, Bob R-L 5-11 175 04/29/53 CALIFORNIA 38 Minton, Greg S-R 6-2 207 07/29/51 CALIFORNIA 44 Monteleone, Rich R-R 6-2 217 03/22/63 Edmonton CALIFORNIA 41 Smithson, Mike L-R 6-8 215 01/21/55 Boston 39 Witt, Mike R-R 6-7 198 07/20/60 CALIFORNIA

PITCHERS (15)

No Name W-L ERA G CG SV IP H ER BB SO 25 Abbott, Jim 12-12 3.92 29 4 0 181.1 190 79 74 115 43 Bailes, Scott 5-9 4.28 34 11 0 113.2 116 54 29 47 28 Blyleven, Bert 17-5 2.73 33 8 0 241 225 73 44 131 46 Clear, Mark 0-0 0.00 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 36 Eichhorn, Mark 5-5 4.35 45 0 0 68.1 70 33 19 49 1-0 1.32 25 0 19 41 29 6 6 33 31 Finley, Chuck 16-9 2.57 29 9 0 199.2 171 57 82 156 27 Fraser, Willie 4-7 3.24 44 0 2 91.2 80 33 23 46 34 Harvey, Bryan 3-3 3.44 51 0 25 55 36 21 41 78 12 Langston, Mark 4-5 3.56 10 2 0 73.1 60 29 19 60 12-9 2.39 24 6 0 176.2 138 47 93 175 15 McCaskill, Kirk 15-10 2.93 32 6 0 212 202 69 59 107 33 McClure, Bob 6-1 1.55 48 0 3 52.1 39 9 15 36 38 Minton, Greg 4-3 2.20 62 0 8 90 76 22 37 42 44 Monteleone, Rich 3-6 3.47 13 2 0 57 50 22 16 47 2-2 3.18 24 0 0 39.2 39 14 13 27 41 Smithson, Mike 7-14 4.95 40 1 2 143.2 170 79 35 61 39 Witt, Mike 9-15 4.54 33 5 0 220 252 111 48 123

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 25 1.000 43 4.000 28 19.117 46 10.000 36 3.112 31 1.015 27 3.034 34 2.028 12 6.000 15 4.159 33 13.107 38 12.021 44 0.169 41 7.018 39 9.000

CATCHERS (2)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 13 Parrish, Lance R-R 6-3 220 06/15/56 CALIFORNIA 23 Schroeder, Bill R-R 6-2 200 09/07/58 CALIFORNIA

CATCHERS (2)

No Name Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 13 Parrish, Lance .238 124 433 48 103 12 1 17 50 1 23 Schroeder, Bill .203 41 138 16 28 2 0 6 15 0

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 13 12.031 23 6.066

INFIELDERS (9)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 7 Anderson, Kent R-R 6-1 180 08/12/63 Edmonton CALIFORNIA 52 Hill, Donnie S-R 5-10 160 11/12/60 Tacoma 16 Howell, Jack L-R 6-0 201 08/18/61 CALIFORNIA 21 Joyner, Wally L-L 6-2 198 06/16/62 CALIFORNIA 10 McLemore, Mark S-R 5-11 195 10/04/64 Edmonton CALIFORNIA 3 Ray, Johnny L-R 5-11 189 03/01/57 CALIFORNIA 6 Rose, Bobby R-R 5-11 170 03/15/67 Midland CALIFORNIA 3 Schofield, Dick R-R 5-10 178 11/21/62 CALIFORNIA 60 Schu, Rick R-R 6-0 194 01/26/62 Rochester Detroit

INFIELDERS (9)

No Name Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 7 Anderson, Kent .333 4 12 3 4 0 0 0 1 1 .229 86 223 27 51 6 1 0 17 1 52 Hill, Donnie .261 58 180 26 47 7 2 4 23 18 16 Howell, Jack .228 144 474 56 108 19 4 20 52 0 21 Joyner, Wally .282 159 593 78 167 30 2 16 79 3 10 McLemore, Mark .244 114 430 60 105 13 2 2 34 26 .243 32 103 12 25 3 1 0 14 6 3 Ray, Johnny .289 134 530 52 153 16 3 5 62 6 6 Rose, Bobby .359 99 351 64 126 21 5 11 73 3 .211 14 38 4 8 1 2 1 3 0 3 Schofield, Dick .228 91 302 42 69 11 2 4 26 9 60 Schu, Rick .223 28 94 11 21 6 1 1 10 3 .216 98 226 25 57 11 0 7 21 1

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 7 0.171 52 5.032 16 4.027 21 4.000 10 2.090 3 8.034 6 0.052 3 6.025 60 4.162

OUTFIELDERS (6)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 19 Bichette, Dante R-R 6-3 212 11/18/63 Edmonton CALIFORNIA 24 Davis, Chilli S-R 6-3 210 01/17/60 CALIFORNIA 5 Downing, Brian R-R 5-10 194 10/09/50 CALIFORNIA 8 Venable, Max L-R 5-10 185 06/06/57 Edmonton CALIFORNIA 18 Washington, Claudell L-L 6-2 195 08/31/56 CALIFORNIA 30 White, Devon S-R 6-2 178 12/29/62 CALIFORNIA

OUTFIELDERS (6)

No Name Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 19 Bichette, Dante .243 61 226 39 55 11 2 11 40 4 .210 48 138 13 29 7 0 3 15 3 24 Davis, Chilli .271 154 560 81 152 24 1 22 90 3 5 Downing, Brian .283 142 544 59 154 25 2 14 59 0 8 Venable, Max .271 95 329 52 89 14 4 1 45 13 .358 20 53 7 19 4 0 0 4 0 18 Washington, Claudell .273 110 418 53 114 18 4 13 42 13 30 White, Devon .245 156 636 86 156 18 13 12 56 44

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 19 0.133 24 8.034 5 16.097 8 5.152 18 15.090 30 3.071