Power Is There, but Clutch Hits Missing : Angels: Port would like to see more production from the offense.

There’s more potential than potency in the Angels’ bats.

And if that potential doesn’t turn into production soon, Mike Port may have to shake his conservative instincts--and what his fellow general managers see as an inclination to overvalue his players--and make a deal that will galvanize the sputtering offense.

Port is still hoping it will improve, but he acknowledged Thursday that the offensive production so far has been inadequate. The Angels’ strategy has been identical to their 1989 game plan: hit two-run home runs and hope their pitchers can hold the opposition to one run. It didn’t work well enough last season, and it may not suffice this season--not with the A’s boasting a healthy Jose Canseco and Rickey Henderson for a full season and a pitching staff that compares well with the Angels’ vaunted arms.

The A’s two-game sweep Tuesday and Wednesday emphasized the Angels’ shortcomings. Their starting pitchers will almost always keep them in games, and home runs will be the mainstay of their offense--19 of their 36 runs, or 53%, have been scored via homers--but they lack the depth and opportunism that sustains rallies.

“(The A’s) always seem to get clutch hits,” said Angel pitcher Mark Langston, who gave up four earned runs in the first six innings of Tuesday’s 7-5 loss in 12 innings.

The Angels, who open their longest trip of the season tonight against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome, have a team batting average of .223, tying them for last in the American League with Seattle. It is well below last season’s .256, which ranked 11th. They left 63 men on base in their first nine games, among the highest totals in the league. They’re among the AL leaders again in home runs with 10, after their 1989 league-leading total of 145, but with 36 runs in nine games, they’re near the bottom in runs scored.

Again.

“In terms of potential or capability, yes,” Port said when asked if he was satisfied with the Angels’ offense. “In terms of actual production, it’s probably been, here and there, less than we’re capable of. We haven’t produced to our capabilities. We’ve got the people, I believe . . .

“We’ve got some people capable of swinging the bat. It’s just incumbent on them to swing it (with men on base).”

Too often, they’re swinging and missing. As a team, the Angels’ total of 57 strikeouts is second only to Texas’ 62. Devon White has struck out at least once during each of the eight games in which he has batted and 12 times overall, an excessive amount for a leadoff hitter. He has a .158 average, among the lowest of any AL leadoff hitter. The Angels reportedly have lost their patience and are prepared to deal White, who said during spring training that he’s not comfortable batting leadoff.

He’s not the only offensive disappointment. Brian Downing, coming back from a persistent muscle problem in his lower rib cage, is one for 16 since his three-run home run against Seattle on April 10. Third baseman Jack Howell is one for 17 since a five-for-seven start. Wally Joyner went two for four Wednesday but has only three hits in his last 25 at-bats. Mark McLemore has two hits in his last 18 at-bats.

Chili Davis has been the most consistent, with his .286 batting average, two home runs and six runs batted in, but Dante Bichette has been the most pleasant surprise, with a .343 batting average, three home runs and a team-high nine RBIs. Manager Doug Rader, while pleased by the offensive boost, has avoided gushing over the 26-year-old outfielder’s exploits. He’s aware that Bichette had a similarly impressive April last season before fading badly, and he wants Bichette to concentrate on being consistent.

Bichette, the center of reporters’ attention after batting practice each day, said he’s taking his success in stride.

“I know there’s probably going to be a lot of questions for a month and maybe all year from people looking for me to fall off,” said Bichette, who began last season with an 11-for-34 spurt but then had only seven hits in his next 50 at-bats and was optioned to triple-A Edmonton.

“I’m confident it won’t happen again. I told myself last September (when recalled), ‘Just do it,’ and that’s what I’ve been doing this year.

“I’ve heard the talk that they wanted a right-handed power hitter, and I thought if they didn’t have confidence in me, then that’s what they should do and possibly let me go somewhere else. But they have shown confidence and that they expect big things out of me. I do, too.”