Everything Is Sunny as Angels Begin to Train : Baseball: One surprise surfaces, when Bannister says he would like to be a starting pitcher.

A bright, cloudless sky beamed down on them all, from infants in strollers to 86-year-old conditioning coach Jimmie Reese. No cloud was permitted to dim the optimism that reigned over Gene Autry Park Friday, when the Angels’ pitchers and catchers went through the first workouts of spring training.

“I’m very heartened by the health factor and extremely pleased with the personnel mix,” said General Manager Mike Port, whose club will need an effective pitching staff to challenge in the American League West and improve on its 1990 record of 80-82.

“To have, aside from the front-line guys available to us, guys like Jeff Robinson, Floyd Bannister and Matt Keough--let alone the younger element of Joe Grahe and Scott Lewis--there’s quality and experience. As for guys who have pitched at the major league level or can, our number right now may be as great as it’s been.”

On the first day of workouts came the first mild surprise, when Bannister said he would like to be a starter. Grahe and Lewis were expected to contend for the fifth spot in the rotation if Bert Blyleven hasn’t recovered from shoulder surgery when the season opens, and Bannister was projected as a long reliever. But Bannister, signed as a free agent during the off-season, wants to be considered for a starting job.

“I’ve always been a starter and I’m comfortable in that situation,” said Bannister, whose bid seems unlikely because the rotation is already stocked with left-handers Chuck Finley, Jim Abbott and Mark Langston.

“I was never promised the opportunity to start, but I’d welcome it,” Bannister said.

Lewis, who was 1-1 with the Angels and 13-11 with triple-A Edmonton last season, isn’t putting pressure on himself to make the rotation this season. “This is an opportunity, but I’m just taking the attitude that I can only do my best and let things take care of themselves,” he said.

To gain a starting spot, Grahe lost about 14 pounds. He came to camp a trim and determined 186 pounds.

“Naturally, I’m going to go for it, but I can’t control all of what’s going to happen,” said Grahe, who was 3-4 in eight starts for the Angels last season. “I can control what happens on the mound, but that’s it. I’m going to be patient. I worked real hard in the off-season and if I don’t make it, it’s not going to be because I didn’t give my best effort.”

Shortstop Dick Schofield, who had received permission to report with the injured players, didn’t attend Friday’s workout. Club officials said they believe there was a death in Schofield’s family, which delayed his arrival.

Catcher Ron Tingley, a nonroster invitee, has a strained lower back and was told to limit his workouts for several days. First baseman Wally Joyner, who missed nearly half of last season because of a stress fracture in his right kneecap, showed no signs of his injury.

Abbott and newcomers Luis Sojo and Junior Felix head the list of unsigned players.

The others are Grahe, Lewis and Mike Fetters; infielders Kent Anderson, Chris Cron, Bobby Rose and Lee Stevens, and outfielders Dante Bichette and Mark Davis.

The community of Gilbert, Ariz., has halted its bid to become the Angels’ spring base because it can’t raise the funds to build a training complex.

Kevin Uhlich, the Angels’ director of stadium operations, said that Tucson remains “very much interested” in attracting the Angels, but club executives are cool to that idea because of questions about the facilities.

Infielder Rick Schu worked out with the catchers but had some problems. His chances of becoming the third catcher improved when he realized he had to remove his batting helmet before slipping the chest protector over his head.