BASEBALL PREVIEW : Angels’ Future? It’s a Numbers Game

First place or fifth, the Angels can go either way in an American League West race that includes everyone except the the Seattle (Sub-.500) Mariners and the Minnesota (Where Was Jack Morris When We Needed Him?) Twins.

First: If Mark Langston has learned to live with a) the pressure that comes with a $16-million contract; b) the pressure that comes with pitching for a contender; c) the pressure that comes after making your Angel debut a no-hitter; d) offensive support that comes and goes; e) Angel fans who are tired of waiting and f) Dick Williams’ book. If Langston can do that, he can g) win a few of those 2-1 games and h) reverse that 10-17 finish of 1990.

Fifth: If Dick Williams was right.

First: If Scott Lewis turns out to be another Kirk McCaskill or Jim Abbott, both of whom won 12 games as rookie fifth starters.

Fifth: If Scott Lewis turns out to be another Urbano Lugo.

First: If Dave Parker does to the Angels what Dave Parker did to the Oakland A’s.

Fifth: If Dave Parker does to the Angels what Doug Corbett did to the Angels.

First: If Dave Winfield’s uncharacteristic sprint through the spring means he’s ready for a personal best in the summer marathon.

Fifth: If Dave Winfield hits the wall in June.

First: If Richard Brown is right when he says “Luis Sojo is going to remind you of the heyday of Bobby Grich.”

Fifth: If Luis Sojo reminds you of the heyday of Mark McLemore.

First: If Dick Schofield After July was truly a sneak preview, meaning the shorter swing stays, the line drives to all fields keep coming and the batting average takes up permanent residence on .300 Lane.

Fifth: If Edward Scissorhamstring strikes again.

First: If Gary Gaetti, born again in spirit, becomes born again at the plate. His last good season--.301, 29 home runs and 88 RBIs in 1988--isn’t that far removed.

Fifth: If the past two seasons--.251 in 1989, .229 in 1990--were a prophesy.

First: If Chuck Finley takes the next step forward and becomes the first Angel pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1974 to win 20 games.

Fifth: If the touch of tenderness in Finley’s left bicep is the start of something big.

First: If Wally Joyner is swamped with free-agent offers in 1992 after swamping American League pitching again in 1991.

Fifth: If Wally Joyner has to re-sign with the Angels because nobody else wants him.

First: If Floyd Bannister is to 1991 what Cecil Fielder was to 1990--an American bail-out from Japan.

Fifth: If Floyd Bannister reminds us of the subtle difference between voluntarily leaving the Japanese Central League and being released by the Japanese Central League.

First: If Jeff D. Robinson confuses hitters the way he and Jeff M. Robinson confuse fans.

Fifth: If Jeff D. Robinson gets D. Moted to Edmonton.

First: If Luis Polonia, New And Improved Left Fielder, restores our faith in the concept of truth in advertising.

Fifth: If Luis Polonia restores our faith in the concept of old dogs and new tricks.

First: If Junior Felix makes everyone forget Devon White.

Fifth: If Junior Felix makes everyone remember Chico Walker.

First: If Kirk McCaskill’s right elbow withstands its second surgery as well as it withstood the first.

Fifth: If Kirk McCaskill’s right elbow decides that enough’s enough already.

First: If a three-year study of batting averages (.215 to .238 to .268) and home-run totals (15 to 17 to 24) determines that Lance Parrish, at 34, is back.

Fifth: If Lance Parrish’s back, at 34, determines that John Orton has to catch 70 games.

First: If Jim Abbott kicks it in the way Chuck Finley did in his third year as a starter.

Fifth: If Jim Abbott packs it in the way Ron Romanick did in his third year as a starter.

First: If Bryan Harvey saves 35 games.

Fifth: If the Angels’ middle relievers can’t give Harvey 35 games to save.

First: If the burden of starting Vance Law at third base, carrying Eric Show and Curt Young in the rotation and finding new ways to appease Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco finally caves in on Oakland.

Fifth: If Mike Boddicker and Kirk Gibson resurrect Kansas City, and the rest of the West remains status quo.

First: If Winfield and Parker storm their way through the 1991 season, Dave by Dave.

Fifth: If Dante Bichette and Devon White haunt their way through the 1991 season, trade by trade.

First: If a $32-million payroll finally buys Gene Autry happiness.

Fifth: If $32-million is just an advance on this season’s hospital bills.

So, come October, what’s going to be the word?

First?

On that one, I believe I’ll take the fifth.