So Far, Angels Are Connecting

Anatomically speaking, Angel contention in 1991 hinges on a very small assortment of hinges.

Dave Parker’s knees.

Dave Winfield’s back.

Bob McClure’s left shoulder.

And, utmost and foremost, Kirk McCaskill’s right elbow.

McCaskill’s elbow has been through six seasons as an Angel, the baseball equivalent of dog years. Six years of performance, 60 years of wear and tear. Consider those years when McCaskill’s elbow spends time in the shop:

--1987: Arthroscopic surgery for removal of bone chips, out 2 1/2 months.

--1988: Placement on disabled list for radial nerve irritation, out two months.

--1990: Arthroscopic surgery for removal of bone pieces and to trim bone spurring after 29 teeth-clenching starts.

The Angels’ records those years: 75-87, 75-87, 80-82.

The Angels finish those seasons: last, fourth and fourth.

Now, consider the Angels during those years McCaskill is able to complete 185 innings or more:

--1985: McCaskill wins 12 games; the Angels win 90.

--1986: McCaskill wins 17 games; the Angels win 92.

--1989: McCaskill wins 15 games; the Angels win 91.

“Let’s hope he pitches 190 this year,” said a grinning Lance Parrish, minutes after catching the first six Wednesday night at the Kingdome.

“He’s one of those guys we’re counting on pretty heavily. For us to be successful, Mac has to put in a whole year. If he’s injured and he can’t compete late in the season, we’re going to be hurting.”

So far, so pain-free. The Angels are 2-0 and McCaskill is 1-0, withstanding eight Mariner hits--one a two-run home run by Greg Briley--before passing the baton to Scott Bailes, Mark Eichhorn and Bryan Harvey to complete a 5-3 victory.

McCaskill was less impressed than his teammates, describing his first start as “a struggle. I never had real good rhythm. I was rushing things and do what a lot of pitchers do early on--and that’s overthrow. That’s something I can’t do and get away with.”

That is because, by trade, McCaskill relies more on finesse than force. “Crafty,” is the cliche McCaskill pulled out Wednesday, laughing at the cobwebs. It is one reason McCaskill has fared reasonably well inside the Kingdome, a traditional drowning pool for starting pitchers. With this victory, McCaskill is 4-4 under the concrete sky. Twice, he pitched shutouts here.

And that’s before they moved the fences out.

“I wish they would’ve moved the fences back a little farther on that one Briley hit,” McCaskill said.

McCaskill isn’t necessarily right for the dome, Parrish believes, but has generally been right for the type of batting orders the Mariners have assembled during the years against him.

“I’m trying to think of the guys who have played here,” Parrish said. “Based on the ballclubs Seattle’s had, they’ve always had a lot of free-swingers--and Mac is so good at spotting the ball, getting them to swing at his pitches. Other pitchers, who come in and try to blow it by you--the free-swingers are going to hurt them.

“Mac can just toy with this kind of lineup. He sets them up well, changes speeds on four different pitches, makes the good pitch when he really needs it.”

Parrish insists he can’t tell much of a difference between McCaskill this year and last, between the ease and the agony, but Parrish also concedes he’s usually the last to know.

“None of these guys ever tell me nothing,” Parrish said. “I didn’t know he was throwing in pain until the end of the season, when it came out publicly. About the only thing I noticed was that, in spring training, his motion seemed a lot more relaxed.”

Probably because McCaskill no longer launches into every windup wondering if his elbow is going to spend the night in a bucket of ice or getting prepped for surgery.

McCaskill now enjoys what he calls “a greater range of motion.” If it persists, the Angels might again get to play a September without going through the motions.

“Yeah, I think it all revolves around me,” McCaskill deadpanned.

“I think it’s true of a lot of teams--you lose one of your starters and it’s tough to recover from that. It’s not just this team and me. I don’t think you can place much credence in that.”

The Angels will settle for a little faith. That, and 180 more innings.