BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Eager Finley Takes It Easy While Injured Toe Heals

While the rest of the Angel pitchers practiced covering first base at Mesa, Ariz., Chuck Finley stood on the sidelines, held out of many drills as he recovers from surgery performed Dec. 5 on the big toe of his left foot.

“I’m starting to think my name is Take It Easy,” Finley said. “That’s all anybody says to me, ‘Take it easy, take it slow.’ ”

Finley was cleared to start throwing about 11 days ago, but the Angels intend to keep him off the mound at least until next week.

“We don’t want him on the mound where he’s favoring the toe,” Manager Buck Rodgers said. “We want a healed toe when he gets on the mound.”

Finley pitched through last season with the injury, going 18-9. During the operation, it was discovered that a bone in his toe had splintered.

Rodgers needs to find a fourth and fifth starter during spring training. The Angels will open the season with 16 consecutive games and without a day off until April 23.

First baseman Lee Stevens reported early as an injured player and worked out Friday, five days before the first full-squad workout Wednesday.

Stevens became the heir apparent to Wally Joyner’s job when Joyner signed as a free agent with Kansas City. But after lingering soreness in Stevens’ right wrist resulted in it being in a cast for three weeks, the Angels signed Alvin Davis as insurance.

Stevens, who had the cast removed Feb. 5, said that, though the wrist is still a bit tender, the initial pain is gone. He did some light hitting work with new batting instructor Rod Carew.

Hubie Brooks, the former Dodger who underwent surgery for a herniated disk in his neck in September and was acquired by the Angels in a trade with the New York Mets in December, did not report with other injured players but is expected soon. Rodgers said Brooks had remained at his Chatsworth home because of flood damage to his house. . . . The only injured player besides Stevens to report early is infielder Bobby Rose.