BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : At 87, Reese Is Back on the Job

Jimmie Reese, the 87-year-old Angel coach who was out of uniform most of last season because of poor health, is back at work this spring, beginning his 75th season in professional baseball.

Reese, billed as the most prolific fungo hitter in baseball, expects to work at Angel home games but won’t travel with the team.

He is feeling fit and is in good spirits. But after chasing down a ball that eluded him when he tried to field it, he shook his head.

“I could make that play 50 years ago,” he said.

Chuck Finley threw from a mound Thursday for the first time since his toe surgery in December.

“I’m very happy about the way he’s coming along,” Manager Buck Rodgers said, adding that the “real test” is whether Finley experiences pain the day after throwing.

Finley said he experienced slight tenderness after throwing from the mound for about five minutes after 12 minutes of long toss.

Pitcher Don Robinson was told to take batting practice, and Rodgers says Robinson will get some at-bats this spring--maybe even as the designated hitter in a B game.

Robinson’s .235 career average is the best among active pitchers with at least 100 at-bats, and he has 13 homers.

Rodgers sees an opportunity for him to bat because the Angels are loaded with left-handed hitters.

“If he gets a pitch to drive, he can drive it,” Rodgers said. “He’s a good hitter, a good athlete.”

There are eight unsigned players in camp: pitchers Joe Grahe, Tim Fortugno and Scott Lewis, catcher Ron Tingley, infielders Gary DiSarcina, Bobby Rose and Luis Sojo and outfielder Jim Edmonds.