BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Curtis Welcomed to Major Leagues

For a rookie trying to make an impression in spring training, even at-bats in intrasquad games are precious. Chad Curtis, trying to win a reserve outfield job with the Angels, wonders if fates are conspiring against him. Playing Thursday in his second intrasquad game, Curtis struck out for the second time in a row.

“I get two ABs in spring training and I get them off Bryan Harvey and Mark Eichhorn,” he said, shaking his head.

He’s not the first player overwhelmed by Harvey’s fastball or fooled by Eichhorn’s submarine delivery, but that was little comfort to Curtis, who hopes to make the jump from triple A to the majors after hitting .316 for Edmonton last season.

“I don’t like to give ABs away, whether it’s spring training or the regular season,” said Curtis, who stole 63 bases for Class-A Quad City in 1990 and 46 for Edmonton last season. “It was something else, facing those guys.”

According to a Florida source, the Angels are discussing a deal with the Mets that would send shortstop Dick Schofield to New York for a pitching prospect. The Mets are said to be interested in Schofield because Kevin Elster is having shoulder problems. The Angels want Pete Schourek but probably would settle for less to be rid of Schofield’s $1.5-million contract.

Whitey Herzog, the Angels’ senior vice president for player personnel, could not be reached Thursday, and Manager Buck Rodgers said he had not been told a deal was in the works.

Catcher John Orton returned to California for examination of his sore right shoulder. Rodgers, who said Orton didn’t report anything amiss until Wednesday, said the soreness “is in a spot that gives you a little concern.”

Orton, Lance Parrish and Ron Tingley are competing for the two catching jobs.