BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Still No Takers for Fourth, Fifth Spots

With Manager Buck Rodgers hoping pitchers will step forward to claim the fourth and fifth spots in the Angels’ pitching rotation, Cliff Young took a step backward.

Limited to one pitch--his fastball--when his split-finger was ineffective, Young was battered for four runs and seven hits in three innings in the Angels’ 4-0 loss to the Mariners Sunday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Scott Bailes, who might end up in the rotation by default, followed Young, and allowed one hit over three respectable innings.

With left-handers Mark Langston, Jim Abbott and Chuck Finley in the starting rotation, transforming either Young or Bailes would stack the rotation with four left-handers, but Rodgers wouldn’t mind an imbalance. “Whether they’re left-handed, right-handed or ambidextrous, I don’t care as long as they get people out,” said Rodgers, who is also considering Don Robinson, Matt Keough, Joe Grahe and Scott Lewis for the jobs.

Five Mariner pitchers, led by Randy Johnson, held the Angels (6-4) to four singles. No Angel advanced past second base and none walked.

“Right now the only two guys swinging the bat well are (Mike) Fitzgerald and (Hubie) Brooks,” Rodgers said. “(Dick) Schofield is swinging OK and he’ll play the next two days.”

Rodgers also said the competition at shortstop between Schofield and Gary DiSarcina is even. “Both are playing outstanding defense,” he said. However, neither is doing much offensively: DiSarcina was one for three Sunday, raising his batting average to .235 (4 for 17), compared to Schofield’s .200 (3 for 15). Fitzgerald started Sunday’s game at first base and later moved to left field. He has also caught and played third base. “I’m just trying to keep our options open, give him a few at-bats,” Rodgers said.

Finley will pitch two innings Wednesday in a camp game--a “campfire game” as Finley called it--against Angel minor leaguers. “I just want to get the feel of being in a game,” he said. “It feels good throwing on the side, but I need to know what it feels like when there’s a man on second and in different situations.” If that goes well, he’ll move into the rotation for three innings next week in a game in Palm Springs. Rodgers is still planning on having Finley pitch one of the Angels’ first five games, although Finley won’t be ready for the season opener. “If he winds up getting in five innings, with Finley, having him ready to pitch five or five-plus is better than some guys we’ve seen and haven’t liked too much going five innings,” Rodgers said.

Outfielder Chad Curtis is one for 14 since his hot start. Junior Felix, Curtis’ rival for the starting job in center field, was 0 for four Sunday . . . Catcher John Orton (sore right shoulder) is throwing lightly but hasn’t resumed hitting. “It’s definitely frustrating,” said Orton, who is competing with Lance Parrish for the starting catching job. “I would have liked to have gotten in as much as possible, but there’s nothing I can do. I don’t want to rush and set it back further.” . . . Catcher Ron Tingley (strained right calf) is day-to-day. . . . Luis Polonia (sore left shoulder) was cleared for pinch-hitting and designated-hitting duty. . . . Mark Eichhorn pitched a scoreless eighth inning and has not allowed a run in six spring innings.

There were no surprises in the first squad cuts. Assigned to Mesa for conditioning and reassignment were pitchers Mike Butcher, David Holdridge, Mark Zappelli, Mike Erb and Paul Swingle; infielders Kevin Flora and J.R. Phillips, and outfielders Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon. Nonroster invitees who will stay at the minor league camp are pitchers Bert Blyleven, John Farrell and Joe Kraemer; catchers Mick Billmeyer and Larry Gonzales and infielders Damion Easley and Ken Oberkfell. Pitcher Pat Perry was released from his triple-A contract.