BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Will There be a ‘Natural’ in Anaheim?

With thoughts of the movie, “The Natural” in mind, rookie Chad Curtis made his major league debut Wednesday, leading off and playing left field.

Curtis, who won a backup outfield job after an impressive spring, bases his baseball philosophy on a scene in “The Natural.” In that scene, the main character, Roy Hobbs, walks out after hearing a psychologist tell players that losing is as contagious as various diseases.

“I think Roy Hobbs was saying winning is an attitude, too, and you can take that out on the field with you,” Curtis said. “I want to do that. I want to be an offensive catalyst for this ballclub, stealing a base, bunting for a hit, the kind of thing that gets clubs going.”

Although Chuck Finley will miss his first turn and is questionable for his second because of lingering soreness in his left big toe, Manager Buck Rodgers is hesitant to recall another pitcher.

“We’re going to have to try and scrape through the first time around and we’ll have to make a decision Sunday or Monday whether he’ll be able to throw his next time around,” Rodgers said. “If not, we can backdate him (on the disabled list) to last Sunday. His third start, he should be able to make even if we put him on the DL.”

Jimmie Reese, Angels’ conditioning coach, has confessed to having lied about his age since his playing days. Reese claimed to be born Oct. 1, 1904, but admitted he was actually born in 1901.

“I just this year said I might as well tell the truth,” he said. “They told me if I was younger, I would last longer and have a better chance. I can’t go on forever. It finally caught up with me.”

Reese, who missed most of last season because of heart problems, has been as active as ever this spring. “I get up every morning, so I can’t complain,” he said.