From Hospital Bed, Rodgers Is Still Able to Plan Strategy

Despite intense pain from a broken rib, kneecap and elbow, Angel Manager Buck Rodgers discussed potential lineups and strategies with third base coach John Wathan, who will manage the team while Rodgers recovers from the injuries he suffered in Thursday’s early morning bus crash.

Wathan will assume his duties as interim manager today, when the Angels open a three-game series at the new Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Managing will be a familiar role for Wathan, who compiled a 287-270 record with the Kansas City Royals from Aug., 1987 to May 22, 1991.

“He obviously was on a lot of medication because of the pain, but we talked about what he wants to do,” Wathan said of his conversation with Rodgers, which took place at Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury, N.J. “I’m the manager in title, but it’s really all the coaching staff. We’ll all draw from each other.”

Wathan said he will make no dramatic changes from Rodgers’ aggressive style of managing.

“I managed a lot like Buck. I like to do the same things he did--the hit and run and all that,” he said. “It’s going to be a continuation of what we’ve been doing. We’re going to have to try to manufacture runs like he did. We’re in a little drought, but hopefully we can pick it up a notch and draw some inspiration from this (accident).”

Wathan escaped the accident with general soreness but no injuries of consequence. “I feel like when I used to catch and had a home-plate collision with a guy bigger than me,” he said.

However, some of his players were not as lucky.

Bobby Rose was to be put on the disabled list today because of a severely sprained right ankle, and first baseman Alvin Davis spent Thursday night at Underwood Hospital undergoing tests for possible kidney damage. Luis Sojo was flown to Baltimore Thursday and is expected to join the team today and be added to the roster.

“We’re OK in the outfield, but we’re a little short on infielders,” Wathan said.

None of the Angels’ pitchers were on the bus that swerved off the road, and the only outfielder on that bus was Junior Felix, who bruised his knee. Catcher Ron Tingley, first baseman Lee Stevens, second baseman Rene Gonzales and third baseman Gary Gaetti were on that bus but were not injured. Only shortstop Gary DiSarcina is questionable after being shaken up in the mishap. Catcher Mike Fitzgerald was on the second bus and was among those who helped comfort the wounded.

The accident occurred as the Angels were leaving New York, where they were swept by the Yankees in a three-game series to extend their slump to seven losses in nine games.

Magnifying their misery is their 1-5 record on this trip after visits to Boston and New York. They have scored only 11 runs in their last six games.

“This is definitely a case of getting kicked when you’re down,” Tingley said. “We might not want to go out there, but we’ve got to pick ourselves up, lick our wounds and get out there.”

But DiSarcina, who is in a three-for-20 hitting slump, welcomed the chance to get back into action today.

“I think it’ll be good to go out and get back to doing what you can be good at,” DiSarcina said. “It’ll take our mind off things.”

Said Wathan: “The best medicine for Buck now would be for us to win a few games. That’s the best thing we could do for him and for ourselves.”