BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Davis’ Exit Is Stevens’ Security Blanket

Lee Stevens, assured he will start the majority of games at first after the release of Alvin Davis Friday, said the security of being in the starting lineup should boost his confidence and his batting average.

Stevens was hitting .194 with five home runs and 15 runs batted in before the Angels’ game Friday at Seattle. His high point was opening day, when he was one for four. He hasn’t exceeded .235 since May 4 and has hovered around .200 for the past month.

“Hopefully, coming to the ballpark now and knowing I’ll be in there will be a big help,” Stevens said. “I know it did the last home stand, when I was in there every day for 10 days. I hit the ball well that home stand, and hopefully I can pick it up again.

“It’s tough staying in good habits when you’re not in there every day. It’s tougher staying in good habits than getting rid of bad. I’m still going to approach things the same way. I’ll do what I can do, and if they don’t think it’s good enough, they can get rid of me. All I want is a chance. I think I’m real close and they know that. I think they still have confidence in me. I hope they don’t give up on me at all. I still feel I’m going to be a good player in this league, and I’d rather do it here than somewhere else.”

Reliever Chuck Crim and pitching coach Marcel Lachemann studied tapes of Crim’s delivery in an attempt to unravel the reasons for Crim’s struggles. His earned-run average is 35.10 in his last three appearances and 6.98 overall. They found Crim was opening his shoulder rather than staying compact in his delivery. Crim also realized he had changed his pitching patterns. “I’ve got to get back to throwing the ball (outside) consistently with my changeup and hard slider,” Crim said. . . . Tests on Hubie Brooks found nothing beyond a strained neck. Brooks, who is on the disabled list, continues to undergo therapy at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic. He will be re-evaluated next week by team orthopedist Lewis Yocum. . . . Gary Gaetti hit in the cleanup spot Friday for the first time this season. . . . Steve Frey, Scott Bailes, Mark Eichhorn and Bryan Harvey sported flat-top haircuts Friday after visiting a local barber. “It’s a bullpen thing,” Frey said. “We’re all in this together.”

In an eight-inning exhibition game at the Kingdome, the U.S. Olympic baseball team defeated Japan, 4-1, to improve its record to 10-3 on its 30-game pre-Olympic tour. Cal State Fullerton’s Phil Nevin was 0 for 4 but still leads Team USA with a .487 batting average.