Angels Must Forget Wally, Turn to Kids

Officially, finally and conclusively, you can score it E-3.

Wally Joyner was the first baseman the Angels had to replace, and the Angels’ three-step program (“Lose That Guilt In 162 Days”) didn’t even make it to July.

Step No. 1, of course, was Lee Stevens, who has used the past three months to demonstrate that he is something less than a quasi-Wally. At the end of April, Stevens was hitting .196. At the end of May, .202. At the end of June, .204.

So, on the plus side, Stevens has been consistent.

On the minus, at this rate, he won’t break .240 until April, 1994.

Step No. 2 was Alvin Davis, who stayed around just long enough to prove he was ready for a step up, to the Kinetsu Buffaloes. Soon, Davis will be suiting up against the Yakult Swallows, who currently start Jack Howell and Johnny Ray on the infield.

After 32 1/2 meaningless seasons, the Angels have at last found a purpose for existence.

Farm club for the Japanese league.

Step No. 3, which was the most outlandish conceit of all, was Wally Joyner. Replace Wally With Wally--it was a grass-roots movement that first took hold, Perot-like, on the street. The same fans who brought Stevens the ever-thoughtful “WALL-EE, WALL-EE” chant were the ones who studied Joyner’s one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals and held out hope for a comeback come 1993.

See, the thinking went, Wally would be a free agent again in November, and the Angels, having had the error of their ways pounded into them with a two-by-four, would be only too happy to shell out $16 million or $20 million or whatever it would take to ensure it would never happen again.

If the Angels were up for it, the mistake was to assume that Wally ever would be.

Why trade 90 losses in Kansas City for 95 in Anaheim?

The answer was rendered emphatically last week when Joyner signed a three-year contract extension with the Royals, with an option for a fourth. Three steps and you’re out, Angels. Joyner was a goner, long-term, just as soon as he saw how sprightly those line drives bound through the gaps at Royals Stadium--he’s on a 45-double pace this year--and how comfortably Midwestern living suited his young, Mormon family.

Meanwhile, first base has become worst base in Anaheim, and after 13 seasons of Rod Carew and Joyner, that’s a 7.4 jolt.

Where do the Angels turn next?

To the free agent market? Mark McGwire will be available this winter, but at what price? Six million a year? Seven million?

For that kind of money, the Angels would be better off chasing Barry Bonds, as is the intent as of today. And yet, future Angeldom is no lock for Bonds, despite his stated desire to resettle in Southern California. Consider the variables:

--Jackie Autry. When push comes to checkbook, she might not want to pay $35 million through 1997 for one left fielder.

--Bonds. Open to all bidders, he might not want to enlist with a team that’s a lot closer to 100 losses than it is to .500.

--The Dodgers. With their outfield suddenly looking old and injury-prone, they might be open to an into-the-stratosphere assault on Bonds.

Ideally, the Angels would prefer to grow a first baseman of their own. The same farm produced Joyner and Stevens, so the next crop could go either way.

Unfortunately for the Angels, their best first base prospect is playing third base.

That would be Eduardo Perez, son of Tony, the old Cincinnati Reds’ slugger. Perez is in Midland, learning third base because, before this season, the Angels figured their need there was more dire. They still could be right.

The Edmonton first baseman is Don Barbara, two years removed from Cal State Long Beach. Barbara has hit for average at every level--.362 at Midland last year, .309 at Edmonton this year--but he hasn’t shown much home-run power, just four in 63 games.

Still, you take a look at Barbara and Trapper right fielder Tim Salmon, who’s contending for the Pacific Coast League triple crown, and you wonder what the Angels are waiting for. To the support-starved Angel pitchers, Salmon’s numbers have to tug at the heart: .382 average, 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, 26 doubles, .693 slugging percentage.

Imagine a mid-90s Angel outfield of Salmon in right, Junior Felix in center and Chad Curtis in left.

Picture an infield of Barbara at first base, Kevin Flora (.311 at Edmonton) at second, Perez at third and Gary DiSarcina at shortstop.

Life could be livable. And at catcher? Can you envision John Orton behind the plate and in the lineup every day?

I see.

Well, can you envision Jorge Fabregas behind the plate and in the lineup every day?

The present in Anaheim may be shot, but the future has a shot. Play the kids--that should be the rallying cry for this season’s final three months. Already we’re seeing what DiSarcina and Curtis can do, which is prove they belong. What about Salmon? What about Barbara? We’ll never know unless the Angels give it a try.

One warning from the surgeon general, however: Too much turnover can be hazardous to a franchise’s health. Know your people--and when to pick your spots. Younger and cheaper doesn’t always translate into better.

If the Angels didn’t grasp it in November, they most assuredly do today.

Every time they look at first base, they are reminded.