BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Minor Confusion on Brooks

In an apparent case of miscommunication, interim Manager John Wathan said Hubie Brooks has refused a minor league rehabilitation assignment because “he didn’t say yes, so I guess that’s no.” Brooks said he has never refused an assignment.

Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said he has asked Brooks to go to the minors and is awaiting a response.

“I didn’t say no, and if I don’t say no, it doesn’t mean no,” said Brooks, who was put on the disabled list June 21 because of weakness in a nerve leading from his neck to his shoulder.

“I don’t have a problem with (going) at all. I feel good enough to play. I don’t mind going down, but I figured I might have a chance to get activated when different guys have gotten hurt. All I want to do is play baseball.

“I’ve never opposed anything a team has asked me to do, and I still feel that way right now,” said Brooks, who has been taking batting practice and working out daily. “I really don’t feel there’s a problem between me and whoever’s deciding. If I’m not activated by the weekend I probably will go because I’ll have to by then.”

Wathan said he believed Brooks rejected the suggestion and is hurting himself by not going.

“I can’t see any advantage to him staying here,” Wathan said. “He needs to see some live pitching and see what he can do in September, but it’s his choice. . . . He could have been out and back by now.”

O’Brien said he discussed the subject with Brooks by phone three or four days ago.

“He said he was thinking about it,” said O’Brien, who had not imposed a time limit for Brooks.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who is doing 14 Angel broadcasts, said he hasn’t been approached by incoming Tiger owner Mike Ilitch about returning to Detroit. Harwell, the Tigers’ longtime announcer, was fired after last season. . . . Bert Blyleven, the Angels’ starter tonight, has not won at Fenway Park since June 21, 1983. His first victory over the Red Sox was on June 14, 1970, when Angel third baseman Damion Easley was six months old.