BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Bus Trip Evokes Some Nervous Humor

Hoping lightning won’t strike them twice, the Angels today will travel from New York to Baltimore by bus.

The last time they did it, one of two buses carrying the team veered off the road at 1:47 a.m. EDT May 21 and crashed through a grove of trees along the New Jersey Turnpike in Deptford Township, N.J. Many of the 19 passengers were bruised and the most seriously injured, Manager Buck Rodgers, has been sidelined since then. He plans to return Friday.

Gallows humor has been the theme as this bus trip nears. The players have numbered the buses Bus 2 and Bus 3, retiring number one. And earlier this week, according to team media relations director Tim Mead, one player asked if the buses to be used today are from the same company as the one that crashed.

Eighteen players, coaches and staff members were on the bus that crashed. One player, Alvin Davis, has since been released by the Angels and another, Bobby Rose--who suffered a badly sprained ankle in the accident and had to go on the disabled list--is in the minor leagues.

Said Gary DiSarcina: “I think we’ll wear football equipment to protect us this time.”

But not everyone is light-hearted at the prospect of a repeat trip. “It bothers me,” equipment manager Leonard Garcia said. “I never liked bus rides, and after the accident I liked them less. It’s in the daytime this time, so maybe it’ll be different. I think I’ll feel better after it’s done. When you’re not in control, that’s when it bothers you.”

Before the game, the Yankees traded pitcher Tim Leary to Seattle for outfielder Sean Twitty and recalled minor league pitcher Russ Springer. The Yankees will pay the remainder of Leary’s $2.175-million contract this season as well as $200,000 of his $1.3-million salary next season. . . . The Yankees also released pitcher Shawn Hillegas, who was 1-8 (including a loss to the Angels Friday) with a 5.51 earned-run average.

Tim Salmon got his first major league hit Saturday, a single in his seventh at-bat. . . . First baseman Lee Stevens, who suffered a strained abdominal muscle on his left side Friday, wasn’t available Saturday. His playing status is day to day. . . . The Angels acquired pitcher Dana Ridenour from the Montreal Expos for future considerations and assigned him to triple-A Edmonton.

Outfield instructor Sam Suplizio met with the outfielders after seeing their confusion on several routine fly balls Friday.

“We wanted to re-establish that the center fielder is in charge and that when he calls the corner outfielders off, he should call them off early,” he said.

“Tim Salmon caught a ball in front of Junior Felix that was Junior’s ball, and we want to be sure Junior takes the balls that are his and doesn’t leave them for the corner outfielders.”

Chad Curtis started in center for the first time since July 7 and Felix was the designated hitter.