BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Stevens Getting Another Chance

When Lee Stevens had about 200 at-bats and a batting average under .200, the Angels figured they had given him enough of a chance to prove himself.

“It was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere but down the tube,” Manager Buck Rodgers said.

Stevens had lost his aggressiveness and wasn’t showing much willingness to learn or adjust, Rodgers said.

Then, in the last month, hitting instructor Rod Carew suggested Stevens rest the bat on his shoulder. Stevens tried it and was hitting .395 with seven doubles in the month of August.

Now Rodgers is taking another long look at Stevens at first base. Gary Gaetti, who had been playing there, hasn’t started the past five games and will play first against left-handers.

Whitey Herzog, senior vice president for player personnel, said he doesn’t plan for any players to join the team today, the first day rosters are expanded to 40.