ANGELS : They Aren’t Only Ones to Have Deal Go Awry

If there’s anyone in this game that can empathize with the Angels these days, it might be John Schuerholz, general manager of the Atlanta Braves.

You see, he too endured the embarrassment and public ridicule of trading for an injured player, but his glaring mistake became magnified in each passing year.

While Schuerholz still was general manager of the Kansas City Royals, he dealt pitcher David Cone to the New York Mets in a five-player deal March 27, 1987, for catcher Ed Hearn.

Cone went on to become one of the finest pitchers in the National League, posting a 20-3 record in 1988 and averaging 15 victories a season.

And Hearn?

He was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff three weeks after consummation of the trade, underwent surgery June 30, 1987, and played only 13 games the rest of his career.

“That was doomed from Day 1,” Schuerholz said, “and believe me, we certainly got our share of criticism. We traded away a guy who developed into one of the best pitches in the game for a guy who could no longer throw.

“We had absolutely no idea he was hurt.”

Yet, while the Angels are crying foul against the Toronto Blue Jays--and are expected to seek financial compensation because of the rotator-cuff surgery that will sideline third baseman Kelly Gruber a minimum of eight weeks and possibly the entire season--Schuerholz never threatened action.

“To me, it’s buyer-beware,” Schuerholz said. “We had scouts that watched him play, I’m sure, just like the Angels had scouts that watched Gruber. The two weeks before we made the deal, nobody said anything about him having arm problems.

“Really, there was nothing we could do. You can’t do anything about it. The only thing we can do is rely on our integrity, and if someone is knowingly hurt, he just is not traded.

“Those things just happen. We made our mistake, and there since have been others. I just don’t think you can do anything about it.”

Said Angel President Richard Brown: “No matter what happens, I think we’ve learned our lesson. Our first question from now on will be: “Is he healthy?’ ”

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers told Gruber to ignore the eight-week prognosis on his recovery, and to rehabilitate at his own pace.

“I told him, ‘I don’t want you to baby it, but I don’t you to push it, either,’ “Rodgers said. “If he doesn’t come back in 16 weeks, I don’t want him to get discouraged. I want him ready to play at the major-league level.”

Rodgers, when asked whether Angel catcher John Orton (a career .203 hitter) is capable of being a big-league hitter: “There’s usually two reasons why a guy can’t hit.

“Number one: He can’t hit.

“Number two: He’s too stubborn to give himself a chance to hit.”

Which number pertains to Orton’s woes?

“I can’t tell you yet,” Rodgers said, “but I’m starting to lean one way.”

Who does Whitey Herzog, Angel vice president/player personnel, pick to win the American League West this season? “People can say what they want about Minnesota or Chicago,” Herzog said. “But Kansas City scares the hell out of me. I think they scare the hell out of everyone.” . . . Angel veterans Chili Davis and Stan Javier arrived one day early for workouts. The first full-squad workout is scheduled today. . . .Outfielder Jerome Walton, who missed the last two days after fouling a pitch against his eye, resumed workouts.