ANGELS : Door Open, but Springer in Limbo

Russ Springer is no Jim Abbott. He knows that, and so do the Angels, who would be content with mere reliability from the starting pitcher they acquired in the December deal that sent Abbott to the New York Yankees.

A spot in the rotation could be Springer’s for the taking if he shows any semblance of dependability this spring. So far there has been none.

Springer knows the potential is there, and so does Angel Manager Buck Rodgers. But the gulf between potential and accomplishment has been as wide as the distance from the Angel bullpen to the pitcher’s mound.

Springer, a 6-foot-4 right-hander who was 8-5 in 20 starts with the Yankees’ triple-A affiliate at Columbus, Ohio, last year, seems to be leaving his best stuff in the bullpen. His three appearances have been forgettable.

“I haven’t shown them anything yet,” said Springer, whose last start ended after giving up nine runs (six earned) and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of a 12-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. “I know I can pitch in the big leagues. I don’t think I’m pressing. I’ve still got confidence that I can pitch in the big leagues, but I have to show the team that.”

Rodgers agreed.

“We know he has the tools,” he said after Springer’s earned-run average rose to 12.91. “I’ve never seen him before this year, but I know if I was coming over here with a job in mind, I’d kick myself in the butt and go after it.

“He’s got a good fastball and a decent delivery, but until I see it on the mound I can only assume it’s being left in the bullpen.”

That’s not to say that Rodgers has given up hope for Springer. Rodgers is attempting to speed up Springer’s delivery, which should give his pitches more snap.

“If you have a ‘la-di-da’ delivery, your pitches are going to be ‘la-di-da,’ ” Rodgers said. “We’ve got to get that good delivery, that good stuff out there on the mound. What’s the reason (it’s not happening)? That’s what we’re trying to isolate. He’s not the first pitcher that’s changed when he’s walked across the (foul) line.”

The Angels made several minor league assignments Wednesday, sending Paul Swingle to triple-A Vancouver, Ron Watson and Jose Musset to double-A Midland and Pete Janicki, their No. 1 draft pick in 1992, to Class-A Cedar Rapids. All four are pitchers.

Jimmie Reese is celebrating his 70th spring by helping Angel pitchers with their fielding. Renowned as one of the finest fungo hitters, Reese, who will turn 92 in October, can still smack the ball deftly.

He played only three seasons in the major leagues, but was a fixture for 13 seasons with Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego in the Pacific Coast League. He got his start as the Los Angeles Angels’ bat boy in 1917.

After all those springs, he said he has never seen a facility as beautiful as the Angels’ new digs at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

“We should have had a place like this 50 years ago,” he said. “I would have been a better ballplayer.”

Second baseman Damion Easley, sidelined by shin splints, hopes to begin fielding ground balls today. “Hopefully by Sunday I can be out there playing again,” he said.