BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Lovullo Gets Another Chance

It has been four years of wondering whether he would receive another opportunity, dreading that he blew his only chance to be an everyday player.

He was discarded by two teams, forgotten in triple A and believed others had given up on him.

Who would have thought Angel infielder Torey Lovullo would have the opportunity to be an everyday player?

Once again.

“I’ve come full circle, and this time I don’t have any intention of letting that go,” Lovullo said.

Lovullo, 27, was announced as the Detroit Tigers’ starting third baseman before camp broke in 1989. Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson said that he would die before Lovullo came out of the starting lineup.

Lovullo hit .115, was optioned to triple-A Toledo in mid-May and never returned against to the Tigers. He was traded in 1991 to the New York Yankees, and signed a minor-league free-agent contract this past November with the Angels.

Lovullo is the one responsible for the Angels’ decision to move second baseman Damion Easley back to third base, relegate Rene Gonzales to a utility role and be the everyday second baseman until further notice.

“I really thought I’d be back on the bench when Damion came back,” Lovullo said. “It means a lot to me that (Manager) Buck Rodgers and the organization have that much confidence on me.

“The one thing I want to do now is not put too much pressure on myself. The ball’s in my court. It’s all up to me.”

Lovullo entered Monday’s game batting .275 with three homers and 19 runs batted in.

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The Angels remain concerned about triple-A center fielder/second baseman Kevin Flora’s well-being. He still has not played since his wife and niece were killed in an automobile accident in April.

“It’s pretty hard to count on Kevin Flora for a mental turnaround,” Rodgers said. “I hate to say it with the tragedy he went through, but he’s just going through the motions right now. He doesn’t have the desire.

“I think he’ll handle it somewhere down the line, but right now, we can’t count on him.”

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Angel center fielder Chad Curtis, who entered Monday’s game hitting .241 since June 7, still is hampered by a sore right shoulder. . . .

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Joe Grahe, who is at triple-A Vancouver on a rehabilitation assignment, will remain on the disabled list until at least the All-Star break, Rodgers said.

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Rodgers says he has not received a letter of reprimand from American League President Bobby Brown for his harsh criticism Tuesday night of umpire Greg Kosc.

“The one thing I got going for me is Bobby Brown was a player,” Rodgers said. “He’s not just a suit up there. . . . But I feel sorry for both of our the league presidents. They’re trying to imitate David Stern without any backing, and both want out of there.”