BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Rodgers Fined for Umpire Incident

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers was fined Tuesday by American League President Dr. Bobby Brown for using abusive language toward plate umpire Greg Kosc in last week’s game against the Oakland Athletics.

Rodgers screamed at Kosc after he ejected Angel pitcher Mike Butcher for allegedly throwing at outfielder Dave Henderson.

Rodgers said: “All I told him was, ‘The trouble with you (guys) is that you can’t tell a . . . fastball from a breaking pitch, and that was a . . . breaking pitch, you . . . “

Rodgers could not disclose the amount of the fine, but it is believed to be about $250.

Butcher, who threw a slider that caused his ejection, has not been fined by the league office.

“Maybe it got lost in the mail,” Butcher said. “At least that’s what I’m hoping.”

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Angel pitcher Julio Valera said he will be admitted into Centinela Hospital medical Center tonight to undergo elbow surgery Thursday that will end his season.

“I think this will be for the best,” Valera said. “I can’t go out there pitching like I was. I was hurting the team and myself.”

Valera will remain with the team the rest of the year undergoing rehabilitative work.

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Rodgers reiterated Tuesday that he has no interest in acquiring former Cy Young winner Mark Davis, who will become a free agent today when he clears waivers. Davis, who has been traded twice and released in the last year, is expected to sign with the Padres. He saved 44 games for San Diego in 1989 before signing a four-year, $13-million contract with the Royals.

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Angel catcher John Orton, who has been troubled by a tender right elbow since returning from the disabled list with a thumb injury, underwent precautionary X-rays before the game.

“I’ve had tendinitis in this thing since I was in high school, but it’s been acting up on me lately,” Orton said. “It’s been real tender lately. I think I just threw too much while I was on the DL to get ready.”

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Why has the American League West become such a mess since 1991 when every team in the division finished with at least a .500 record? One theory is that very few from the division that year are still around. Of the 293 players in the division in 1991, only 77 on the active roster this year are with the same AL West team.