BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Langston Might Get All-Star Start

Angel starter Mark Langston, thanks to a request by New York Yankee Manager Buck Showalter, might start Tuesday’s All-Star game in Baltimore.

Showalter informed Toronto Manager Cito Gaston that he does not want Jimmy Key to pitch more than one inning in the game. That eliminates Key from starting consideration, with the honor expected to go to Langston or Seattle’s Randy Johnson.

“All I can tell you is that a left-hander will be starting for us,” Gaston said.

Said Langston, who pitched in relief in his two previous All-Star appearances: “It would be a great honor, I know that.”

*

Angel reliever Julio Valera’s career is in jeopardy after undergoing complete reconstructive surgery of his elbow, but it didn’t stop his teammates’ sense of humor.

They covered his locker in masking tape, with the words: “Temporarily closed due to remodeling. Keep out.”

Said Manager Buck Rodgers: “I thought he’d have a tear, but I didn’t think he’d have the whole tendon transplant. We can’t count on him at all. This is going to be a long ordeal.”

*

The Angels, in the midst of their austerity program, can take comfort in the fact that Langston does not have an All-Star incentive in his contract.

Not only that, they saved $50,000. Bullpen closer Bryan Harvey gets that much for making the All-Star team. That responsibility, of course, now belongs to the Florida Marlins and not the Angels.

*

Angel reliever Joe Grahe is scheduled to pitch two innings in his final rehabilitative stint today at triple-A Vancouver, and then rejoin the team at the All-Star break. Rodgers would not say whom he will replace, but the leading candidate is Doug Linton, particularly since left-hander Jerry Nielsen has improved of late. . . . The Angels will shuffle their starting rotation after the All-Star break, and will open the second half with Scott Sanderson, Chuck Finley, Russ Springer, Mark Langston and Hilly Hathaway. . . . Rodgers said that he will not consider putting John Farrell back into the rotation until at least August. “Springer and Hathaway have broken through the two-inning barriers, so we have to look at how they progress,” Rodgers said. “We need to give them a chance. We don’t want to cut their legs out from under them.” . . . Vancouver third baseman Eduardo Perez, the son of Tony Perez, continues to enhance his chances of a September call-up. He went four for five Thursday night with a homer, two doubles and three RBIs. He has nine homers and 58 RBIs this season.