BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Langston Doesn’t Want Strike Called

Mark Langston, the Angels’ player representative, said that although he’s in full support of the Major League Players Assn., he would be opposed to a players’ strike in September.

The threat of a strike arose Tuesday when Don Fehr, executive director of the players’ association, brought up the possibility before the All-Star game.

“It was shocking,” Langston said. ‘The first I heard of it was when I turned on TV (Wednesday night).

“Obviously, I support the union and back it up 100%, but I’d hate to see baseball stopped for any reason. It’s bad for the game.”

The major leagues’ Basic Agreement between players and management expires Dec. 31, and there is the increasing possibility of a lockout next spring, with the owners delaying the start of baseball.

“We need to get the ball moving on this right now, and get serious about negotiations,” Langston said. “We need to get baseball back to where it was. When I was a kid, I lived and died baseball, but that (aura) isn’t there anymore. There are too many negative things.”

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Joe Grahe, who rejoined the team after being out since June 4 with tendinitis in his right shoulder, says that he still has not been able to rid himself of the pain.

“It’s still sore after I pitch,” Grahe said. “But maybe it’s as good as it’s going to get this year. I’m still kind of concerned about my arm strength, and I know I can’t throw two days in a row yet, but I’ll feel my way through it.”

Grahe will be kept out of any late-inning pressure situations for the time-being, Manager Buck Rodgers said, slowly working him into the bullpen-by-committee arrangement with Steve Frey and Gene Nelson.

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Brian Anderson, the Angels’ No. 1 pick in the June free-agent draft, attended Thursday’s game with his family and pronounced himself ready to sign.

The sides remain about $300,000 apart in negotiations, with Anderson seeking about $1 million.

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Cleveland starter Bob Ojeda has yet to pitch batting practice since returning to the team after the Indians’ tragic boating accident in spring training. He continues to throw in the bullpen, but Manager Mike Hargrove said the Indians will allow him to continue at his own pace. It could be as late as September, officials say, before Ojeda pitches again in the major leagues.