BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Mystique of Japanese Pitcher Still Alive

A horde of Japanese media camped out early at Tempe Diablo Stadium to watch Seattle Mariner pitcher Makoto Suzuki and were rushing to the telephones once again.

Although Suzuki did not throw a 96-m.p.h. fastball as advertised, and the Angels were unimpressed, the mystique lives on.

Suzuki, 18, bidding to become only the second Japanese-born player to reach the major leagues, pitched two hitless innings in the Mariners’ 5-3 victory over the Angels at Tempe, Ariz. He has given up only two hits in four innings this spring.

“I thought his ball kind of snuck up on you,” Angel right fielder Tim Salmon said. “Other guys didn’t think he was throwing that hard, but I think he’ll be all right once he comes up with some off-speed pitches.

“I’m not going to sit here and say he’s going to be a great pitcher, but he’s got a decent arm.”

Suzuki, who dropped out of school in Kobe, Japan, when he was 14, began his professional career in 1992 for class-A Salinas. His mornings were spent working on his pitching delivery, and his nights were spent cleaning the clubhouse and washing uniforms. He pitched for San Bernardino last season, yielding 59 hits and striking out 87 in 80 2/3 innings. He then received an $800,000 signing bonus from the Mariners after turning down 14 other teams.

When the Mariners asked him what uniform number he wanted, he requested 911, saying, “That’s what I call for help.” He settled for 96, the velocity of his fastball. He has been compared to Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden and Jim Palmer. Considering the Mariners’ bullpen woes, they are serious about his chances.

“He’s not here for the media,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said. “He’s here because he can make our team.”

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The most beautiful sight the Angels have seen all spring occurred Wednesday when batboy Mike Glorioso walked through the clubhouse doors and attended his first Angel game since July.

“I couldn’t believe he was walking,” Angel second baseman Torey Lovullo said. “Really, it’s a miracle.”

Glorioso was left paralyzed while playing baseball last summer, suffering a compressed vertebrae. His surgery took nine hours, and doctors doubted whether he’d be able to walk again. He was hospitalized for three months, and Lovullo and shortstop Gary DiSarcina made sure he was not forgotten, visiting him at least once every home stand.

His neck is supported by a heavy brace, but he’s walking again, and hopes to be back with the Angels by the All-Star break.

“There’s a lot of guys in here that have made this possible,” Glorioso said. “They supported me the whole way, and believe me, I’ll be back to show them my appreciation.”

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Angel Manager Buck Rodgers didn’t arrive until the fourth inning, spending 3 1/2 hours in a Phoenix courtroom giving depositions for his lawsuit involving the Angels’ bus crash on May 21, 1992. The Angels and former bullpen coach Rick Turner have settled their suits. Hitting coach Rod Carew is scheduled to give his deposition today.

“So excuse me if I sound confused today,” Rodgers said, “I went through 3 1/2 hours of testimony so I got all my ifs, ands and buts all mixed up.”

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Brian Anderson, the Angels’ No. 1 pick in the 1993 draft, kept alive his chances of making the starting rotation by pitching three shutout innings. “I’m not just glad to be here, I want to make this team,” said Anderson, who has added a slider. “If I didn’t think that way, it would be a disservice to them and myself.” . . . Reliever Bill Sampen has a good chance to earn a place in the bullpen after pitching two perfect innings. . . . The Angel pitching staff has Rodgers reconsidering his plan of carrying three catchers and 10 pitchers. He might carry two catchers and 11 pitchers.