BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Memories of Eric Show Sadden Lefferts

Angel reliever Craig Lefferts stepped on the mound at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, looked down, and immediately recalled the memories.

This was where his buddy, Eric Show, last pitched for the Oakland Athletics in the spring of 1992, and few ever heard from him again.

“I tried to call him, and left a lot of messages,” said Lefferts, Show’s teammate of five years with the San Diego Padres. “I kept in touch with him through a mutual friend. I knew he had problems, but I wanted to talk to him.

“Now, I don’t get that chance.”

Show was found dead Wednesday in a drug rehabilitation center in San Diego County. He had been in and out of drug treatment centers the last two years and was discharged from the Betty Ford Clinic last August.

“He was a great man, a talented man,” Lefferts said, “it just goes to show you how powerful drugs can be.”

Lefferts, 36, was not using his emotional distress Friday as an excuse for his dismal performance in the B game against Oakland, but it appears almost a certainty that he will be released. He gave up two homers and four hits in his two-inning stint, and has a 16.20 earned-run average. Opposing hitters are batting .483 in his four appearances.

The only temptation to keep Lefferts is that he signed a guaranteed $400,000 contract. But General Manager Bill Bavasi said his contract will have little bearing in the decision.

“We couldn’t eat a lot of $400,000 contracts,” Bavasi said, “but we could eat one. If (Manager) Buck (Rodgers) has seen enough, we’ll replace him.”

Said Rodgers: “In this game, batters usually tell you what a pitcher’s got. And, wow, he sure wasn’t missing too many bats today. His fastball just isn’t there. It’s batting-practice variety.”

Lefferts, who probably will pitch on Sunday, is expected to be replaced by left-hander Lee Guetterman. Guetterman, who is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA, signed a minor league contract that will pay him $200,000.

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The Angels, who lost to the Athletics, 10-1, in the A game, might also soon be faced with a financial decision on utility infielder Spike Owen. Although the Angels would prefer to keep Rod Correia and Mike Brumley as their two utility infielders, Owen is guaranteed $500,000 in 1994 and $500,000 in 1995.

The Angels are committed to keeping Correia, who is the second-best shortstop on the team, and are impressed by Brumley’s speed and versatility. They are actively trying to trade utility infielder Torey Lovullo and Owen, but have yet to receive any offers.

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The Angels aren’t saying anything publicly, but are mildly suspicious that New York Met starter Anthony Young might have been scratched because of tenderness in his arm Thursday and not a strained groin. Now, more than ever, they want to be completely sure that Young is fully recovered from his elbow surgery in September. David Altchek, who performed the surgery, said Young has not experienced any discomfort in his elbow this spring. Young is tentatively scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Houston Astros. . . . Met scout Harry Minor was on hand in the morning B game to watch J.T. Snow, who was used as the designated hitter for the first 5 1/2 innings. Preparing themselves for Snow’s possible departure, the Angels once again played Eduardo Perez at first base. . . . The Angels are expected to release reliever Shawn Hillegas, who is 0-1 with a 16.43 ERA.