BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Leiter Carries an Extra Burden to Camp

It was one of the most grueling flights of Mark Leiter’s life. His body sat still for nearly five hours, but his mind was whirling uncontrollably, wondering if he really should be doing this.

It always was difficult for Leiter to leave his family, but now, more than ever, the pain of separation is deep.

Leiter, who arrived Monday to join the Angels, would give anything for this job opportunity to be his only worry.

If it were up to him, he would never put on another baseball uniform, simply in exchange for his little boy’s health.

“Unfortunately,” Leiter said softly, “life doesn’t work that way.”

Trying to live the dream of being a starting pitcher in the major leagues, Leiter with his wife, Allison, have only ruthless reality.

Their 9-month-old son, Ryan Alexander Leiter, is dying.

Ryan cannot move his hands. His legs are limp. His neck is not strong enough to support his head. He is being fed through a tube inserted in his navel, while another tube is used to remove saliva.

The ailment is a progressive form of neural-muscular atrophy called Werdnig-Hoffman disease. In essence, Leiter said, it’s a children’s form of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“We’ve been told,” Leiter said, “that most babies suffering from this disease don’t live past a year. The longest on record is two years. Right now, we’re trying to enjoy him every day we can.”

This is why it was so difficult for Leiter to board the plane from Florida, having no idea whether he’ll be rejoining the family in 10 days, or will be making arrangements for them to move to California.

Leiter, 31, signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for $300,000 plus $300,000 in incentives after being released a week ago from the Detroit Tigers. The Angels will decide by March 29 if he’ll stick with the team. If not, they’ll pay him $75,000, and thank him for the tryout.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity because I think I’ll get a chance to start,” said Leiter, who was 6-6 with a 4.73 earned-run average last season. “I know I can still pitch.”

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said Leiter will pitch in two games and maybe a third one, before a decision is made. Although Leiter can also be used in relief, Rodgers currently is looking at him only as a starter.

Said Leiter: “All I want is a chance. I think of Ryan, and I realize how unimportant baseball is. Really, I’m lucky to be doing this.”

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Although Kevin Flora remains the leading candidate to be the Angels’ starting second baseman, Rodgers said that unless Flora shows improvement the last two weeks he’ll open the season in triple-A Vancouver.

“If opening day was tomorrow,” Rodgers said, “he’d be in the minor leagues. What’s good for the California Angels and what’s good for Kevin Flora may be conflicting. He’s had shaky offense and shaky defense, but I do see good range and good speed.”

Flora, who has played in only seven of the Angels’ 17 games this spring because of a strained right quadriceps, is batting .167 with one homer and one RBI.

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Angel starter Joe Magrane is expected to pitch batting practice this week for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow last month. If he has no setbacks, Magrane could rejoin the rotation by late April or early May.