BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Turner Leaves Team After Nephew Dies

Catcher Chris Turner left the team early Wednesday morning when he was notified that his 11-year-old nephew died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The death of Chad Turner of Bowling Green, Ky., occurred Tuesday afternoon. Chris Turner was told after Tuesday night’s game, and left on the first flight Wednesday. He is scheduled to attend the funeral today and rejoin the Angels on Friday in Boston.

Turner’s sudden departure leaves the Angels without a reserve catcher.

If something happens to catcher Greg Myers, they would have to use designated hitter Chili Davis.

The last time Davis caught a game?

Would you believe 14 years ago, when he caught for double-A Shreveport in the San Francisco Giants’ organization.

Davis, who needed two stitches to repair a cut to his left eye suffered Wednesday when he walked into a door, says he welcomes the opportunity.

Davis then broke into an expansive grin, and said, “Let’s just hope Myers plays the whole game. Where’s Torey Lovullo when you need him?”

Meanwhile, the Angels congregated before batting practice and said a prayer for the Turner family.

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Angel starter Phil Leftwich, 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA, realizes he quickly better improve or he could be going to the minors when Joe Magrane returns to the rotation in two weeks.

“I know I’m going to have to turn things around real soon or they’ll do something,” he said. “I’m sure that (Magrane’s return) is in the back of all our minds but Chuck Finley.

“A good outing and win would do wonders for my confidence.”

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Syd Thrift, Chicago Cub assistant general manager, on second baseman Jody Reed’s decision to initially turn down $7.8 million from the Dodgers only to be left with a $350,000 offer from the Milwaukee Brewers:

“That’s like winning the lottery and losing your ticket. Every time I think of some bad decision I made, I think of Jody Reed and make myself feel better.”

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Angel second baseman Rex Hudler, on why he stood and watched his home run in the seventh inning Tuesday night:

“It’s the best ball I’ve hit in two years,” he said, “so I had to look at it. It was like a beautiful dream.”

It was Hudler’s first major league homer since Aug. 20, 1992.

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The Orioles have become gun-shy of Los Angeles talk-show host Jim Rome after the Jim Everett incident, and Rafael Palmeiro, Chris Sabo and Mike Mussina informed ESPN that they will not go on his show. Center fielder Brady Anderson was the lone Oriole to accept the invitation.

“I saw what happened to Everett,” Palmeiro said, “and I’m not going to put myself in that situation.”