BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Springer Vows to Stay in Majors

Pitcher Russ Springer arrived at Anaheim Stadium and looked around, only to see a sign above the empty locker between outfielders Bo Jackson and Dwight Smith. It said:

“There goes the neighborhood.”

“It’s good to be wanted, huh?” said Springer, laughing.

Springer, 7-4 with a 3.04 earned-run average at triple-A Vancouver, was called up to replace starter Phil Leftwich in the Angel rotation. Leftwich was put on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed lower right leg.

Springer, acquired along with first baseman J.T. Snow and reliever Jerry Nielsen in the Jim Abbott trade, will start Saturday against the Detroit Tigers. Considering the way he has been pitching, Springer said he will stay in the American League.

“I don’t ever plan on going back to Siberia,” Springer said. “I’m throwing the ball as good as ever. I feel I can do the job here without changing anything.”

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It wasn’t pretty, but Joe Grahe closed out the Angels’ 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins Wednesday after failing in his last two save situations. He gave up four hits and two earned runs, but struck out Shane Mack with runners on second and third to end the game.

Said Manager Marcel Lachemann: “I thought it was important to get him out there again. It just shows--either you’re going to have confidence in a guy, or bounce around with one guy or another and try to reinvent the wheel every time something goes wrong.”