BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : USC’s Cooper Chosen on Fourth Round

The Angels chose USC pitcher Brian Cooper in the fourth round of the draft and Anaheim Katella High School pitcher Jason Stockstill in the ninth round, the team announced.

Cooper, a right-hander, went 7-2 with 87 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings for the Trojans, who made the College World Series. Stockstill, a left-hander, went 10-3 with a 2.06 earned-run average and 75 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings for Katella.

After selecting Nebraska outfielder Darin Erstad with the first pick of the draft and Wisconsin Osh Kosh pitcher Jarrod Washburn in the second round, the Angels’ next five picks were:

Jeremy Blevins, a pitcher from Sullivan East (Ohio) High, Cooper, Justin Baughman, a pitcher from Lewis & Clark (Ore.) College, Ryan Kane, a third baseman from Presby (S.C.) College and Christopher Pine, a pitcher from Tualatin (Ore.) High.

The Angels also selected UCLA shortstop Gar Valone in the 24th round.

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Though third baseman Chris Sabo has expressed a desire to return to the National League, the Angels might be interested in acquiring the former Chicago White Sox infielder if, as expected, he becomes a free agent today.

The White Sox designated the former Cincinnati Red star for assignment and have until today to either trade him or release him. The Angels are using a platoon of Spike Owen and Carlos Martinez at third since demoting Eduardo Perez to triple-A Vancouver on Wednesday night.

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Catcher Greg Myers, who was pulled from Wednesday’s game against Baltimore because of muscle spasms in his quadriceps, sat out Friday’s game but hopes to return to the lineup today.

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The Yankee clubhouse was abuzz over the latest controversy to strike the Bronx: Owner George Steinbrenner, apparently fed up with his team’s play during a 1-8 West Coast trip, made his players shave off their goatees.

Steinbrenner was so giddy about acquiring goateed pitcher Jack McDowell from the White Sox during the off-season that he decided to relax the team’s policy forbidding beards. About five Yankees, including first baseman Don Mattingly, took advantage and grew goatees.

But by Friday, the goatees were gone.

McDowell wouldn’t comment, but Mattingly did.

“It’s like a slap on the wrist,” he said. “You’re not playing well, so he’s going to take that away from you. I don’t know who it will affect, but we can’t make an issue out of it to the point where it becomes a distraction.”