BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Abbott Trade Sells Tickets

Thursday’s trade for pitcher Jim Abbott had an immediate impact in the Angel ticket office. A team spokesman said the Angels sold 123 season tickets Friday for the remaining 31 home games, bringing total season-ticket sales to 10,824.

Abbott’s personal stock skyrocketed, as well. In one night he went from being 21 1/2 games behind in the American League Central with the Chicago White Sox to being eight games up in the AL West with the Angels.

“There’s a young energy coming from this team, and I could feel it walking into the clubhouse,” said Abbott, who joined the Angels in Milwaukee Friday. “They’re exciting and they’re fun to watch--you could see that from the other side of the field. I just hope I don’t screw it up.”

Abbott, who will start against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight, will pitch in Anaheim Stadium either Thursday night against Seattle or Friday night against Texas, depending on whether Manager Marcel Lachemann decides to skip Mike Harkey’s spot in the rotation on Monday’s off day.

The Angels were notorious for providing Abbott with little offensive support during his previous Angel tenure (1989-92). In fact, Abbott went 7-15 despite having a 2.77 earned-run average in 1992.

But that team closed the season with Junior Felix in center field and Hubie Brooks at first. This team features AL RBI leader Jim Edmonds in center and J.T. Snow at first and leads the major leagues in runs.

Asked how he felt joining such an explosive team, Abbott knocked on his wooden clubhouse cubicle.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Abbott said, not wanting to jinx the offense. “It’s obviously a tremendous hitting lineup. . . . I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon. These guys have played well and I’ve been no part of it. I just want to come in and do what’s expected of me--pitch every five days and go deep into the game.”

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The Angels made strong attempts to acquire Toronto right-hander David Cone and Montreal left-hander Jeff Fassero before trading for Abbott.

But Toronto’s refusal to back off its request for a front-line major league player--either Garret Anderson, Troy Percival or Brian Anderson--as well as Montreal’s insistence on big league talent, nixed those deals.

“We just couldn’t do that,” said Tim Mead, assistant general manager. “Garret, Troy and Brian are the future. With [the Abbott deal] we didn’t have to break up the big league club or trade [top prospects] Todd Greene [triple-A catcher] or George Arias (double-A third baseman), and that was important. Those other deals didn’t allow that.”

The Blue Jays seemed to go into a panic-sell mode Friday, though. They traded Cone to the New York Yankees for merely three minor league pitchers, one at the double-A level and two at Class A.

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To make room on the roster for Abbott, the Angels Friday sent pitcher Russ Springer to triple-A Vancouver. Springer went 1-2 with a 6.10 ERA in 19 appearances, six starts and 13 relief. . . . Left-handed reliever Tim Fortugno, a throw-in from the White Sox in the Abbott trade, was designated for assignment, meaning the Angels have 10 days to trade him, release him or pass him through waivers. He’ll probably end up at Vancouver. . . . Rex Hudler, the Angels’ spirited utility player, will be host of ESPN Baseball Tonight’s Plays of the Week segment Sunday.