BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Davis Would Rather Speed Up Talks

Baseball’s new speed-up rules went into effect Friday, but the changes only served to remind designated hitter Chili Davis of the game’s more pressing problems.

“To me, all that stuff is just diverting attention from the issue at hand--the public wants to know if we’re going to have baseball come playoff and World Series time, next year, the next five years,” said Davis, the team’s player representative.

“I don’t see fans crying about how long games are. It’s a beautiful game, why mess with it?”

Davis said owners and players have made no progress toward a collective bargaining agreement, despite reports during the All-Star break that the sides would begin low-level negotiations.

“They always put it off to the last minute,” Davis said. “If it’s left up to the players, there will be a World Series. It’s going to be hard to get us to strike again.

“But you never know what the owners are thinking. The game would be ruined if we [cancel the World Series] again. The owners know that, so I don’t think they’d try to lock us out.”

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With an off day Monday, Manager Marcel Lachemann has decided to skip Mike Harkey’s spot in the rotation, so Jim Abbott is scheduled to make his Anaheim Stadium return Thursday night against Seattle. . . . Mark Langston said his left elbow was still a little tender from Friday’s game but doubted it would affect his next start Wednesday.

Shawn Boskie, on the disabled list because of an inflamed elbow, threw for about eight minutes off the mound Saturday and “felt great.” He hopes to pitch a simulated game next week and make a minor league rehabilitation start the following week before returning to the rotation.

Mike Bielecki (biceps tendinitis) has been playing catch but is still weeks away from coming off the disabled list. “It’s killing us,” Bielecki said. “We have something special going on here, things are going great, and Shawn and I feel like we’re bat boys.”

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A slight groin injury to Rex Hudler has given Damion Easley a chance to start six consecutive games, and the second baseman has taken advantage, going 6 for 17 to lift his average from .196 to .208, a small stride but one in the right direction.

“Playing every day has helped me get my confidence back,” said Easley, who has been in and out of the lineup during his first-half struggles. “I was pretty down trying to meet everyone’s expectations. Now I’m just trying to live up to my own--to be consistent and help the team win.”

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Bench coach Bobby Knoop, who uses sophisticated computer programs to chart Angel pitchers and opposing batters, had problems with a simple gadget Friday night. He couldn’t get the remote control in his hotel room to work, so he left his television on all night.

“I had to turn it around to face out the window,” Knoop said.

Asked clubhouse manager Ken Higdon: “Did you try unplugging it?”

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And how about this pre-game exchange Saturday between Knoop and trainer Rick Smith:

Knoop: “Did you get the bratwurst?”

Smith: “Yep.”

Knoop: “Are they in the freezer?”

Smith: “Yep.”

Knoop: “Are they frozen?”