Common Sense Can Close This Problem

If I were Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann, I would . . .

* Establish Troy Percival as the team’s closer, for the present and future. No matter how many career saves Smith has, no matter what promises you’ve made to him, no matter how loyal you feel toward him, no matter how healthy Smith is, he will never be better than Percival is right now. Period.

* Have a long talk with Lee Smith. Tell him how much he can help the team in a non-closing role. Smith said after blowing a save Wednesday night that he doesn’t care about reaching 500 saves, that all he wants is for his team to win and to pitch in a World Series. Give him a chance to prove it.

* Keep Mike James right where he is, as Percival’s primary setup man. The right-hander has a variety of nasty pitches, a 1.57 earned-run average and hasn’t given up a run in his last six appearances.

* Use Smith in selected spots--setup man one night, closer on a night when Percival needs a rest, in the seventh inning when starters such as Jim Abbott really shouldn’t be pitching.

If I were Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi I would . . .

* Not trade Lee Smith, unless absolutely necessary. Smith/Percival does not have to be an either/or proposition. A healthy Smith who is willing to accept a lesser role would combine with Percival and James to give the Angels one of the league’s best and deepest bullpens. Smith may be 38 with a bum knee, but he’s still better than most relievers.

Besides, what are you going to get for Smith in a trade right now? He’s on the verge of retirement, his knee, damaged in an off-season hunting accident, could give out at any time--it’s not like teams are going to part with a front-line starting pitcher for Smith, unless he was packaged with a young Angel star or top prospect.

* Support Lachemann in the Smith-for-team-player blitz. Remind Smith who’s paying his salary, that it was the Angels--and no one else--who went out on a limb by offering him a two-year, guaranteed contract in the winter of 1994-95, and that this loyalty thing goes both ways.

* If Smith is unwilling to accept a non-closing role and is deemed a clubhouse distraction, trade him for whatever you can get, or release him. A happy and effective Smith would be a huge lift for the bullpen, but the Angels can win without him.

If I were Angel reliever Lee Smith I would . . .

* Swallow my pride. When you came off the disabled list you said you’d rather be traded or retire before accepting anything less than the closer role. We understood. You have 471 saves, you deserve to be treated with respect, perhaps reverence, and a guy with your credentials shouldn’t lose his job because of an injury.

But c’mon. You know Percival is a more effective closer right now. You know the Angels are a better team with Percival closing, and you’ve even hinted at that in recent discussions with reporters.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Percival has been virtually untouchable this season; he has a 95 mph fastball and has developed the fearlessness, the confidence, a great closer needs. Kind of reminds you of yourself in younger days, huh? Either move aside, or move on.

If I were Troy Percival I would . . .

* Keep doing what I’m doing. When Smith came back in late April, you said all the right things, that if the team was better with Lee closing, you’d gladly return to your setup role, that all you cared about was winning, that when the phone rang in the bullpen, you’d warm up, whether it was the seventh, eighth or ninth inning.

You’ve been the consummate team player and have been respectful of your mentor, Smith, the guy who helped you become the reliever you are today. But now it’s your time to shine.

Case closed.