Here’s a Heavenly Solution for Angels

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 games Lee Smith has saved in his auspicious career, no matter what promises you have made to him, no matter the loyalty you feel toward him, no matter how sound Smith is, he will never be better than Percival is right now.

--Have a long talk with 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 reliever Mike James right where he is, as Percival’s primary setup man. The right-hander has a variety of nasty pitches, he had a 1.57 earned-run average going into Friday night’s game and hadn’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 anyway.

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

--Not trade Lee Smith, unless absolutely necessary.

The Smith-Percival combination does not have to be an either/or proposition. A sound Smith, willing to accept a lesser role, could combine with Percival and James to give the Angels one of the American League’s best and deepest bullpens. Smith may be 38 with a bum knee, but he’s still better than most relievers.

Besides, what will Smith bring in a trade right now? He’s on the verge of retirement and his knee, injured in an off-season hunting accident, could give out at any time. It’s not as if teams are going to part with a starting pitcher for Smith, unless he is packaged with a starting position player or a top prospect.

--Support Lachemann in the Smith-for-team-player blitz.

Remind Smith who’s paying his salary, that it was the Angels who went out on a limb by offering him a two-year, guaranteed contract in the winter of 1994-95, and that loyalty goes both ways.

--Dump Smith for whatever I could get, or release him, only if Smith is unwilling to accept a non-closing role and is deemed a clubhouse distraction.

A happy and effective Smith would be a huge lift out of the bullpen, but the Angels can win without him.

If I were Smith I would . . .

--Swallow my pride.

When you were activated from the disabled list, you said you would 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, 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 better with Percival closing, and you have 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, you need to be a great closer. Kind of reminds you of yourself in your younger days, right?

If I were Percival I would . . .

--Keep doing what I’m doing.

When Smith came back, you said all the right things, that if the team was better with Lee closing, you would gladly return to your setup role, that all you cared about was winning, that when the phone rang in the bullpen, you would warm up, whether it was the seventh, eighth or ninth inning.

You have been the consummate team player and respectful of your mentor, Smith, the guy who helped you become the reliever you are today.

Just keep getting up when the phone rings and mowing ‘em down whenever you’re pitching. There’s a lot of season left and lots can happen.

Case closed.