Burleson Flashes Some Signs of Confidence in Lachemann

Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi has not felt compelled to give Manager Marcel Lachemann a vote of confidence amid speculation that Lachemann might be replaced, but third-base coach Rick Burleson did Friday night.

“This B.S. I read about Marcel being the next guy to go is ridiculous,” said Burleson, a former all-star shortstop. “This guy is as prepared as any manager I’ve ever been around, and I’ve been around some good ones. If you’re going to hold Lach accountable, what about the GM, ownership, the staff?

“I’ll take some blame. To put it all on the manager is a cop-out. We’re all in this mess together, and the answer isn’t to let him go. I hope [the front office] wakes up and smells the roses and realizes it has the right guy for the job.”

Burleson pointed to several plays in Thursday night’s 5-4, 12-inning loss to the Mariners as examples why the players--as much as the manager--should be held accountable for the Angels’ struggles.

In the fifth inning, Garret Anderson was picked off first while running on a full count, “possibly taking us out of a big inning,” Burleson said.

In the ninth, with Gary DiSarcina on third, one out, the infield in and the score tied, 4-4, DiSarcina broke for home as Pat Borders’ grounder up the middle tipped off pitcher Mike Jackson’s glove. But the ball caromed right to shortstop Alex Rodriguez, who easily threw DiSarcina out at home.

“He had specific instructions to go only if the ball got through [the infield], and it didn’t,” Burleson said. “He ran anyway and was thrown out by 10 feet. You can lead them to water, but you can’t make them drink. . . .

“Our top three pitchers going into the season [Chuck Finley, Mark Langston and Jim Abbott] are 15-22. Does that make the manager accountable? He’s a good manager and leader. It’s ludicrous to say that after 1 1/2 years we need to make a change.”