Angels Wait for Abbott to Make Call

Jim Abbott left the Angels’ spring-training camp and returned to Orange County Sunday, the struggling pitcher’s baseball career virtually hanging by a thread.

The Angels have asked Abbott to go to the minor leagues, and the left-hander can accept the assignment, refuse it, or elect to become a free agent, foregoing a guaranteed contract that will pay him $5.6 million in the next two years.

But if Abbott, who went 2-18 with a 7.48 earned-run average last season, refuses to go to triple-A Vancouver, the Angels probably will release him and eat the final two years of his three-year, $7.8-million deal.

Abbott, an eight-year veteran who is one of the most popular players in Angel history, is also believed to be pondering retirement, a choice that probably would include a negotiated agreement for the Angels to buy out the remainder of his contract.

“If he wants to go to Vancouver, that option is there, but he has to feel comfortable doing that,” Angel pitching coach Marcel Lachemann said. “I want what’s best for Jim.

“People don’t understand how difficult it is to go out every day when you’re struggling like he has . . . he has so much heart it’s incredible. I love him like a son. I told him I can answer any questions he has, but I can’t make the decision for him. It has to come from him.”

Teammate Mark Langston, who pitched six strong innings Sunday in the Angels’ 8-5 exhibition victory over the San Diego Padres, was visually shaken by Abbott’s sudden departure. By Sunday afternoon, there was no trace of Abbott--his Tempe Diablo Stadium locker had been cleaned out, and his name plate removed.

“This is a very emotional, very difficult time,” Langston said. “Jim is like a brother to me, and I guarantee you no one in this clubhouse worked harder than he did this winter--that’s why this is so disappointing. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know this is not what he wanted.”

General Manager Bill Bavasi declined to discuss Abbott’s status, other than to issue a release in which he said: “By mutual agreement, pitcher Jim Abbott has left spring training for a short period of time while he and the Angels evaluate his current situation on the ballclub.”

Manager Terry Collins spoke about Abbott in general terms but declined to discuss specifics. “In consideration to Jim, I want to leave it for a couple of days,” he said. “When he’s made his decision, we’ll deal with it.”

Abbott, who reached the major leagues despite being born without a right hand, suffered through one of the worst seasons in recent baseball history in 1996, losing a league-high 18 games, giving up 23 home runs and walking 78 in 142 innings.

He lost velocity on his fastball and had trouble controlling his breaking pitches, and on Aug. 14, with a 1-15 record, he was optioned to Vancouver, marking Abbott’s first minor league stint.

But Abbott, 29, handled failure with remarkable class, remaining at his locker to field questions after every loss and never snapping at reporters. Angel fans showed their appreciation by giving Abbott standing ovations after several of his bad outings, and his locker was always stuffed with mail.

Abbott was recalled in September and won his next start, an emotional 4-2 victory Sept. 8 at Minnesota, in which the Angels turned a triple play. But since the July 31, 1995, trade that brought him back to the Angels from the Chicago White Sox, Abbott has failed to win a game at Anaheim Stadium.

“I could never figure out what exactly was wrong with him, because he would throw great in the bullpen,” Angel catcher Jorge Fabregas said. “I think a lot of it was in his head. When bad things started happening he didn’t get out of it. He stayed in some kind of funk.”

Abbott, a 1988 first-round pick of the Angels who has an 80-100 career record and 4.11 ERA, was determined to rebound in 1997. He spent the winter lifting weights and working out with Lachemann, and his fastball had a lot more zip this spring.

He appeared to make some progress early in spring, but Abbott stumbled in his last two appearances, falling into that familiar trap of falling behind batters and giving up hits and walks in bunches.

Abbott gave up eight runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings March 16 against Oakland and five runs on four hits Friday against Colorado. He has a 13.50 ERA with 15 walks and seven strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings.

“Obviously the biggest thing with him was the walks,” Lachemann said. “We talked about velocity and all of that, but that’s not the key thing for him. The biggest problem is command of his pitches.”

The Angels could only hope Sunday they haven’t seen the last of their friend and teammate.

“Once he gets it back together he’ll be fine, because he still has a real good cut fastball,” Fabregas said. “He’s such a good guy . . . everyone wishes the best for him.”