Angel Notebook : Romanick Feels Bad, Looks Good

To combat a case of strep throat that has lingered on for more than a month, Ron Romanick receives regular antibiotic injections into the part of the anatomy most active when a pitcher sits in the bullpen.

“I’ve been stuck with needles more times this spring than I have my whole life,” Romanick groused.

So far, the injections have proved to be little more than a pain in the backside. Romanick is still running a fever, still has hot and cold flashes, still feels as though he can’t get enough sleep.

But after pitching three strong innings Wednesday in the Angels’ 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs, Romanick was issuing no complaints.

For a pitcher desperately seeking tangible results on the mound, it is indeed better to look good than to feel good.

“It feels nice not to get wracked,” said Romanick. Such a sensation is one he hasn’t often experienced since last year’s All-Star break, when Romanick was 12-4 and entrenched as the Angels’ 24-year-old staff stopper.

After the break, Romanick took his much-publicized plunge--winning just one game over the season’s last 10 weeks. When the Angels eventually finished one game short in their bid for the American League West championship, Romanick’s slide was all the more magnified.

Much later, during the offseason, a CAT-scan revealed that Romanick had been pitching with a broken bone in his right foot. Surgery to remove the floating bone chip was viewed as the solution to Romanick’s problems.

Early spring outings indicated otherwise. Romanick was still ragged during intrasquad games and was roughed up in his first exhibition effort--allowing 7 hits and 5 runs in 2 innings.

Romanick had to wonder if the old form had deserted him altogether.

Finally, Wednesday, a break in the storm. Romanick replaced starter Kirk McCaskill in the fifth inning, pitched three innings, yielded three hits and one run and received credit for the victory.

What strep throat?

“This was a lot better,” Romanick pronounced. “My mechanics were good again.”

He spoke enthusiastically about his recently repaired foot, about a resurgence of confidence.

“My foot feels great and each time out, I feel a little bolder with it.” Romanick said. “It has responded beautifully.

“I’m getting more out of my legs, getting down and driving, throwing the ball low. I couldn’t do that last year. My foot hurt and I was trying to stiff-leg it. I was throwing flat.

“Now I’m grinding in and really pushing off (the mound) again. Guys are not driving balls off me all the time. That’s a real good feeling.”

Actually, Wednesday’s effort was Romanick’s second victory of 1986. The first came a month back, when Romanick defeated the Angels in arbitration.

A 14-game winner despite his late collapse, Romanick requested and received a ruling of $425,000 for this season. The Angels had offered $250,000--a relatively skimpy bid that seemed to indicate the team had lost faith in Romanick.

“I wish I could have received more of a commitment from the Angels,” Romanick said diplomatically. “Mike (Port, Angel general manager) was thinking about the difficulties I had during the second half. I came in with a good figure and got it. That’s a positive thing.

“But you want the team you play for to want you around for more than one year. I wanted a two-year deal and I felt I deserved it.

“That’s my motivation for 1986. I want to have a big year for the Angels and take care of the contract then.”

Angel Notes

Kirk McCaskill pitched 3 perfect innings, then surrendered three straight singles and one run before retiring the final out of the fourth inning. “I would’ve liked to have gone a perfect four,” McCaskill said. “I thought I had Sandberg.” McCaskill was referring to Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who grounded a two-out pitch deep into the hole at shortstop. Sandberg beat out Gus Polidor’s throw to first to prolong the inning--and eventually ruin McCaskill’s scoreless streak. “My shoulder tightened up a little after that,” McCaskill said. “But I’m pleased. I kept the ball down better than I have all spring.” . . . The double-play combination of Polidor and Rob Wilfong highlighted the Angels’ 12-hit attack. Wilfong had three hits, including a double, and Polidor had a single and a run-scoring sacrifice fly. Catcher Darrell Miller added an RBI triple. . . . Stewart Cliburn threw for 15 minutes off the mound again Wednesday with no complications and is expected to make his spring debut this weekend. . . . Gary Lucas is back in Mesa after receiving a cortisone injection for his back and is scheduled to start throwing on the sidelines later this week. . . . In Wednesday’s B game, Bill Merrifield hit a three-run home run as the Angels downed the Cubs, 5-1. Todd Eggertsen, who allowed one hit in three innings, was the winning pitcher. . . . Today the Angels play the Oakland A’s in Phoenix, with Mike Witt, Jim Slaton and Ken Forsch the scheduled pitchers.