Angel Notebook : Joyner Goes 4 for 5 Again, Says He’s Having Trouble

So what does Wally Joyner do after his second straight 4-for-5 performance?

Dig out a batting tee and try to regain his hitting stroke.

“I don’t know if I’m tired or not waiting on my pitch or what, but I’m not swinging the bat great right now,” Joyner said. “I asked Moose (Stubing, Angel hitting coach) if we could get a batting tee and go back to basics. I’ve got a slow bat and I want to correct it now before it becomes a problem.”

Yep, things could really get out of hand here. No doubt, the guy is struggling.

Nearly three weeks into the exhibition season, he is still hitting under .430. And, with 27 hits in 19 games, he is still averaging fewer than two hits a game. Never mind that the next highest Angel’s hit total is 16, what has Joyner done lately?

His last at-bat Wednesday was a terrible one. He made an out. It was a line drive that nearly snapped the glove out of Cleveland left fielder Joe Carter’s hand.

If Joyner’s bat gets any slower, he’ll be down to .400 by next week’s Freeway Series.

“Sure I’m getting hits,” Joyner said. “But they’re just falling in. They’re bloop hits. I’ll take them, but I’m not driving the ball like I should.”

Of Joyner’s four singles during the Angels’ 9-8 victory over the Indians, he considered two legitimate. One happened to bounce through the infield. Another dropped in front of a Cleveland outfielder.

At .429, Joyner is the Angels’ leading hitter. However, he considers himself to be the Angels’ luckiest hitter.

“I’ve gotten away with some hits that I shouldn’t have,” Joyner said. “I’m getting jammed on too many pitches. I’ve got to get my bat speed up again.”

Joyner listens to himself talk and admits he sounds like he’s scratching his head over an 0-for-20 slump.

“I just want to get back to how I was swinging a couple of weeks ago,” he said. Then he smiled and added, “Of course, I’ll probably start driving the ball and go 0 for 4.”

Joyner is a rookie. He’ll learn to appreciate the flares and the bleeders in August and September, when they become the ones that separate a .280 hitter from a .300 hitter.

“Joe Carter told me I should save some of these for later,” Joyner said. “I’m getting them at the wrong time.”

Oh well. Back to the batting tee.

Kirk McCaskill was working smoothly and throwing hard, registering as fast as 92 m.p.h. on the speed gun during his first four innings against the Indians.

But in the fifth, his right shoulder stiffened and stayed that way. Three batters into the inning, McCaskill still couldn’t get loose.

He considered it a warning signal. In this, the Angels’ spring of pitching dangerously, McCaskill decided not to risk it.

So with a 2-and-1 count on Jerry Willard, McCaskill retired to the clubhouse.

“I didn’t want to become another member of the walking wounded,” McCaskill said. “Lach (pitching coach Marcel Lachemann) decided it was best to play it safe. I feel too good to be taking a chance.”

Stiff arms are as much a spring training tradition as B games. McCaskill said his fit the typical description.

“It’s probably just a knot that didn’t get worked out,” he said. “I could’ve kept throwing if I had to.”

Just the same, the Angels wanted McCaskill out of the game.

As General Manager Mike Port put it: “We’re up to our quota in injured pitchers.”

Angel Notes

General Manager Mike Port admitted Wednesday that it appears doubtful Gary Lucas will be able to pitch by the Angels’ April 8 opener. “I would consider it less than likely,” he said. “We have four pitchers with (injury) problems, but to me, Lucas remains the only question mark. The others should be ready.” Lucas’ injury involves the sciatic nerve in his lower back. The Angels scheduled an appointment for him with a neurologist Wednesday afternoon. “At this stage, we want to try a different approach,” Port said. . . . Lucas’ condition has caused Port to spend extra time on the telephone, searching out left-handed relief pitchers on other clubs. So far, he has found the pickings slim. “Most clubs are looking for the same thing--that ‘resident left-hander,’ Port said. “There are so few of them out there.” . . . Port downplayed reports that the Angels were seeking to acquire Pittsburgh’s right-handed starting pitcher Rick Rhoden, who has asked to be traded. “When a quality pitcher is available, I will inquire about him,” Port said. “But they’re going to want a lot for him, and I don’t know if we have enough to give them. At this point, it’s not being pursued.” The Pirates are said to be looking for relief pitching, a third baseman or a power-hitting outfielder. So far, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston and Oakland are the only teams to have made the Pirates an offer for Rhoden. . . . Donnie Moore pitched two innings, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned), but did it painlessly. . . . An Angels Stadium crowd of 4,270 witnessed a rarity in the fifth inning--an error by Gary Pettis. Pettis misjudged a fly ball by Jerry Willard, letting it drop for a single, and then overthrew his relay to third base, allowing Cory Snyder to score from third. . . . . George Hendrick had three singles in four at-bats. Brian Downing hit his third home run of the spring.