Spring Training / Angels : Forsch’s Shoulder Is OK, but Elbow Isn’t

PALM SPRINGS — The question concerning the Angel rotation has revolved around the status of Tommy John.

Will he be traded? Will he hold off the challenge of Bob Kipper, Kirk McCaskill and Rafael Lugo, the promising farm products.

Now, too, there is growing uncertainty about Ken Forsch’s ability to be ready for the April 9 season opener.

Forsch’s early spring work had seemed to cement his comeback from last year’s dislocated shoulder. He had seemed to regain his berth in a rotation that will also include Mike Witt, Ron Romanick and Geoff Zahn.

Then, however, a twinge in Forsch’s elbow ended a start against San Diego after only one inning.

Sunday, seven days later, Forsch threw for 15 minutes on the sideline and still felt discomfort.

“It’s improving fast, but I’m discouraged that it should still be bothering me,” he said.

“The frustrating part is that it’s the first setback I’ve had and it’s not the shoulder.”

The 38-year-old right-hander has pitched only four innings this spring. He didn’t pitch at all last year after injuring his shoulder on April 7.

Dr. Lewis Yocum examined Forsch’s elbow Sunday, watched him throw, then expressed the belief that Forsch had strained the elbow by trying to do too much too soon.

“I could go out and throw hard and it might be fine,” Forsch said. “I could also go out and throw hard and it might be like it was last Sunday. Then I would have lost a week and be back where I started.

“I’ve come so far that I don’t want to rush it and risk something serious.”

Said General Manager Mike Port:

“We would hope Ken will be ready for opening day, but why push it and take chances when we feel we have protection in a Kipper, McCaskill or Lugo?

“I’d feel comfortable going with one of the kids, but I’m of the opinion that Ken will still be ready.”

Forsch will play catch today and attempt to throw breaking balls Tuesday. It is not known when he will pitch again.

“I’m not giving up on being ready to start the season,” he said, “but I was supposed to throw Tuesday and had to give that up and I was supposed to throw Thursday and had to give that up.

“However, I still feel that if I can get up to four or five innings in an exhibition game I’ll be ready to pitch nine when the season starts.

“My shoulder is so strong from all the rehabilitation that I should be fine once I work the elbow out.

“I mean, I once missed a month with a sore shoulder and came back to pitch eight innings in the cold at San Francisco.

“I’d rather go through a normal spring, but I still don’t think this will be a problem.”

Port said Sunday that the Angels are now in the market for a catcher with defensive skills.

The implication is that there is concern about the defensive ability of Jerry Narron and Darrel Miller, the Bob Boone understudies.

It is believed that the Angels are interested in backup Dodger catchers Steve Yeager and Jack Fimple. Special assignment scout Cookie Rojas has spent the last four days with the Dodgers, while Dodger scouts Mel Didier and Jerry Stephenson have tailed the Angels throughout the spring.

On another front, Manager Gene Mauch was scheduled to meet with Atlanta scout Wes Westrum in Arizona to discuss the merits of Braves’ catcher Alex Trevino, who may have priced himself out of the Angels market when he recently signed a four-year, $2.1-million contract.

There have been rumors of a Trevino-for-Tommy John deal, but Atlanta sources insisted Sunday that the Braves have no interest in John. And Port said that he has still received no trade inquiries regarding John, who last Thursday rejected Port’s request to waive his no-trade clause.

Of course, the uncertainty regarding Forsch may serve to protect John.

Angel Notes Rod Carew and Rob Wilfong each drove in three runs as a team composed essentially of prospects beat Cal State Fullerton, 11-2, Sunday at Palm Springs. . . . The “A” Team beat Seattle, 11-6, at Tempe, collecting 18 hits for a total of 96 in the last eight games. . . . Future first baseman Wally Joyner, trying to convince the Angels that his time has come, went 4 for 6. . . . Bobby Grich was 3 for 3 and is 14 for 25 this spring. . . . Reggie Jackson was 2 for 4 and is 13 for 30, 13 for 26 as a right fielder. . . . Ron Romanick went five innings as the starter, allowing only two hits. . . . The Mariners scored four runs off Donnie Moore in the ninth. . . . The Angels are 8-4 as the full squad sets up headquarters at Palm Springs today. . . . Ten players were assigned to the Mesa complex for minor league reassignment. They were pitchers Julian Gonzalez, Don Timberlake, Ken Angulo, Bob Bastian. T.R. Bryden and Scott Oliver; catchers Doug Davis and Dave Heath, and infielders Gus Polidor and Bill Merrifield. Forty-three players remain in camp.