Mauch, of course, can show you a team that lost nine in a row. The Angels did that in late May.
Someone asked Mauch if he ever feared another Angel skid in the making in Seattle.
"Never," Mauch said. "Never. I didn't believe it the first time."
And now the Angels have won again at the Kingdome. Who would believe it?
Angel Notes
With Dick Schofield expected to be reactivated while the Angels are in Minnesota, Gene Mauch suddenly finds himself with too many shortstops. Gus Polidor is batting .291 since replacing Schofield--.381 (8-for-21) in his last six games--and Mauch would like to keep that bat in the lineup. Mauch admitted he is now considering a platoon of Polidor and Mark McLemore at second base. "I'm going to work something out," Mauch said. "I've got two days to work on that." Polidor said he has not discussed second base with Mauch but his eyes lit up when a reporter mentioned the word platoon. Said Polidor: "That's the first good thing I've heard. With Schofield coming back, I don't know what's going to happen to me. I feel comfortable at second base. If that happens for me, that's good. I want to play." . . . Polidor was in a playful mood following his home run off Seattle's Lee Guetterman. When a writer asked him about his rare display of power, Polidor grinned, flexed a muscle and pointed to his biceps. "See," he said. Another writer suggested that Polidor might have 10 or 15 home runs if he played every day. "It depends on the pitcher," Polidor said. "Maybe, if Guetterman's pitching." . . . Brian Downing opened the game with his 21st home run of the season. It was Downing's fifth leadoff home run of the year, his third against Seattle this season and the 16th of his career. . . . Still complaining of soreness in his throwing arm, Downing started at designated hitter, which, to Mauch's dismay, kept Bill Buckner on the bench. "I've got to find a way to get Brian Downing able to play the outfield," Mauch said. "I looked into the dugout and hated to see Buckner on the bench. I've got to get both of those bats in the lineup." . . . Relief pitcher DeWayne Buice was asked what he thought of Seattle's lineup. "They've got a lot of lefties, so I like it," he said. "I'd rather pitch to lefties. That's sounds strange, coming from a right-handed pitcher. I guess I think left-handed." . . . Buice on Buckner: "I think getting Bill Buckner has helped us a lot. He's a cheerleader in the dugout, the man is beat up like he's been through the war and he still goes out there everyday. I think he's an inspiration to the rest of the ballclub."
