John Dopson

Manager Buck Rodgers was so concerned about the Angels' catching last season that he kept three catchers, hoping one would emerge as an everyday starter. It never happened, but he has become more comfortable with Greg Myers and Chris Turner, who will share the job this season. "I have more confidence in both of them," Rodgers said Sunday. "I don't think it will ever come down to a strict platoon. "Right now, it's probably 50-50. I may lean 60-40 toward somebody."

Reliever John Dopson, who has been pitching with a bone spur in his right shoulder, was put on the 15-day disabled list. He will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday to determine if he needs season-ending surgery. Dopson was replaced on the roster by starter Phil Leftwich, who pitched six shutout innings Thursday for Class-A Lake Elsinore, and was reinstated from the disabled list. He will start Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics. Russ Springer (1-1, 7.

Reliever John Dopson, who has been pitching with a bone spur in his right shoulder, was put on the 15-day disabled list. He will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday to determine if he needs season-ending surgery. Dopson was replaced on the roster by starter Phil Leftwich, who pitched six shutout innings Thursday for Class-A Lake Elsinore, and was reinstated from the disabled list. He will start Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics. Russ Springer (1-1, 7.

Whitey Herzog had his Joe Magrane, Buck Rodgers has his John Dopson. This only seems fair. If Herzog can ring up an old friend and make like Ed McMahon-- Joe Magrane, you have just won $13.3 million! --Rodgers certainly is entitled to his one phone call when Magrane gets his pitching arm sliced open and can't start the season. In case of emergency, break out the Rolodex.

Whitey Herzog had his Joe Magrane, Buck Rodgers has his John Dopson. This only seems fair. If Herzog can ring up an old friend and make like Ed McMahon-- Joe Magrane, you have just won $13.3 million! --Rodgers certainly is entitled to his one phone call when Magrane gets his pitching arm sliced open and can't start the season. In case of emergency, break out the Rolodex.

Torey Lovullo couldn't stop smiling after hitting his third career home run Sunday at Anaheim Stadium. "Let's see, that makes homers off Jose Bautista, Shane Rawley and now Roger Clemens," Lovullo said. Lovullo thought it over for a moment, then laughed at the absurdity of it all. Clemens? But it was true. He wasn't just dreaming and neither were the Angels.

The Angels 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox before 28,114 fans at Anaheim Stadium detracted only marginally from their impressive record for the first 40 games, 26-14, which matches the best start in the team's history. "It wasn't all that distasteful," Manager Doug Rader said. "You would like to win every single game, but that's not possible. As long as the effort is there and the skills are there, that's all you can ask. "It's just not always going to translate into a win."

The Angels came up one victory shy of their best start ever Thursday night, but even a 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox before 28,114 fans at Anaheim Stadium detracted only marginally from their impressive record for the first 40 games, 26-14. "It wasn't all that distasteful," Manager Doug Rader said. "You would like to win every single game, but that's not possible. As long as the effort is there and the skills are there, that's all you can ask. "It's just not always going to translate into a win."

Realignment might be able to turn the Cleveland Indians into contenders and the San Diego Padres into a fourth-place team, but it can't obscure the simple truths of this baseball season, which are: --With or without Ron Gant and Chipper Jones, the Braves are the finest team in the land. --With or without Tom Bogar and Alan Zinter, the Mets are the worst. --With or without Joe Magrane and John Dopson, baseballs in Anaheim are silently weeping.

Boston pitcher John Dopson, 7-11 last season, won the final salary arbitration case of the year when Anthony Sinicropi awarded him $750,000 instead of the $485,000 offered by the Red Sox. The decision left owners with 12 victories and players with six in arbitration hearings.

Manager Buck Rodgers was so concerned about the Angels' catching last season that he kept three catchers, hoping one would emerge as an everyday starter. It never happened, but he has become more comfortable with Greg Myers and Chris Turner, who will share the job this season. "I have more confidence in both of them," Rodgers said Sunday. "I don't think it will ever come down to a strict platoon. "Right now, it's probably 50-50. I may lean 60-40 toward somebody."

Realignment might be able to turn the Cleveland Indians into contenders and the San Diego Padres into a fourth-place team, but it can't obscure the simple truths of this baseball season, which are: --With or without Ron Gant and Chipper Jones, the Braves are the finest team in the land. --With or without Tom Bogar and Alan Zinter, the Mets are the worst. --With or without Joe Magrane and John Dopson, baseballs in Anaheim are silently weeping.

Torey Lovullo couldn't stop smiling after hitting his third career home run Sunday at Anaheim Stadium. "Let's see, that makes homers off Jose Bautista, Shane Rawley and now Roger Clemens," Lovullo said. Lovullo thought it over for a moment, then laughed at the absurdity of it all. Clemens? But it was true. He wasn't just dreaming and neither were the Angels.

The Angels 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox before 28,114 fans at Anaheim Stadium detracted only marginally from their impressive record for the first 40 games, 26-14, which matches the best start in the team's history. "It wasn't all that distasteful," Manager Doug Rader said. "You would like to win every single game, but that's not possible. As long as the effort is there and the skills are there, that's all you can ask. "It's just not always going to translate into a win."

The Angels came up one victory shy of their best start ever Thursday night, but even a 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox before 28,114 fans at Anaheim Stadium detracted only marginally from their impressive record for the first 40 games, 26-14. "It wasn't all that distasteful," Manager Doug Rader said. "You would like to win every single game, but that's not possible. As long as the effort is there and the skills are there, that's all you can ask. "It's just not always going to translate into a win."

Bert Blyleven rejoined the Angel organization Friday when he was named pitching coach of Class-A Cedar Rapids. Blyleven, who pitched four years for the Angels, rejoins the organization after being a roving instructor during the 1993 season. This summer, he told Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi he wanted to coach, and that he wants to be a pitching coach in the majors. The Angels also released pitcher John Dopson (1-4, 6.