Mum’s the Word for Angels on Injuries

The multimedia giant that is Walt Disney Co. has come down on the media again. Disney has decided that reporters covering the Angels are doing too good a job, unearthing tidbits on how injuries have occurred or been aggravated--tidbits that have even come as news to club officials who seemingly should have known about it.

Thus, Disney has imposed a gag order, prohibiting Manager Terry Collins, his coaches and the club trainers to talk about injuries with reporters. Instead, the Angel publicity department is distributing a daily, mimeographed update on each injured player--the who, what, where of his status with a quote from Lewis Yocum, the team physician.

Follow-up questions? Further information? Not at this time, please.

This ban follows an earlier restriction in which Disney, after taking control from Gene and Jackie Autry, instructed scouts not to talk to the media and said that the only club official available to answer questions relating to player personnel was General Manager Bill Bavasi. Disney has relaxed this edict, but finding an Angel scout who will talk for attribution is still a difficult proposition.

Hurting

* 15-DAY DISABLED LIST--First baseman MO VAUGHN (ankle), pitcher PEP HARRIS (elbow), pitcher JACK McDOWELL (shoulder), second baseman JUSTIN BAUGHMAN (broken leg), shortstop GARY DiSARCINA (broken arm), pitcher JASON DICKSON (shoulder), outfielder JIM EDMONDS (groin, shoulder), outfielder REGGIE WILLIAMS (hamstring).

* 60-DAY DISABLED LIST--Pitcher MIKE JAMES (shoulder).