ANGELS NOTEBOOK: FINLEY GOES THROUGH TUMULTUOUS OFFSEASON.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - After the Dodgers spurned him and the Angels eagerly signed him to a two-year, $14 million contract in December, center fielder Steve Finley figured the rest of his offseason would be tranquil as he awaited the birth in early February of his fifth child.

But a 72-hour span in January left Finley grateful that he had a healthy wife, newborn and father around.

``It's been three weeks I wouldn't wish on anyone,'' Finley said Sunday after reporting two days early for workouts.

Finley and his wife, Amy, were attending one of their son's youth baseball games on Jan. 23, more than three weeks before her due date. While Finley watched from the outfield and his son stood in the on-deck circle, a foul ball cleared a fence and struck Amy in the nose.

She lost a significant amount of blood, and doctors became concerned for her and the baby's welfare. Her obstetrician eventually decided to induce labor.

``It was scary as hell,'' Finley said. ``I was more concerned for (Amy's) health.''

Three days later - the same day Amy delivered a healthy daughter, Sophia - Finley's father was undergoing a quadruple-bypass heart surgery in Paducah, Ky.

Finley was torn he could not be in two places at once. But Howard Finley, 61, came through surgery OK; Amy was released from the hospital after a 10-day stay.

``Both of them have a pretty big uphill battle,'' he said. ``But we have a beautiful, healthy baby, and Amy's on the road to recovery.''

Finley said manager Mike Scioscia has given him permission to fly home on occasion during camp to attend to his family.

--No hard feelings: Finley was surprised he never heard from the Dodgers before they opted not to offer him arbitration on Dec. 7, and he was more mystified by the moves that followed in tearing apart last year's NL West champions.

``Usually, you don't see sweeping changes like this, but I'm not the GM, I'm not the owner. That's their decision,'' he said. ``But as a player, sometimes you scratch your head. Who knows? They may turn around and have a great year.''

Even if they do, Finley is surprised the Dodgers didn't try harder to lock up third baseman Adrian Beltre. The Dodgers gave outfielder J.D. Drew a five-year, $55 million contract after Beltre accepted a five-year, $64 million deal from Seattle.

``To me, he was a franchise player,'' Finley said. ``He gobbles up everything at third. He hits everything. The guy was coming into his own.''

Not that Finley is consumed with analyzing the Dodgers and why they didn't pursue him.

``I don't know, and I don't care,'' he said. ``I'm a Los Angeles Angel.''

--Finley at the five spot: Finley, who turns 40 in March, has hit almost everywhere in the batting order, but the Angels would like to see him settle in at fifth, behind Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson. Finley hit 36 homers with Arizona and the Dodgers last year.

``Hitting behind guys like Vladimir and Garret, that's a lot of guys on base,'' Finley said. ``At least what's left after Vladimir. I can pick up his scraps.''

Chone Figgins and Darin Erstad likely will man the 1-2 spots. Depending on opposing pitchers and productivity, Scioscia said, shortstop Orlando Cabrera and part-time DH Jeff DaVanon could swing into the No. 2 slot.

--Scout says Morales ``average'': Cuban defector Kendry Morales is the biggest unknown quantity this spring. The switch-hitter is expected to arrive in time for the first full-squad workout Tuesday, but according to a scouting director who tried signing Morales, the Angels shouldn't expect much.

``I think the guy has the chance to be an average offensive player in the major leagues,'' he said in a lengthy profile of Morales in The New York Times Magazine. ``And that remains to be seen. He's an average player, to be sure.''

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Former Dodger Steve Finley has had to deal with his wife's injury and his father's heart-bypass surgery during the offseason transition to the Angels.

Getty Images