ANGELS NOTEBOOK : TRADE STILL PUZZLES LEYRITZ.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

A month and a half has passed since catcher Jim Leyritz was dealt from the Angels for Texas pitcher Ken Hill.

However, the chip on Leyritz's shoulder remains.

Leyritz, whom the Angels acquired from the New York Yankees in the offseason, thought he was going to be part of a great future in Anaheim. Although he is happy to be a Ranger, he is ``disappointed'' that things didn't work out with the Angels.

``When they brought me (to Anaheim) they made me feel like it was going to be my home for the next couple of years,'' said Leyritz, who was a member of the 1996 world-champion Yankees. ``There was a purpose why I was there . . . they wanted to win. Whether that direction was changed during the season . . . I don't know.

``Granted, as far as my ego goes, I wanted to say that if they wouldn't have traded me, they may still be in the race. They had some things happen to them that probably changed the karma of the team. Strange things have happened.

``I thought it was kind of odd because they said that they wanted to win. When you know you're going to be in the race, you want proven players that have been through that. One of the reasons they got me was for that and then they go ahead and trade me.''

Entering Friday, Leyritz was batting .282 with Texas, but had just 14 RBI and no home runs in 85 at-bats. The 6-foot, 195-pounder, who hasn't played defensively since Sept. 7 against Toronto, is unable to do so because of a left-knee cartilage tear that will require surgery on Sept. 24 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He won't make the last road trip of the year and is expected to be available only as a pinch hitter during the Angels series.

Regardless of his batting woes or injuries, Leyritz and his $1.8 million contract are expected to be back in Texas next season. One possible question, however, is would the Rangers need him if they are sent to the designated hitter-less National League by realignment?

``He is a very versatile player and he does a lot of things for us,'' said Texas manager Johnny Oates. ``He can back up Pudge (catcher Ivan Rodriguez), back up first base. He's played third, left, right and DH. Certainly, he is part of our club.''

Also: Angels catcher Chris Turner required four stitches for a cut on the inside part of his upper lip on Thursday after a collision at the plate with Oakland's Brent Mayne in the fifth inning. On Friday, a CT scan on the left side of his face was inconclusive. He was cleared to play and took a plane Friday afternoon to join the team in Texas. . . . Angels pitcher Chuck Finley, who is out for the season with a fractured left wrist, began drills to help his wrist's range of motion. . . . Angels manager Terry Collins said that first baseman Darin Erstad, who is bothered by irregularities of the labrum in his right shoulder, will probably not do anything other than pinch run the remainder of the season. . . . Angels left fielder Garret Anderson reached a season career-best mark in hits Thursday against Oakland with his 174th.

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