DESPERATION TIME; THOUGH ANGELS OFFENSE LAST, BAVASI ISN'T HITTING PANIC BUTTON - YET.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Bill Bavasi can't say it because it would make him look desperate and hurt his leverage.

But the Angels general manager must make a trade, and he knows it. If he needs confirmation, he can look no further than the past three days, when the Angels were swept by the AL West-leading Rangers by a combined score of 32-5.

``Do we feel an urgency?'' Bavasi asked. ``Yeah, we all do. Mo (Vaughn) feels an urgency to drive in runs. Chuck (Finley) feels an urgency to get outs. I feel an urgency to help the club.

``But I'm not going to lose my mind and do something stupid.''

Despite a recent stretch when they won six of seven games, the Angels are struggling. Their pitching has held up so far, but now starter Tim Belcher (broken finger) is out and Ken Hill (sore elbow) could join him on the disabled list.

With outfielders Tim Salmon and Jim Edmonds out indefinitely and recovering from injuries, the Angels offense has been embarrassing.

They rank last in the American League in runs, doubles, triples, RBI, walks, stolen bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Vaughn leads the team in homers (16) and RBI (49), but he hasn't had a hit since Sunday.

``I wasn't looking for pitching - right now our hunt is more for offense,'' Bavasi said. ``Belcher's injury has adjusted that some, but by and large, we still have to follow what we're doing at the moment, which is address the offense.''

What then? Whom can the Angels obtain? Which team is willing to get serious with the Angels?

``If I can find somebody else just as urgent, then . . .,'' Bavasi said.

Well, how about the Dodgers?

``I talk to Kevin (Malone, Dodgers GM) a lot,'' Bavasi said. ``Kevin started here (with the Angels organization). We had a great time together. I know he's frustrated too. These are tough times for them. He'll do the right thing. He won't panic. He'll make the right moves.

The Angels don't have much at the major-league level they'd be willing to trade, so they would have to include prospects. But even the minor-league system is thin, with the top prospects deemed untouchable.

``We don't have an excess to move, so we have to be creative,'' Bavasi said. ``But we're not going to alter what we've got going (in the minors).''

That could change if the Angels make a dramatic turnaround in the next month.

``If you get to the trading deadline (July 31) with a clear chance to win, then we'll discuss it,'' he said. ``But we're not there now. The kids here are safe.''

Contrary to published reports, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians have not asked Bavasi about Finley. But if the Angels fall further out of the race, that will change.

``I'll leave it up to him,'' Bavasi said. ``If he becomes available, I won't get much sleep.''

ANGELS vs. OAKLAND

Time: 7:35 p.m., at Oakland Coliseum.

TV/Radio: Channel 9; KLAC-AM (570), XPRS-AM (1090).

Matchup: Steve Sparks (3-5, 4.93) will start for the Angels, who will try to break a three-game losing streak. Before being swept by the Texas Rangers in a three-game series, the Angels took three from Oakland. The Angels, 9-1/2 games behind the first-place Rangers, have occupied last place in the AL West since May 4.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Mo Vaughn leads the Angels in home runs and RBI, but that's not difficult with a team that ranks last in the AL in offense.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News

Box: ANGELS vs. OAKLAND (See text)