UNMANAGEABLE SITUATION : LACHEMANN LEAVES ANGELS UNDER PRESSURE.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Marcel Lachemann resigned under pressure Tuesday as manager of the Angels.

That much is certain. Much less clear is the specific source of that pressure.

Lachemann, 55, a career pitching coach who had never aspired to this level of responsibility, would have you believe it was self-imposed. He said the Angels' unfulfilled promise this season was eating a hole in him, and that his decision to step down was a wholly independent one.

The external heat was undeniable, though. Disney assumed control of the Angels on April 3, and its housecleaning has been aggressive and ongoing. Lachemann, as the lethargic commander of a last-place team, was under contract only through this season and probably had little hope of being retained. By stepping aside, he might have avoided the inevitable.

John McNamara, a well-traveled managerial veteran, was named interim manager for the remainder of the season.

The Angels also swept out three key figures in the support staff, replacing third-base coach Rick Burleson, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and bench coach Bobby Knoop - who had spent 24 years in an Angels uniform as either player or coach.

``It was just something, I didn't feel comfortable with the way we played. As the person in charge of the ballclub, that's my responsibility,'' Lachemann, who took over for the fired Buck Rodgers in May 1994, said of his resignation.

``. . . It got to the point where I couldn't do anything without it permeating my whole life.

``To continue what we had been doing was not going to work.''

Lachemann choked up repeatedly while reading a prepared statement. It seemed an eerie replay of an event of last week, when Tom Lasorda retired as manager of the Dodgers - and also insisted that he hadn't been nudged aside.

All concerned with this announcement contorted themselves into pretzels to establish the premise that the decision was Lachemann's and Lachemann's alone.

``I don't really care how people perceive it,'' said Tony Tavares, president of Disney Sports Enterprises. ``Marcel Lachemann is not a liar and neither am I.

``There is no way that any pressure was placed on Lachemann to resign. In fact, he's been thinking about this since before the All-Star break. Bill (Bavasi, general manager) has tried to talk to him out of it.''

Still, it appeared to be a tough sell.

That was evident in the comments of former Angels pitcher Bert Blyleven, who played under Lachemann when the latter was the Angels' pitching coach in the late 1980s and early '90s.

Blyleven, now a Minnesota Twins broadcaster, said, ``It was a combination of everything (that contributed to the Angels' slide). But I think Marcel takes it upon himself to say, `Hey, fire one guy' . . . er . . . `Let one guy go, and maybe it will wake up the 25 other guys.' ''

Disney seems determined to shake things up in an effort to wake up this historically troubled franchise.

``Being very candid with you,'' Tavares said, ``Marcel just took a bullet for this entire organization. Seldom, if at all, have I been disappointed with Marcel's effort. I have been often disappointed in this club's effort - collectively, and that's not a shot at any one player.

``We've got a lot of potential. Everybody was picking this club to finish first (in the American League West).

``Maybe we - including me - over-evaluated the talent on this club. That's what we're going to find out between now and the end of the year.''

Tavares said the search for a permanent manager would begin immediately. Former Dodgers infielder Jim Lefebvre, who has managed with Seattle and the Chicago Cubs and currently is in private business, is considered one candidate. Another is thought to be current Angels broadcaster Sparky Anderson, although Anderson has said he is content with his retirement in Thousand Oaks.

``Marcel retired,'' Anderson said. ``If he'd been fired, under no condition (would I accept an offer). Period.

``They're not going to ask, but I would listen. I doubt that I would take it. I enjoy this so much. I would listen, but everything would have to be my way.''

Disney's shakeup could also reach much higher. Lachemann was Bavasi's hand-picked choice as manager. Moreover, Tavares' questions about the club's talent level do not reflect positively on the guy whose job it is assemble the roster and build the farm system.

The records of Lachemann and Bavasi are blemished by the Angels' inglorious pennant collapse of 1995, a downward spiral that seemed to carry into this season. The club has been in last place in a weak division since July 6, and began play Tuesday night seven games under .500, 9-1/2 games out of first.

McNamara, 63, had been roaming the farm system as a catching instructor. He said he took on the interim managerial duties as a favor to the Bavasi family, and that he had no aspirations to continue in the job after this year.

``I've had my day in the sun,'' said McNamara, who managed 18 years in the major leagues, including two seasons - 1983-84 - with the Angels.

The club will give three figures from its developmental system two months to impress whomever is chosen as the new manager.

Replacing Burleson in the third-base box is Eddie Rodriguez, who has been the organization's field coordinator. Taking over for Hernandez is Joe Coleman, a former Angels bullpen coach who has been scouting at the major-league level. Also promoted was Mike Couchee, the club's roving minor-league pitching instructor, who comes aboard as bullpen coach.

The Angels said they would try to find jobs in the organization for Lachemann, Burleson, Hernandez and Knoop.

LATCHES ON THE COFFIN

Some of the events that contributed to Marcel Lachemann's undoing as manager of the Angels:

THE CRASH: Friday marks the anniversary of the high-water mark of Lachemann's tenure. On Aug. 9, the Angels were 11 games in front in the American League West. Down the stretch, they lost 31 of 49 games, ultimately losing the division title to Seattle in a one-game playoff. It went down as one of the most appalling collapses in baseball history.

NO HELP: When the Angels needed another starting pitcher to help them down the stretch in '95, Lachemann lobbied for a former Angels protege, Jim Abbott, an erratic pitcher with a sub-.500 career record. Abbott was little help in the pennant drive, losing four of nine decisions while compiling a 4.14 ERA. Today, after signing a rich, new contract, the left-hander is 1-14, 7.31.

NIGHTTIME SOAPS: Early this season, Troy Percival set the league on fire as the Angels' closer, but when aging Lee Smith returned from a knee problem, Lachemann stubbornly insisted on restoring Smith to the role. The decision put Lachemann at odds with general manager Bill Bavasi and perplexed the team's fans. Later, faced with three premier outfielders (Jim Edmonds, Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad) for two spots, Lachemann's best plan was a rotation, exasperating all.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--color) John McNamara takes questions from reporters after beginning his second stint as Angels manager.

Associated Press

(2--color) (No Caption)

Box: Latches on the Coffin (see text)