ANGELS : Parrish Seeks to Keep ’90 Turnaround on Track

He could have gotten by on his catching ability alone, but Lance Parrish wasn’t willing to settle for that.

Healthy and happily adjusted to the Angels’ organization, Parrish reversed his offensive decline in 1990 and produced his finest season since 1985. With a .268 average, 24 home runs and 70 runs batted in, Parrish showed his toughest critic that his skills hadn’t eroded.

“I proved something to myself,” Parrish said.

Effective as ever behind the plate, Parrish threw out 55 of 117 runners attempting to steal second base, or 47%. His 24 home runs tied for 10th in the American League and gave him a career total of 285, fifth among catchers in major league history. In becoming an all-star for the eighth time, Parrish became the first Angel catcher selected to the team since Bob Boone in 1983.

All of that in contrast to 1988, when he hit a career-low .215 for the Philadelphia Phillies, and 1989, when knee and rib injuries he sustained in a home plate collision resulted in a .238 batting average.

“I proved that I’m still capable of being productive offensively and doing a good job defensively,” said Parrish, who will turn 35 in June. “I never really doubted that I was able to do the job--it’s just taken me a couple of years to get my game back together.

“It’s a lot easier to perform when you’re in an organization you feel comfortable in and you’re healthy. I feel very comfortable being here. I’m adjusted to being on this ballclub and I feel I should be able to play at this level a few more years.”

And this season?

“We’re looking as strong as any pitching staff I’ve seen or worked with,” Parrish said. “The biggest problem we had last year was offensive contributions, and this year we have some more pop.”

Officials of Cactus League clubs met last week in Scottsdale to discuss the league’s future. The Angels are looking at spring training sites in Florida and expect to leave Mesa by the spring of 1993. The Cleveland Indians will leave Tucson for Citrus County, Fla., after 1992 and the Seattle Mariners might leave Tempe if they can’t agree on a new contract with that city.