BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Seattle Pinpointed as Snow’s Albatross

While theories abound why Angel rookie first baseman J.T. Snow struggled after April, Manager Buck Rodgers said Tuesday that he attributes Snow’s slump to the night of May 24 in Seattle.

Although Snow hitting had slacked off a month earlier, during that game Mariner starter Erik Hanson struck him out in his each of his first three at-bats. It started an 0-for-18 skid, and Snow was unable to recover, batting .181 after April 25 until being optioned Monday to triple-A Vancouver.

“Hanson completely devastated him with a changeup that made him look sick,” Rodgers said. “That changed his thinking. It seems like he was looking for a changeup ever since.”

Snow’s batting stroke has deteriorated so much, Rodgers said, that it will take weeks to recover. He will remain in Vancouver until the September call-ups.

“I told (Vancouver Manager Max Oliveras) to do what you want to do,” Rodgers said, “because whatever we did wasn’t helping. And we tried everything. There’s a lot of work he needs to do.

“I don’t think he’ll have a good first week. In fact, I guarantee you he won’t go down there and rip up the place. I’ll bet on it.”

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The Angels and agent Arn Tellem have opened preliminary talks about a contract extension for starter Mark Langston that would retain his services past 1994, according to Richard Brown, Angel president and chief executive officer.

Brown approached Chuck Finley after batting practice to tell him he would not be traded. This leaves the Angels pledging $6.5 million in salaries to Finley and Langston for 1994. Langston’s contract ends after the 1994 season, and Finley’s expires after 1995.

“I’m willing to listen to what they have to say,” Langston said. “This is my home, and I’d like to stay.”

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Angel reliever Troy Percival, projected to be the heir apparent to Bryan Harvey as the bullpen closer until season-ending elbow surgery, said that he plans to sue the driver who crashed into his car Oct. 27 in Phoenix. Percival sustained injuries to his shoulder and elbow that he says led to his elbow operation seven weeks ago.

Percival, who underwent surgery to repair his tendon and clean out bone chips, was informed by Dr. Lewis Yocum that he can begin throwing lightly in three weeks.

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The Angels’ front office is discussing the possibility of acquiring middle infielder Kurt Stillwell, 28, who was placed on waivers by the San Diego Padres. They will wait until he clears waivers Friday and then determine if they can sign him for the season’s duration.

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The Angels are shopping starter Scott Sanderson to make room in the rotation for Phil Leftwich to make his major league debut Thursday against Oakland, but have yet to find an interested party. . . . Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley, suffering back spasms, was unable to pitch Tuesday for the first time since 1989.