Notes on a Scorecard - June 8, 1994

Tim Salmon was the best rookie in the American League last year, but not the best in Southern California. . . .

The same could be said about his sophomore year so far. . . . Salmon is an exceptional young talent who happens to be taken for granted sometimes because of the presence of Mike Piazza in the next county. . . .

However, new Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann appreciates his right fielder to the fullest. . . .

“He’s going to be a guy who will bat between .280 and .300, drive in between 90 and 100 runs, hit between 25 and 35 home runs and be an above-average fielder for a lot of years,” Lachemann said. . . .

Salmon is a streak hitter who last month put together the kind of streak that only Joe Cronin in 1933 and Walt Dropo in 1952 had enjoyed in the American League--13 hits over three consecutive games. . . .

During the 13-for-15 binge that included seven singles, three home runs, two doubles and a triple, his teammates asked him if they could touch his bat. . . .

Nobody made such a request during his recent mini-slump, but most of Salmon’s numbers project even better than a year ago, when he hit .283 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs before missing the last two weeks because of a broken finger that required surgery. . . .

He doesn’t worry about the sophomore jinx, saying that the pitchers got to know him and he got to know them the second half of last season. . . .

Timothy James Salmon is 25 years old, 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds. He was born in Long Beach and grew up in Phoenix, where he was a marketing major at Grand Canyon College, an NAIA school whose basketball team used to be coached by Paul Westphal. . . .

He is a “third or fourth” cousin of Academy Award-winning actress Holly Hunter. He has never met her, but she once left a message on his phone machine and their grandparents have exchanged letters. . . .

Tim’s brother, Mike, who was a safety at USC, is expected to try out in the NFL as a free agent this summer. . . .

Tim liked playing football better than baseball in high school but was a much better hitter than a wide receiver or defensive back. . . .

He and wife Marci are the proud parents of infant daughter Callie, who’s first birthday will be June 18. . . .

Salmon enjoys hiking in the mountains near his Phoenix home, bike riding, and playing golf. . . .

What is his handicap on the golf course? “Very serious,” he says. . . .

*

“You’ve heard about players having the Tommy John surgery,” Tommy John said the other night at Anaheim Stadium. “Well, I had the Bo Jackson surgery.” . . .

Last September, the old left-hander underwent left hip replacement surgery. . . .

But now he is able to pitch batting practice occasionally for the Minnesota Twins, as well as serve as analyst on 73 of their telecasts. . . .

“The hitters have passed the pitchers by in work habits, strength, and technique,” John said. “These guys pump iron and they’re strong.” . . .

John looked out to the destruction in the upper-deck seats in left field caused by the January earthquake and cracked, “Some of the balls I threw here must have started that damage.” . . .

The new Anaheim Stadium scoreboard, which will be the second-largest in baseball, behind the Skydome’s in Toronto, is expected to be installed before September. . . .

Before Tuesday’s games, American League West teams were a combined 44 games under .500. . . .

If I were Tom Lasorda, I would stay with my starting pitchers as long as possible. . . .

The San Francisco Giants apparently are serious about signing Darryl Strawberry. . . .

Eric Davis is on the disabled list for the eighth time in his career. . . .

Randy Johnson, who has pitched 27 consecutive shutout innings, has refused to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. . . .

The Montreal Expos quietly have compiled the second-best record in the National League. . . .

Dave Righetti, who won’t give up, is pitching at Knoxville of the double-A Southern League. . . .

Jockey Chris Antley says he gets extra pumped for Friday night racing at Hollywood Park, and the results show. He has 11 winners in 28 mounts under the lights. . . .

The Forum will have two fight shows in three days--what was supposed to be the undercard to the Riddick Bowe-Buster Mathis card, that was canceled, on Saturday and a regular program on Monday. . . .

The New York Knicks play basketball the way the Philadelphia Flyers used to play hockey and Freddie Blassie used to wrestle.