BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Davis, Focused on ‘96, Reports

Designated hitter Chili Davis finally reported to the Angels’ training camp at Tempe, Ariz., on Sunday, looking fit and ready to play.

“If I had my choice he would have been here the first day [Feb. 16],” Manager Marcel Lachemann said. “He looks to be in pretty good shape, though.”

Said Davis, whose arrival was delayed while he attended to personal business: “I took up a new hobby, mountain biking. I gave up cigarettes and dipping and cut back on my alcohol intake. . . . Why? I’m getting old.”

Davis, 36, also said he’s tired of fielding questions about the Angels’ late-season collapse in 1995, glad to turn his attention to ’96 at last.

“I thought we had a pretty damn good year,” he said of the Angels’ second-place finish behind Seattle in the American League West. “It should have left a taste in our mouths to take it to the next level. Most people want to bring up negative things, and it wasn’t a negative year. If you want to bring up a negative year, talk about a team at the bottom of the pile.”

After only a day in camp, he said he was encouraged by what he saw. He also believes off-season moves weakened Seattle, Texas and Oakland, which will further help the Angels.

“If I was picking, I’d pick the Angels,” Davis said. “The thing is, you can’t duplicate the year you had.”

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Closer Lee Smith had his surgically repaired right knee examined again by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who was pleased with the healing process. Smith, who injured his knee during the off-season, could be ready to pitch on opening day, Lachemann said. . . . Right-hander Steve Ontiveros threw 60 pitches and felt no discomfort from a groin injury that has sidelined him since last Saturday. . . . Eduardo Perez has had upper back pain and might undergo X-rays later this week.