Edmonds Is No Flash in the Pan

Jim Edmonds doesn’t seem to be living down to expectations.

He couldn’t possibly have a better year than 1995, many have said. There was no way he was going to match that season--33 home runs, 107 runs batted in, 120 runs scored, acrobatic catches. If he got close, he would be doing well.

So this year, people would just expect a little less and be happy with it. Edmonds, though, doesn’t seem willing to accept such a scenario.

Friday was another all-around night for Edmonds. He hit a three-run home run and threw a runner out at the plate in the Angels’ 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Anaheim Stadium.

When not doing the spectacular, Edmonds patrolled center field, gliding from left to right and back again to make catches. It was a performance up to his standards.

“I’m pretty driven,” Edmonds said Wednesday. “I want to be the best player in the league.”

A lofty goal, considering Ken Griffey, Frank Thomas and a few other “name” players claim that title. But Edmonds is getting there.

A year ago, he was at least in the upper 10%. By the time July was over, he had already lived up to what was expected of him. He had a 23-game hitting in June--the longest in the American League in 1995.

His batting average was among the league leaders, where it stayed most of the season. He also slammed into so many fences to make catches that it almost became routine.

Edmonds was selected to the All-Star game and finished with a .290 batting average. He arrived this spring, bulked up and pumped up, determined to show last season was not a fluke. He hit .448 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs and 17 runs during spring training.

His efforts were rewarded with a four-year, approximately $9-million contract on Wednesday. But money isn’t the sole motivating force.

“There is always something to strive for in this game,” Edmonds said during the press conference to announce the contract. “Money is not the only thing that drives me. I want to show my worth.”

Edmonds displayed it pretty well Friday.

He got off to a slow start, striking out in the first and second, then got rolling.

The White Sox had the bases loaded in the fourth, when Darren Lewis singed to center. Edmonds charged and fired, getting a diving, twisting Ozzie Guillen at the plate to keep the Angels within two runs, 4-2.

In the bottom of the inning, Edmonds gave the Angels the lead with a towering home run, deep into the White Sox bullpen. It was his second of the season. Edmonds had a grand slam in Tuesday’s opener.

Edmonds also doubled in the sixth and lined out to right in the eighth.

Still, there was room for improvement. Edmonds came up with runners on first and second in the 10th and flied out to left to end the inning.

It was one of the few times Edmonds hasn’t lived up to what was expected.