Coleman Signs Minor League Contract

The Angels signed outfielder Vince Coleman to a minor league contract Thursday. No, they’re not about to trade left fielder Garret Anderson.

Coleman, notorious for tossing an explosive device out of a car window at a crowd of Dodger Stadium autograph seekers on July 24, 1993, was signed to fill a void at triple-A Vancouver, which is down to three outfielders since Darin Erstad and Orlando Palmeiro were called up to the Angels this month.

In fact, the Angels agreed to a clause in Coleman’s contract that allows the 34-year-old to sign with another team at any time, with the Angels receiving no compensation if he departs.

“He’s not at all in the Angels’ plans,” said Ken Forsch, director of player development. “Bill [Bavasi, general manager] and I never even discussed that. He fit into my salary structure, which isn’t real high, and he’s filling a gap for us.”

Coleman, a 12-year major league veteran who played left field for the American League West-champion Seattle Mariners last season, hit .237 in 33 games for the Cincinnati Reds this season before being released June 18.

A speedster who stole 107 or more bases for the St. Louis Cardinals for three consecutive seasons (1985-87), Coleman has also played for the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals.

But he is probably most known for that Dodger Stadium incident, in which a 2-year-old girl suffered eye injuries. Coleman pleaded guilty to possession of an explosive device in early 1994 and was fined $1,000.

“I can’t speak to how people will react to that, but it was an unfortunate situation, and I’m aware that he paid for it publicly and financially,” Forsch said. “But if I thought he would be a destructive influence, I wouldn’t have signed him to play alongside guys we’re developing.”

*

Pitching coach Chuck Hernandez has worked extensively with Jim Abbott since the left-hander was pulled from the rotation Saturday. Abbott, 1-11 with a 7.92 earned-run average, lasted only two innings in his last start, giving up four earned runs and walking six in a 10-5 loss at Milwaukee Friday.

Though his fastball barely hit 80 mph on the speed gun, Manager Marcel Lachemann insists Abbott’s problems are not related to any concealed injury.

“It’s a matter of where he’s releasing the ball,” Lachemann said. “He was guiding the ball, aiming it, and when you do that you’re going to lose a lot of velocity. We’re trying to straighten him out, but to do all these things and let him sit [in the bullpen] is not going to help, either.”

*

Center fielder Jim Edmonds, who suffered a sprained right thumb June 11, plans to return much sooner than expected. The cast on his hand was replaced by a removable splint Wednesday--a week ahead of schedule--and Edmonds, who was expected to sit out six to eight weeks, could return by mid-July. . . . The Angels also signed right-handed pitcher Paul Swingle to a minor league contract. Swingle, a 29th-round pick of the Angels in 1989, went 1-4 with a 4.57 ERA for the Brewers’ triple-A team at New Orleans in 1995. . . . Pitcher Jose Ortiz, a 25th-round pick of the Angels, agreed to terms and will report to the rookie league team in Mesa, Ariz.