Snow Has Been Through This Before

Darin Erstad plays a few triple-A games at first base. Vancouver call-up Chris Pritchett starts Friday night’s game against the Twins.

J.T. Snow has heard the rumblings--that the Angels are exploring alternatives at first base because they might trade him--and it’s as if he’s back in the spring of 1994, when he came so close to being sent to the New York Mets he could practically hear the planes buzzing over Shea Stadium.

“I’ve been through all this before, and it does no good to worry about it,” said Snow, who has underachieved this season (.254, 15 homers, 62 runs batted in) after a superb 1995 (.289, 24 homers, 102 RBIs). “I stopped trying to figure these things out years ago. You’ll just drive yourself crazy.”

Snow, a 1995 Gold Glove winner who signed a three-year, $6-million contract this season, said he hasn’t pondered his future with the Angels.

But unlike 1994, when he split the season between Vancouver and Anaheim and fell out of favor with then-Manager Buck Rodgers, Snow said this season hasn’t shattered his confidence.

“I’ve proven to myself I can play here, whereas early in my career I wasn’t so sure,” Snow said. “I realize I haven’t done what I’m capable of doing this season--I expected more out of myself. But there’s no sense worrying about the future or where I’ll be.”

*

The Angels Friday claimed utility infielder Robert Eenhoorn (Yankees) and left-handed reliever Darrell May (Pirates) off waivers, and the two will join the team today.

To make room on the 40-man roster, pitcher Mark Langston (strained right knee) was transferred from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list, and reliever Mark Holzemer, who spent nine years in the Angel organization, was designated for assignment.

Holzemer began the season as the only left-hander in the Angel bullpen, but his 8.76 earned-run average in 25 appearances, a shoulder injury and the emergence of Mike Holtz and Chuck McElroy made him expendable. Eenhoorn and May both split this season between triple A and the major leagues.

*

The Twins will honor retired outfielder Kirby Puckett in a pregame ceremony tonight. A sellout crowd of more than 50,000 is expected, and Metrodome seating capacity will be increased by adding field boxes and raising the outfield curtain in right field. . . . Twins left fielder Marty Cordova’s RBI single in the sixth inning Friday gave him 100 RBIs, two short of Paul Molitor’s 103, and marked the first time two Twins have had 100 RBIs in a season since Larry Hisle (119) and Rod Carew (100) in 1977. . . . Pritchett was the 49th player the Angels have used this season, breaking the team record for most players used in one season, set in 1975.