Lachemann Moves Smoothly From Manager to Coach

You’d think there would be some degree of awkwardness having your manager from last season--Marcel Lachemann--as your pitching coach this season, but Angel pitcher Mark Langston says there has been none.

“Terry [Collins, Angel manager] has such strong leadership capabilities that it’s not even thought about,” Langston said. “Lach’s expertise is in pitching. He’s comfortable with that, and we know it’s to our advantage to have him. Terry is not threatened. This is totally his team.”

Lachemann, who spent nine years as the Angels’ pitching coach and 2 1/2 years as manager before resigning Aug. 6, admitted he’s in “a somewhat unusual situation,” but the transition appears to have been smooth.

“I feel very comfortable doing what I’m doing, and Terry has no qualms about it,” Lachemann said. “He has no threat from me. All he has is my support.”

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Lengthy negotiations did not produce a contract extension for right fielder Tim Salmon Tuesday, but talks are expected to resume today on a five-year deal, believed to be in the $30-million range. Salmon had set a Tuesday deadline for an agreement but said if the sides were close, negotiations could continue for another day or two.

Ted Updike, Salmon’s agent, met with Angel officials for the fourth straight day Tuesday, and discussions went from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Salmon is entering the final year of a four-year, $7.5-million contract that pays him $3.5 million this season.

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It’s a little early to be drawing up regular-season lineups, but Collins said he’s leaning toward an order that includes Darin Erstad leading off, Randy Velarde batting second, Jim Edmonds third and Tim Salmon cleanup. Eddie Murray, Garret Anderson and Dave Hollins would likely hit in the fifth, sixth and seventh spots, but not necessarily in that order, and the catcher--either Jim Leyritz or Jorge Fabregas--and shortstop Gary DiSarcina would hit eighth and ninth, respectively. . . . Reliever Mike Holtz, who Tuesday agreed to a one-year, $160,000 contract, has a mild case of shoulder tendinitis and will be held out of throwing drills and exhibition games for three or four days. . . . Collins will use Thursday night’s exhibition game against Brigham Young University as a chance to look at his younger players, so Geoff Edsell, Matt Perisho, Fausto Macey, Travis Buckley and Pete Janicki will pitch. Jason Dickson, who is competing for the fifth rotation spot, will start the Cactus League opener against Oakland Friday and will be followed on the mound by Greg Gohr, Pep Harris, Jeff Schmidt and Mike James.