Lachemann Moves Smoothly From Manager to Coach

You’d think there might be some awkwardness in 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 is 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.”

Round-the-clock negotiations did not produce a contract extension for right fielder Tim Salmon on Tuesday, but talks are expected to resume today on a five- year deal, believed to be in the $30-million range.

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 Salmon cleanup. Eddie Murray, Garret Anderson and Dave Hollins will probably 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 will probably hit eighth and ninth, respectively.