Edmonds Does It Again--for ‘Reel’

Jim Edmonds added more footage to his 1997 highlight reel Wednesday. This time it was in New York, in Yankee Stadium, in front of New Yorkers, in front of a media horde.

Edmonds’ fourth-inning run, catch and crash against the center-field fence robbed former Angel Chad Curtis of extra bases and rendered Edmonds temporarily dazed and confused.

“I didn’t know where I was,” Edmonds said. “I lost track of what was going on. I forgot how many outs there were. I thought people were running around the bases.

“I was thinking of diving after taking a few more steps. Good thing I didn’t because I would have gone head-first into the fence.”

Edmonds could not remember what part of his body took the brunt of the blow against the fence, although it appeared to be his right shoulder.

He fired the ball back to the infield after making the inning-ending catch, then rested a few moments on the warning track before receiving a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

“They’ll ride you all game, but it’s nice that they appreciate good plays,” Edmonds said of the fans.

Curtis, on his way to center field, told his former teammate: “I guess we’re even now.” He was probably flattering himself by referring to a long run and catch Tuesday to take a probable double away from Edmonds.

“As hard as he hit the wall, I might have come around to score on that one today,” said Curtis, who played center field for the Angels from 1992 to ’94. “That’s a long way out there.”

Asked if his latest catch ranked up there with his diving stab of David Howard’s drive to center June 10 against Kansas City, Edmonds said:

“This was more painful.”

*

Left-handed starter Mark Langston and right-handed reliever Mike James are scheduled to throw simulated games today. Their workouts could be pushed back several days if rain falls as forecasted today, however.

The Angels play a doubleheader Friday against Boston, then play after the Silver Bullets women’s team plays Saturday, which makes scheduling simulated games difficult.

If Langston, who had elbow surgery May 27, can return to form earlier than expected, the Angels might not need to trade for another starter. James, on the disabled list because of an inflamed elbow, will bolster an already sound bullpen.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TODAY’S GAME

ANGELS’ JASON DICKSON (10-4, 3.25 ERA) vs. YANKEES’ DAVID WELLS (10-4, 3.48)

Yankee Stadium, 4:30 PDT

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KTZN (710).

* Update: The Angels trail the Yankees by four games in the AL wild-card race. The first two games of this series have underscored the need for standout pitching. The Yankees have received it from David Cone and Dwight Gooden, but Angel starters Dennis Springer and Allen Watson struggled. The Angels will turn to Dickson, their all-star right-hander, to try to prevent a sweep in the series finale. Dickson’s track record against the Yankees isn’t impressive. His career mark is 2-2 with a 6.64 earned-run average, including 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts this season. Wells is 10-6 with a 4.70 ERA in 36 appearances against the Angels. He is 1-0 with a 4.59 ERA in two starts against them this season.