Edmonds Becomes No. 2 Hitter Again

It worked in 1995, so Manager Terry Collins will try it again in 1999: Jim Edmonds, who has hit third or fifth the past three years, will return to the No. 2 hole this season.

Edmonds scored a franchise-record 120 runs out of the second spot in 1995 and has batted second in every exhibition game he has played this spring.

“We won’t have a prototype leadoff hitter [in Darin Erstad] and we won’t have a prototype No. 2 hitter,” Collins said. “We’re not going to ask Jim to change his game. If Darin gets on base, we think Jim will get some fastballs to hit.

“I don’t know if he’ll steal more bases, but he’ll have a chance.”

Edmonds has only 21 stolen bases in five years, including one in 1995, but he would like to run more this season.

With Erstad leading off, Edmonds hitting second and Mo Vaughn third, the Angels will have three left-handers at the top of the order, but this doesn’t concern Collins.

“If they can hit, it doesn’t matter,” Collins said. “Houston had three straight right-handers in their lineup with Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Derek Bell, and they did OK. Besides, there aren’t a lot of left-handed pitchers in this league.”

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The Edison Field outfield dimensions will be altered for the 1999 season, with the center-field fence moved in from 408 feet to 400 feet and the power alley in left-center moved in from 396 feet to 387.

Four existing banks of lights at the park have been upgraded. The number of lights has been reduced from 720 to 405 higher-wattage bulbs, which should help outfielders track fly balls.

Two auxiliary scoreboards have been added and the Jumbotron system has been upgraded.

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Omar Olivares took a huge step toward winning the fifth spot in the rotation Monday, giving up two runs and seven hits, striking out four and walking only one in 4 2/3 innings of a minor league intrasquad game. The Angels had Monday off. “He’s ahead, no question about it,” Collins said of Olivares, competing with Jason Dickson and Jarrod Washburn for the final rotation job. “His fastball is sinking well, his splitter looks better . . . he’s in good form right now.”

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Collins hopes his battery doesn’t need a jump start today. Chuck Finley, slowed by upper back spasms, will make his first spring start against the White Sox, and Todd Greene, who hasn’t caught in a year because of shoulder problems, will start behind the plate.

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The Angels optioned outfielder Norm Hutchins, pitcher Geoff Edsell and catcher Bret Hemphill to triple-A Edmonton and pitchers Ramon Ortiz and Mark Harriger to double-A Erie.