Anderson Says Edmonds Seems Happy in St. Louis

Garret Anderson has spoken several times with Jim Edmonds since the trade that sent Edmonds to St. Louis, and reported Wednesday that Edmonds was happy and healthy in his new surroundings.

That would explain the National League-leading .536 batting average, Anderson said.

“I’ve known him for a long time,” Anderson said. “When he’s healthy, he’s going to put up numbers. With all of that talent, being healthy is what he needs to be.”

Edmonds doesn’t appear to be suffering from homesickness. A career .308 hitter in April, he could hardly start faster.

Asked if he believed the trade helped clear Edmonds’ mind and aided in the start, Anderson shrugged.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve never been in that boat. He definitely says he’s happy there.”

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The Angels would like to make former second baseman Bobby Knoop the seventh member of their hall of fame, but have not yet convinced Knoop to accept.

Knoop, first base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, said Wednesday that his refusal was for personal reasons that had nothing to do with his relationship with the organization.

Jim Fregosi, already in the Angel hall, was honored Wednesday night as the shortstop and manager on the club’s all-time team.

Bobby Grich, Don Baylor, Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan, Jimmie Reese and Fregosi were the first six hall of fame inductees.

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A day after he threw 83 pitches in his first big league start of the season, Ramon Ortiz was pleased Wednesday with the response of his right shoulder, diagnosed this spring with a torn labrum.

He gave up seven hits, four walks and two runs in five innings against Toronto on Tuesday night.

“I feel great today,” he said with a wide smile. “Every day I’ve been feeling better and better. And now my arm feels great. Thank you, God.”

Ortiz laughed and looked skyward.

“I threw 83 pitches,” he said. “I’m hopping. I’m pumped.”

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Tim Salmon had flu, did not take batting practice and was not in the lineup Wednesday.

Orlando Palmeiro, who had only one at-bat in the first eight games, started in right field and batted seventh. Anderson batted in Salmon’s cleanup spot.

Salmon, batting .148 with two extra-base hits in 27 at-bats, was available to play.

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Tommy Lasorda, senior vice president for the Dodgers, was a pregame visitor in the Angel clubhouse and Scioscia’s office, then watched the Angels take batting practice.

Lasorda, a Fullerton resident, was on his way to visit his wife, Jo, who is recovering from recent surgery.

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Bullpen coach Bobby Ramos’ brother, Jesus, was a long-time teammate of New York Yankee pitcher Orlando Hernandez’s father on the Cuban national team.

The original “El Duque” was a pitcher and right fielder. Jesus Ramos was the third baseman.

Seven years younger than Jesus, Bobby frequently attended games at the stadium outside Havana until his family moved to Miami when he was 14. Baseball in Cuba was very special, Ramos said.

“It is like an eternal marriage between baseball and the people there,” he said.

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Left-hander Jarrod Washburn’s next start is scheduled for Friday in Colorado Springs. He was snowed out of a start in Edmonton. . . . The Angels leave today on their road trip. They are scheduled to play three games in Chicago, beginning Friday night, then four in Toronto and three in Tampa Bay.