St. Louis Renews Edmonds’ Spirit

Time and distance have tempered Jim Edmonds’ mood, so much so that the St. Louis Cardinal All-Star center fielder says he’s “happy” for the Angels.

Edmonds is impressed with his former club’s strong performance in the American League West, and facing the Angels for the first time since having been traded in March, 2000, isn’t as difficult as some might think.

“They’re playing great,” said Edmonds, who hit his 13th home run Tuesday night in the Cardinals’ 7-2 interleague victory at Busch Stadium. “To get that close to Seattle ... they’re really putting some pressure on them. They’ve got a chance.”

Of course, it’s easier to take the high road when you’re as content as Edmonds.

He has had two-plus charmed seasons in baseball-loving St. Louis, reveling in a town that embraces the Cardinals. There’s no question that the Cardinals got the better of the deal that brought Edmonds to St. Louis for pitcher Kent Bottenfield and second baseman Adam Kennedy, and Edmonds has played in the last two postseasons after watching the playoffs on TV in six-plus seasons with the Angels.

Talk about peace of mind.

“People say the mind is a powerful thing,” said Edmonds, who returned to the lineup Sunday after a stint on the disabled list because of a sprained right wrist. “I think coming to the stadium every day, and being on a good club, and having people in your corner I think that has made all the difference in the world.”

Edmonds no longer reflects on his strained past with the organization that drafted and developed him, saying he’s a different person now.

“I’m three years older and little bit more mature,” he said. “I’ve been to the postseason and I know what every game means now. I know what it’s like to be in a winning situation. It makes you grow up and it makes you become a better player under pressure. That’s something that I’ve always been; I just think I’m a little bit better than I was.

“You’ve got to remember that those people [Angel management] had been watching me since I was 17 years old. Some of those old thoughts [about him] lingered around in their heads for so long, it was hard for them to get past that. Here, they don’t have that. What you see is what you get. Being so young early probably tainted some of their views of the way I played the game.”

*

The Angels plan to recall right-hander John Lackey from triple-A Salt Lake City to start during Monday’s doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Lackey, 23, is 8-2 with a 2.70 earned-run average in 15 starts for the Stingers.

*

Reserve outfielder Julio Ramirez suffered a strained left calf chasing a fly ball in center field during batting practice, a team spokesman said.

Ramirez, who slipped on the warning track, was taken off the field in a cart and examined by Cardinal physician Stan London. He will be put on the 15-day disabled list, and the Angels will recall reliever Brendan Donnelly from Salt Lake City.... First baseman Shawn Wooten (strained muscle on right side) took batting practice and might begin a rehabilitation assignment next week.... The club has extended Salt Lake City’s contract through 2004.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

AARON SELE

(6-3, 4.97 ERA)

vs.

CARDINALS’

MATT MORRIS

(9-4, 3.09 ERA)

Busch Stadium, 4 p.m. PDT

TV--ESPN

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--The Angels turn to Sele to end a three-game losing streak--their first skid since dropping four straight from April 20-23.

Jason Reid