SCOTTSDALE — Do whatever it takes, George. The Yankees cannot let Jim Edmonds get away.
The desert wind whipped through the valley here yesterday, down Camelback Mountain into Scottsdale Stadium, turning fly balls into pods of adventure. None of that mattered to the muscular Edmonds as he glided around center field, calmly catching anything that came
his way, looking, for an instant, a bit like a young Mickey Mantle.
At the plate, Edmonds lashed three singles in four at-bats in the Angels’ 9-8 victory over the Giants, raising his spring average to .429. Healthy again after a year of right shoulder problems, the left-handed stroke was compact and strong, strong enough to reach the short right-field porch in Yankee Stadium or to drive the ball into the wide expanse of left-center.
Picturing the 6-1, 212-pound Edmonds in the outfield along with Bernie Williams in left and Paul O’Neill in right, with Ricky Ledee the bridge to the future, is about as close to perfection as you can get these days in baseball. Edmonds, with his movie-star looks, is a natural for New York, no matter what some people say.
Ex-teammate Jim Leyritz, who is never shy, said last week that Edmonds does not have the makeup to be a Yankee, that he would not be able to handle the pressure of New York. Asked yesterday about that by The Post, Edmonds looked his visitor square in the eye and said, “Con-
sider the source.”
So, what kind of teammate is Jim Edmonds? Angels third baseman Troy Glaus, a star on the horizon, did not hesitate. “He’ll give you the shirt off his back in a heartbeat,” Glaus said, “and I’m not just talking about him in a baseball perspective. The man will do anything he can to help you out. He’s a great, great teammate.”
Edmonds said playing for the Yankees would be special, if the opportunity presented itself. Trade talks are supposedly dead, but that only means the Yankees haven’t upped the offer enough to suit the pitching-starved Angels. Edmonds is not exactly pushing for a trade, but he will be 30 in June. He is at that point in his career where winning a championship is paramount.
The money will be there no matter where he plays, but ballplayers know the ring resides in the House That Ruth Built.
“That’s a great place to play,” Edmonds, a California Kid, said on The Bronx. “It’s a great team to play on.”
He then checked himself, saying, “I can’t say it’s a great team to play on because my loyalty is here, but that is the one good thing about all the trade talk. There are two or three teams that I’ve been rumored to be traded to that are great teams to play on, so I was pretty happy with that.”
In his baseball soul Edmonds knows he would fit into the Yankee clubhouse, which is overflowing with professionals.
“I have a lot of respect for that team,” Edmonds said. “I’ve talked to Bernie Williams a little bit and they just have a great team, I really enjoy watching them play and I would love to get a chance to play with them someday. I like it there.”
If the Yankees pull the trigger and give the Angels some pitching.Though Edmonds grew up in Diamond Bar, Calif., Keith Van Horn’s hometown, one of his best friends was a monster Yankee fan. As a result, Edmonds became a fan of the Pinstripes, particularly Don Mattingly. Like any young player, Edmonds was taken aback by New York, at first.
As players get older, they venture out of their hotel rooms more — some get tired of paying the $80 room service dinner — and begin to learn what the city is all about. Those not named John Rocker, that is.
“I admit I was a little intimidated by New York when I first came up,” Edmonds said, “but I love going there now. I love the city.”
Loves the city, loves the team, loves to win, loves the players. What’s not to love about Jim Edmonds?
In 1998 Edmonds batted .307 with 115 runs scored, 42 doubles, 25 homers and 91 RBI in 154 games. That’s production.
“Jimmy’s been nicked up the last couple of years, but when he’s healthy, you see what he means to this club, not only with the numbers he puts up and what he can do out there in center field,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We have a tremendous starting lineup. I’ll put our starting lineup out there with anyone.”
If the Yankees can get Edmonds, that lineup will be a baseball dream come true.
