From Edmonton, Salmon Is Watching, Waiting for Angels : Baseball: He stays busy putting together statistics that could bring him the Pacific Coast League Triple Crown.

Tim Salmon has been patient with the Angels. So have Angel fans.

Now, it looks as if all concerned may be rewarded.

Within the last 10 days, the Angels have changed their stance on Salmon, 23, a triple-A right fielder who has lit up the Pacific Coast League with Triple Crown-type numbers.

Originally planning to leave him in Edmonton for a full minor league season, then call him up when the rosters expand in September, the Angels’ lack of offense has prompted them to consider bringing him up sooner.

“I’ve been hearing all the questions about when am I going to get called up,� Salmon said from Edmonton. “I don’t know. The only feedback I’ve gotten (from the Angels) is just to keep doing what I’m doing and be patient.�

What he has been doing is leading the PCL with 19 home runs and 82 runs batted in. He is second in batting with a .365 average, trailing Tacoma’s Troy Neel (.387), who was called upto the Oakland Athletics on July 1.

The PCL hasn’t had a Triple Crown winner since 1981, when former Dodger Mike Marshall, playing for Albuquerque, hit .373, with 34 homers and 137 RBIs.

Salmon, who was selected to start in the triple-A All-Star game today at Richmond, Va., would rather not think about a Triple Crown, though.

“It’s not my goal or anything like that,� Salmon said. “I just wanted to have a consistent year, and if the Triple Crown is there, great. I’m not a real stats person. I never have been. In fact, I’ve been made aware of them mostly by (sportswriters).�

Salmon’s hitting has earned him added attention because of the Angels’ need for a right-handed outfielder who can hit for both power and average. The team spent the last off-season pursuing free agents Bobby Bonilla and Danny Tartabull.

The Angels had an opportunity to promote Salmon when Hubie Brooks was put on the disabled list June 22.

But Salmon’s phone didn’t ring.

“You hear stuff about trades and guys going on the DL, but that’s not for me to worry about,� he said.

Salmon simply plays. And improves.

In three previous minor league seasons, Salmon hit .253 with 33 homers and 162 RBIs. He started to break out with power numbers last season at double-A Midland in the Texas League, where he hit 23 homers and drove in 94 runs in 131 games.

That was his first full season as a pro. Salmon, who is 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds, played in a short-season league in 1989, and his 1990 season was shortened by 3 1/2 months when a pitch hit him in the jaw.

Born in Long Beach, he went to high school in Phoenix and was a third-round draft pick from Grand Canyon College in 1989, Salmon is the older brother of Mike Salmon, who plays defensive back at USC.

Tim said his recent success is a result of relaxing at the plate.

“When you swing the bat, there are a lot of checkpoints to worry about,� he said. “Coming up in the minor leagues, there are a lot of adjustments to make. I had a tendency to worry too much about those things. Now, I have more confidence in the things I’m doing mechanically in my swing.

“I’m just basically seeing the ball and hitting it.�

Edmonton Manager Max Oliveras said Salmon is an excellent outfielder, and that he has been surprised at how well Salmon has adjusted in his first year against triple-A pitching.

“He’s the total package,� Oliveras said. “Right now, I’d be happy if they left him here for the rest of the year.�

That may be too much to ask.

Regardless of when Salmon is called up, the circumstances would seem to indicate that he could be in the outfield at Anaheim Stadium next season, with veteran outfielders Von Hayes and Brooks becoming free agents after this season. But Salmon is taking nothing for granted.

“Nothing is for sure in this game,� he said. “I can’t look at that and say I’ll be a starting outfielder next year. I’m not concerned with that. I think the way I’m playing now, I’ll get my opportunity.

“I’m realistic. I understand that (the Angels are) a struggling team. . . . I don’t see myself going in there and being some savior for the team. But I feel I’m ready to go there and take (my play) to that next level.�