BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Lack of Attention a Treat for Snow

There are no fans flocking toward him these days for autographs. No reporters swarm him before and after game. No calls for commercial endorsements.

“It’s kind of like people forget all about you,” J.T. Snow said, “but if you want to know the truth, I think this is really what I needed. It’s been good for me, because I’ve been able to work on things without worrying about all of the other things. I mean, I haven’t talked to a reporter my whole time down here. I haven’t even seen one. And that’s been good for me, too.”

Snow is playing for triple-A Vancouver and is in Albuquerque, N.M., the club’s latest stop on the Pacific Coast League tour.

The rookie first baseman was demoted July 26 in an attempt to revive his batting stroke. After a bad start, there are signs of progress. Snow has raised his batting average from .130 to .229 in the last six days, and has struck out only once in the last 34 at-bats.

“The guy who helped me most is Joe Maddon (Angel roving hitting instructor),” Snow said. “He came to me about a week ago and told me, ‘Your mechanics are fine. You just need to work on more of a mental plan. Your whole problem is your approach at the plate.’

“He was really the first one to say that. That made me feel good because I thought all along my problem was with my swing. I realize now that I was just going up there looking for the perfect pitch, but that’s changed. Now, I’m just looking to stay ahead of the pitchers, getting ahead in the count and then look for my pitch.”

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Manager Bob Rodgers was still raving about shortstop Gary DiSarcina’s brilliant defensive plays Tuesday in the seventh inning. Most spectacular was his leaping grab of Rafael Palmeiro’s liner, and while still in the air, threw to first base to double off Doug Strange.

“I don’t see how he caught it, got the ball out of his glove, and threw it while in the air,” Rodgers said. “It was amazing.”

DiSarcina: “I didn’t know what I was doing to tell you the truth, I just jumped up and threw the ball.”