Snow Slowly Getting Back in Swing

ARLINGTON, Tex. —  There are no fans flocking around him these days for autographs. No reporters swarm him before and after the game. No calls for commercial endorsements.

“It’s kind of like people forget all about you,” Vancouver first baseman J.T. Snow said by phone from Albuquerque, N.M., “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 these days for triple-A Vancouver, and currently is in Albuquerque, the latest stop on the Pacific Coast League tour.

The Angels demoted him July 26 to Vancouver, in an attempt to revive his batting stroke. After a horrendous start at Vancouver, there are signs of progress. Snow has raised his batting average from .130 to .213 in the last six days, and most impressive, 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.

“I think I’ll be all right.”