BIGGER & BETTER: Don’t talk to Angels...

BIGGER & BETTER: Don’t talk to Angels outfielder Tim Salmon about any sophomore jinx. The American League 1993 Rookie of the Year’s numbers are up in every category this year, including a 30-point jump in his batting average. . . . Escaping injury--which hurt his statistics at the end of last season--Salmon should easily have 100-plus runs batted in and a 30 home-run year. That hasn’t happened for the Angels since 1987, when Wally Joyner hit 34 homers and had 117 RBIs.

TOO LAID-BACK? Hollywood knows how blase the locals can be about the movie biz. . . . Director William Dear explained to Premiere magazine that’s why he shot the new Disney movie about the California Angels--”Angels in the Outfield” at Oakland Stadium instead of the Big A in Anaheim: “We needed to conjure up vast amounts of crowds. You do that in (Southern California), everybody goes, ‘Uh-huh. Not today, thank you.’ ”

SHOPPING AROUND? After 20 years in downtown Fullerton, the Blue Frog, a landmark consignment shop for craftspeople and artists, faces closure June 25. Reason: Co-owner Cindy Kendrick’s two partners are retiring, and no replacements have been found. “When you’re not ready to retire, it’s hard to let go,” she says. . . . Run as an artists’ cooperative, the shop represents 300 artists working in pottery, painting and other media. The store at 129 N. Euclid St. will have a farewell party-sale Saturday.

AN ORANGE CRUSH: After three months as Orange city manager, David F. Dixon saw a need for more “fun” at the normally staid city meetings. So this week he brought each council member a basket filled with $8 worth of goodies--a visor, soda, candy, a yo-yo, tea and shoelaces--all of them orange. Wife Betsy helped--to promote Orange pride. . . . Councilman Mike Spurgeon responded, smiling: “The nice thing about it is that you don’t have to declare it.”

No Sophomore Jinx

1993 Rookie of the Year Tim Salmon is producing impressive second-year numbers for the Angels. Through June 2 for 1993 and 1994:

1993 1994 Hits 35 63 Home runs 10 11 RBIs 34 41 Batting average .280 .310

Source: California Angels