Watson Hoops It Up in the Off-Season

While most pitchers spend the off-season in the weight and exercise rooms, new Angel left-hander Allen Watson adds a little more flavor to his winter training regimen--he plays basketball almost every day at his old high school, Christ the King in Queens, N.Y.

“I love basketball, it’s still my favorite sport,” said Watson, who was traded from San Francisco for first baseman J.T. Snow last November. “I’d rather sit and watch a basketball game than a baseball game.”

Watson, a career 27-33 pitcher, is still trying to fulfill the potential that came with being a first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1991, but he is undoubtedly one of baseball’s best basketball players.

In his senior year (1987-88) at Christ the King, Watson started and averaged 12 points on a team that included six future Division I players and one NBA player--Khalid Reeves (Arizona, New Jersey Nets), Derrick Phelps (North Carolina), Jamal Faulkner (Arizona State, Alabama), Carl Beckett (St. John’s), Nick Sanchez (Florida) and Carlos Easterling (Rhode Island).

That team finished 25-3 and was nationally ranked. Watson, who chose to play baseball at the New York Institute of Technology instead of basketball at St. John’s, recalled playing games in front of crowds as large as 10,000.

“I learned to deal with a lot of pressure in high school, and that goes a long way toward helping you down the road,” Watson said. “I’m not afraid of crowds.”

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The Angels have offered outfielder Garret Anderson a three-year contract, plus an option for a fourth year, but the sides are believed to be far apart on a dollar figure for the deal. Negotiations are expected to continue through the weekend. . . . Thursday night’s exhibition game against Brigham Young was rained out, robbing several young Angel pitching prospects of a chance to perform in front of the major league staff. “I know it’s just a college team, but it’s a chance to take the mound in a game situation and show them what I can do,” said Matt Perisho, a 21-year-old left-hander. “It’s not good for any of us. They say you can’t make the team in the bullpen.” . . . The Angels Thursday agreed to terms with pitcher Jason Dickson, who is bidding to become the team’s No. 5 starter, and catcher Todd Greene, who will either be a backup catcher or start the season at triple-A Vancouver, on 1997 contracts. . . . Individual regular-season game tickets will go on sale at the Anaheim Stadium box office beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Tickets, which range from $7 to $14.50, are also available through Ticketmaster at (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232.