Preston Gomez, who has spent a lifetime in baseball as a player coach and front-ofice executive, has shown improvment after being involved in what was being called a freak accident Wednesday. Gomez, 86, who is a special assistant in the Angels front office, was driving home from spring training early Wednesday morning when he stopped for gas in Blythe. At the gas station he ended up walking into the path of a pickup truck that was pulling in to refuel. Gomez suffered a fractured skull and was airlifted to a Palm Springs hospital.

He was initially considered to be in very serious condition, but Thursday he opened his eyes and recognized family members. No surgery was necessary, although he did recieve two units of blood Thursday.

"There is a tremendous amount of optimism," Angels spokesman Tim Mead said.