BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Rodgers, on Crutches, Addresses Team

Manager Buck Rodgers was back behind his desk in the clubhouse Thursday for a pregame visit. Rodgers, looking tan, healthy and beaming broadly, was on crutches, instead of in a wheelchair as he was for his first visit. The most obvious remaining signs of the trauma he has undergone since being injured in the team’s May 21 bus crash are a still quite-swollen right elbow and thinness, some of it from muscle atrophy.

“I’m like a marshmallow pie right now,” Rodgers said. “(But) I didn’t atrophy in the belly as much as I’d like.”

Rodgers’ chief purpose Thursday was to address his team for the first time since the accident. “I don’t want anyone to forget my name or anything like that,” he said. “Some of these kids, I haven’t been the manager since they’ve been here.”

Rodgers, who is still experiencing pain and discomfort, once hoped Thursday might mark his return to the dugout, but doctors told him mid-August was more realistic. “Aug. 7 is my new target date,” Rodgers said, acknowledging that it might be ambitious. I’m just waiting for nature to take care of things. I’ve almost quit guessing.”

Though Rodgers’ body is adjusting to being on crutches, which he began using a week ago, he chose the wheelchair for a public appearance at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda on Wednesday.

“I’d have gotten knocked around on crutches,” he said. “People get out of the way of a wheelchair.”

Rodgers said there is “no wrong time” to bring up standout prospect Tim Salmon from triple-A Edmonton, whether it is “tomorrow, mid-August or the first of September.” He did acknowledge he would like to be with the team when it happens.

“Mid-August would probably be the latest time to call him up,” he said. “Any time after the first week in August is fine. You don’t have to wait ‘til Sept. 1.”

Luis Polonia, who injured his left hand while sliding Friday night, was in the lineup at designated hitter instead of left field because he has pain when he throws. X-rays were negative. . . . Jim Abbott, who strained his lower right rib cage in his last start Saturday, says the injury feels better. It has yet to be determined if he will be ready to make his scheduled start Monday. He was to be examined Thursday by team orthopedist Lewis Yocum, as were catcher John Orton (sore right shoulder), and reliever Bryan Harvey (sore right elbow). . . . The Yankees announced Scott Kamieniecki (2-6) will start Saturday and Curt Young (1-2) will start Sunday.