Langston Could Be Back Next Week

The woebegone rotation could get a big boost with the return of left-hander Mark Langston, who could be starting as soon as next week.

Langston, sidelined since undergoing surgery on his right knee May 8, will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum today. If Yocum likes Langston’s progress, he could make a rehab start for Class-A Lake Elsinore on Sunday. If that goes well, the Angels could have their No. 2 starter back next week--about two weeks earlier than the most optimistic estimate.

“I think it’s realistic if there are no setbacks,” said Langston, 2-1 with a 3.65 earned-run average in six starts before having surgery to repair torn cartilage. “I’ve never had knee surgery. When they said it was going to be six to eight weeks, I just assumed it was going to be that. It’s definitely a lot quicker than I imagined.”

Angel starters are 2-9 since Langston was injured and he found watching the 2-6 trip to Boston, New York and Baltimore difficult.

“We’ve got to do a better job,” he said. “And that’s everybody in this clubhouse. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘It’s time to play.’

“I’m sure you could say it’s the pitching, but we haven’t clicked on any cylinders yet. There’s two-thirds of the season left to turn it around. That’s plenty of time.”

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Tony Tavares, new Angel president, said luring fans back to Anaheim Stadium might prove more difficult than attracting new ones when the NHL’s Mighty Ducks started three years ago.

“I don’t think just because the Walt Disney Co. bought this team means fans will flock to the stadium,” he said. “Getting fans back in the seats [is a priority], but you don’t do that with a magic wand [and say], ‘Hi, I’m Mickey Mouse, come to the ballpark.’ ”

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Reliever Bryan Harvey, sidelined after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, is scheduled to be examined by Yocum today. . . . Reliever Mark Eichhorn, on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right shoulder since May 16, threw for 10 minutes in the bullpen before the game and felt no pain. . . . Right-hander Steve Ontiveros, out because of elbow trouble, has made significant progress in the past two weeks, Manager Marcel Lachemann said. It’s still too early to know when Ontiveros will be sound enough to make a rehab start.