Collins Enthusiastically Fills Blank Spot With Salmon

Manager Terry Collins had just filled out his lineup card, leaving the cleanup spot blank, when the phone rang in his office Thursday afternoon. It was Tim Salmon, who was hit so hard by a Justin Baughman foul ball Wednesday night that teammate Cecil Fielder said he “thought somebody shot him.”

Salmon was leading off third when the liner drilled him on the inside of the left knee, sending Salmon to the ground, writhing in pain, and eventually to a hospital for X-rays. Collins said he “would have bet huge money” that Salmon would be out for at least three days.

Guess who hit fourth for the Angels on Thursday night?

“I was shocked when he told me he wanted to play,” Collins said. “You want to know why this is a good team? Because we have guys like him on it.”

Salmon, who has been hobbled by a partially torn ligament in his left foot, said he was fortunate the ball just missed his kneecap. X-rays were negative, and the knee was still tender Thursday night.

“But it’s not going to make me any slower,” Salmon said. “I figured if I can swing and stand up, why not give it a shot? I guess a few guys were disappointed--they thought that designated hitter spot was going to open up for a few nights. Sorry, guys.”

Salmon said he “couldn’t feel anything” around the knee for a few minutes after getting hit, and Collins said Salmon was in so much pain “he couldn’t even speak.” That didn’t stop his teammates from razzing him, though.

“Man, if I stayed on the ground like that for 10 minutes,” Fielder joked, “I wouldn’t have played today.”

*

An MRI test on reliever Mike James’ right forearm Thursday showed no improvement, and Dr. Lewis Yocum, team physician, is recommending that James undergo season-ending exploratory surgery this month. James has been on the disabled list since May 5 because of a partial tear of the flexor muscle in his right forearm.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Oakland Athletics, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7:30.

* TV--ESPN tonight, FX Saturday.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090), KIK-FM (94.3).

* Records--Angels 49-34, A’s 38-45.

* Record vs. A’s--3-0.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES

(5-3, 2.95 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ TOM CANDIOTTI

(4-10, 5.07 ERA)

* Update--Second baseman Randy Velarde, trying to rebound from an elbow injury that sidelined him for all of 1997 and has limited him to two games this season, began working out at first base Thursday, in hopes of increasing his versatility should he return this summer. As one might expect, Velarde did not become a Gold Glover-caliber first baseman in one day. “It was like I had two left feet out there,” said Velarde, who has never played first. “It sure is different. You’ve got to synchronize catching the ball and tagging the base without leaving your foot exposed.”

* Saturday, 6 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (4-0, 3.38) vs. Mike Oquist (4-5, 5.87).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Chuck Finley (8-4, 3.05) vs. Jimmy Haynes (6-3, 4.04).

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.