Salmon’s Status Is Uncertain

The Angels are in the process of researching the foot injury that has sidelined Tim Salmon since April 22, and the initial findings aren’t that encouraging.

Both St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire and Minnesota left fielder Marty Cordova had injuries similar to Salmon, who suffered a partial tear of the plantar fascia ligament in his left foot.

McGwire sat out more than three months of the 1993 season in Oakland before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a partial tear of the fascia in his left heel that September, and Cordova missed a month and a half of the 1997 season because of plantar fascitis in his left foot.

This was sobering news to Salmon, who hopes to return to the lineup as the Angels’ designated hitter this weekend but said Tuesday it will be “several weeks” before he’ll be able to play right field again.

“That’s the reality, the seriousness, of what we’re talking about,” said Salmon, who was able to do 10 short sprints in a straight line Tuesday. “It’s not just a sore muscle, something I can go out there with after taking two Tylenol. It forces you to be more patient.”

Angel athletic trainer Ned Bergert hopes to contact team physicians and trainers in Oakland and Minnesota over the next few days to see if they have any suggestions for treatment or rehabilitation exercises.

“We want to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Manager Terry Collins said. “We’re open to advice.”

Doctors have told Salmon that the length of his absence depends on the extent of the tear.

“Hopefully I didn’t injure it as badly as those guys,” Salmon said. “But I’m definitely not going to be 100% in three days. The hope is I’ll be able to go out there in a limited role, like the DH. That’s what I’m shooting for.”

*

The Angels went one for two in the trainers’ room Tuesday. X-rays on pitcher Allen Watson’s left heel, which was struck by a Ray Durham liner Monday night, were negative, and the left-hander will not miss a start.

But an MRI exam on reliever Mike James’ elbow revealed a partial tear of the flexor tendon, and there’s a good chance the right-hander, injured Monday night, will be placed on the disabled list this week.

Doctors told Collins that James, who missed most of last July because of a strained right elbow, might be well enough to throw in a few days, but the Angels brought triple-A left-hander Jarrod Washburn to Anaheim Tuesday as a precaution.

Washburn, who is 2-0 with a 3.62 earned-run average in four starts for Vancouver, was not activated, but there’s an outside chance he could start Friday night against Detroit.

Chuck Finley, recovering from a bruised left elbow, was pushed back from Friday to Saturday, and Jason Dickson, Friday’s likely starter, was needed to bolster the bullpen Tuesday night.

*

Watson looked like a goalie making a kick save when he was hit by Durham’s liner but vowed not to let the injury change his approach. “I always try to kick-save [balls like that],” Watson said. “I finally got one--usually they go into center field. Outs are hard to get, so you try anything you can.” . . . Some good news on the injury front: Jack McDowell, on the disabled list because of an inflamed elbow, played catch Tuesday and said he felt great. . . . To make room for reliever Greg Cadaret on their 40-man roster, the Angels have designated triple-A pitcher William VanLandingham for assignment, meaning the Angels will have 10 days to trade, release or retain him in the minor leagues.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (1-0, 2.70 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’ ERIK HANSON (0-1, 5.01 ERA)

Edison Field, 7:30 p.m.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--The Angel training staff may be the busiest in baseball. In addition to the four players (Salmon, McDowell, Todd Greene and Randy Velarde) on the disabled list and the three injured pitchers (Finley, James and Watson), trainers have had to tend to catcher Matt Walbeck, who suffered a minor hamstring injury Monday night, and center fielder Jim Edmonds (wrist) and designated hitter Cecil Fielder (thumb), who are nursing nagging injuries. “I tell you, this is unbelievable,” Collins said. “There are no disasters, but it leaves you in limbo all the time.”

Tickets--(714) 634-2000.