Aggravating Shoulder Injury Makes Edmonds Think Twice

Jim Edmonds has had surgery on both of his knees and extensive treatment the past three years for a strained lower rib cage, abdomen and groin, plus a sprained right thumb.

But after aggravating his right shoulder lifting weights Saturday, the Angel center fielder now wishes he would have undergone one more medical procedure this past winter.

“My right shoulder has been irritated for three or four years, and it bothered me all winter,” said Edmonds, who is on the disabled list until at least Wednesday. “I finally get healthy and this happens. That’s one more thing that makes me want to get the shoulder fixed.”

There was some question as to why Edmonds, who was sidelined with groin and lower back injuries last weekend, was in the weight room Saturday, but Edmonds said the reason he has been able to play for so long despite the shoulder problem is that he has kept it strong.

“In the past, it’s gotten weak at the end of the year--that’s when you see me take those one-handed swings,” Edmonds said. “The shame of this whole deal is I probably could have played [Tuesday] night if I hadn’t aggravated my shoulder.

“If I had a lazy Saturday afternoon and didn’t want to work out, I’d be in the lineup. If Gary [DiSarcina] didn’t come to spring training a day early [when a bone in his forearm was broken] he’d be in the lineup. [Stuff] happens.”

Edmonds said he will likely undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder after this season. He still hadn’t decided as of Wednesday night whether to have a ganglion cyst that is buried in a muscle behind his right shoulder drained or to let it go untreated for the season.

*

The Angels’ starter at first base Wednesday night played zero games at the position and took zero ground balls in the infield during spring training.

“My first baseman’s glove didn’t even leave my locker,” Darin Erstad said. “The only time I was in the infield was when I was running to the outfield.”

But with Mo Vaughn out indefinitely because of an ankle sprain, Manager Terry Collins shifted Erstad from left field back to first base, a position he did not play until 1997 with the Angels. By 1998, he had become fairly proficient at the position.

“Everyone keeps telling me it’s like riding a bike,” Erstad said, “but I only had the training wheels taken off last year.”

Erstad took about 15 minutes of extra ground balls before batting practice and said he felt comfortable.

“He’s an athlete,” Collins said. “I watched him take ground balls, and he’s fine.”

*

Vaughn said he felt no ill will toward the Indians, none of whom spotted the Angel first baseman as he crashed into their dugout pursuing Omar Vizquel’s popup Tuesday night.

“I don’t look at what Cleveland did or didn’t do,” Vaughn said. “I’ve got to look out for myself.”

Edmonds, however, said he felt the Indians “could have given Mo a little more help over there.”

Said Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove: “Nobody wants to see anyone get hurt like that, but I think we were all so shocked that he came right over and jumped in like that, that no one had time to react.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ STEVE SPARKS (9-4, 4.35 ERA in 1998)

vs.

INDIANS’ BARTOLO COLON (14-9, 3.71 ERA in 1998)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net, Radio--KLAC (570)

* Update--Indian left fielder David Justice, who did not start Wednesday because of a strained calf, is expected to return for tonight’s series finale. Sparks, the Angel knuckleballer, gave up eight earned runs in 12 innings against the Indians last season but won both of his decisions. Angel reliever Mike Magnante is available again. He had been sidelined because only two of the four stitches in his pitching hand have been removed. Magnante, who was hit by a line drive in the team’s final Cactus League game, hopes to be ready tonight.