Reunion in the Outfield

There was a new look to the Angels--Garret Anderson in left field, Jim Edmonds in center and Tim Salmon in right.

It was the first time in 251 games that the three had played in the outfield at the same time. Their last appearance was April 22, 1998, when Salmon suffered a torn ligament in his left foot, which reduced him to designated hitter for the rest of the season.

“It was among the best [outfields] in the American League for three years,” Manager Terry Collins said.

That was then, this is now.

Edmonds missed four months this season after shoulder surgery. Salmon is still bothered by a sore left wrist that cost him 62 games. Anderson, the healthiest of the three, missed the last two games because of a sprained ankle.

Anderson showed his ankle was fine in the fifth inning, when he chased down Roberto Alomar’s line drive at the warning track. But it will be a while before Salmon and Edmonds can play up to their abilities.

“The doctors have told me that it sometimes takes four months for an injury like this to heal,” Salmon said. “I talked to some other players who have had wrist injuries and they all said it tends to linger. It may not be better until spring training.”

Edmonds is in a similar situation, returning from shoulder surgery. He pleaded with Collins and Dr. Lewis Yocum to let him play in the outfield on Aug. 2, his first day back. They were adamant that Edmonds play only designated hitter, then Anderson was injured.

Edmonds had one scary moment Monday when he dropped his bat in pain after swinging and missing a pitch in the seventh. Collins went out to check on him and Edmonds said he was OK.

Now the three are back, which makes Collins happy . . . and concerned.

“With the situation we’re in, we want to make sure that no one over does it, where some one like Jim re-injures himself,” Collins said.

*

First baseman Mo Vaughn, who has gone into stealth-mode since coming down with a staph infection, said through a team spokesman that he planned to be back in the lineup today.

Vaughn has missed six games because of the infection and has been dodging reporters. If Vaughn returns to first base today, Collins will have the same problem he had in spring training. Four outfielders, three outfield positions.

Collins said he will probably rotate Darin Erstad, who has played first base the last six games, Anderson, Salmon, Edmonds and Vaughn at designated hitter.

*

Jack McDowell, former Cy Young Award winner, was released by the Angels Monday. Lou Pote, who was 7-9 with a 4.50 earned-run average at triple-A Edmonton, was called up.

McDowell pitched four games for the Angels after coming back from shoulder surgery. He lost all four, including Sunday, when he gave up five runs in four innings.

It could be the end of an 11-year career. McDowell said after Sunday’s game that if he is not picked up by another club this season, he would probably not be back next season.

“Jack is just a great guy to have on a team because he tells it like it is,” pitcher Chuck Finley said. “There’s a tendency to disappear when you’re on the disabled list. If you’re not playing, you don’t think you should say anything. That wasn’t Jack. He always had something he wanted to give to some one.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

CHUCK FINLEY

(6-10, 5.48 ERA)

vs.

INDIANS’

MARK LANGSTON

(1-1, 4.99 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

Television--Fox Sports West. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--A little more than a week ago, Finley was on the verge of being traded to the Indians. In fact, Langston was pushing for the deal. Now these friends and former teammates face each other. “I haven’t really thought about it,” Finley said. “We faced each other a couple times when he was with Seattle.”

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000