Injured Angels Getting Closer to Comebacks

Angel Manger Terry Collins is excited, and for good reason. Make that reasons. Cleanup batter Tim Salmon, out since May 3 because of sprained left wrist, will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Lake Elsinore tonight and hopes to return to the Angels for Wednesday’s game at Texas.

Center fielder Jim Edmonds, out all season because of shoulder surgery, took batting practice Thursday and probably will begin a rehab assignment next week. He could return by the end of the month.

Ken Hill, on the disabled list since July 1, will start Monday against San Diego. X-rays of Tim Belcher’s right pinky finger Wednesday showed the broken bones are aligned and healing properly. Belcher played catch Wednesday and will pick up the pace next week.

Reserve outfielder Matt Luke, out since June 26 because of a back injury, is hitting off a tee and will begin batting practice Sunday.

Reliever Mike James, out for more than a year because of shoulder and elbow surgery, threw 60 pitches, including sliders for the first time, Wednesday. Reserve catcher Charlie O’Brien, out since June 3, is hitting again.

“We’re at step one,” Collins said, “of better things to come.”

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Salmon wanted to bypass the minor leagues, but he acquiesced to Collins’ request to play at least a handful of games for Lake Elsinore. “If he checks his swing and it hurts,” Collins said, “I want him to do that down there.”

Salmon took 70 batting-practice swings Thursday against Collins, “and he’s the hardest-throwing coach we have,” Salmon said. “I hit a few balls to left field, so it was a pretty good day. There’s no hesitation. But you know you’re a little weak because you can’t get to balls out of the strike zone.”

Salmon has been participating in rigorous baserunning and outfield drills. Though he will be designated hitter for a game or two at Lake Elsinore, he hopes to return in his usual right-field spot by the weekend.

“It’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed each day--that’s a sign that you’re playing again,” Salmon said. “You wake up, feel a sore muscle in your back and think, ‘Oh yeah, I used that muscle again.’ It feels like the first week of spring training.”

Collins is more concerned with Salmon’s health than performance.

“I don’t care if he’s 0 for 5 or five for five, that’s not the issue,” Collins said. “It’s how he feels, how his timing is, how his bat speed is.”

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Jack McDowell, pitching for Lake Elsinore, was hit hard Thursday in a 7-4 loss to Lancaster, giving up six earned runs in 7 1/3 innings.

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There seems to be a difference of opinion about when Dodger reliever Antonio Osuna will be activated from the disabled list.

Osuna, recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery, said Thursday that he expects to rejoin the club next Wednesday. Dodger officials, though, haven’t agreed to Osuna’s timetable.

The right-hander recently experienced stiffness in his throwing elbow during a rehabilitation outing with Class-A San Bernardino, and the Dodgers are exercising caution.

“I don’t think he’ll throw [today],” Manager Davey Johnson said. “I think he’ll take a couple of days off at least.”

No way, Osuna said.

“I feel almost ready to come back,” said Osuna, who accompanied the Dodgers to Edison Field on Thursday to undergo therapy. “I’ll go back [to San Bernardino] and throw one or two innings [today] against Modesto, and then I think it will take me only one or two more outings to be ready.

“I don’t feel great right now, I don’t feel 100%, but I feel all right. My fastball is 90-92 [mph] right now, I’ve got a good breaking ball and a good changeup. I think I’ll be OK.”

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Right fielder Raul Mondesi and pitcher Carlos Perez were fined undisclosed amounts for missing a mandatory workout Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

The struggling players were the only ones who failed to attend the workout without permission. Johnson excused left fielder Gary Sheffield from the one-hour session because he was returning to Los Angeles from Tuesday’s All-Star game at Boston.

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Angel Pena said he’s done trying to be a peacemaker.

The rookie catcher strained his left forearm Sunday while trying to prevent Seattle Mariner first baseman David Segui from fighting during a brawl between the teams at Dodger Stadium. His condition improved during the All-Star break.

“I was just trying to hold Segui, and then I felt something pop,” said Pena, who started Thursday. “That fight was crazy. We had fights in the minor leagues, but nothing like that. I’ve never been in anything like that.”