Wobble on Road Back Doesn’t Faze Dickson

Jason Dickson said it was “like riding a bike,” and even though the tires seemed a little deflated Tuesday, the Angel pitcher still enjoyed the trip.

Sure, he gave up three runs and five hits during a rocky inning in Tuesday’s intrasquad game, but after everything Dickson went through in the past year, the right-hander was simply glad to be pitching in a competitive game again.

Dickson, who went 13-9 and made the American League all-star team as a rookie in 1997, was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis toward the end of 1998. He pitched through some pain, figuring he’d have the winter to recover, but when he reported to spring training in 1999 he felt no better.

“Then one day I couldn’t play catch anymore,” Dickson said. “I really didn’t know what was wrong [in 1998]. There was obviously more to it than tendinitis, but if you’ve never experienced an injury like that, you really don’t know.”

A small tear was discovered in some shoulder cartilage, Dickson underwent surgery last March and sat out the 1999 season. He struggled during instructional league play last fall, but five weeks off in November and December helped the mending process.

Dickson began throwing in January, and he believes he’s sound enough to win back his old spot in the rotation this spring.

“You never know how you’re going to do, but I feel healthy, just like I did in 1997,” Dickson said. “I haven’t pushed it that hard, but I can tell there’s more there. It’s more of a mental thing. You did the rehabilitation, you know you’re strong, you just have to trust your stuff.”

Dickson’s first game back was hardly memorable--he gave up singles to Gary DiSarcina, Justin Baughman, Jim Edmonds, Mo Vaughn and Tim Salmon--but Manager Mike Scioscia saw signs of encouragement.

“I was pleased because his velocity was there,” Scioscia said. “He threw a couple of electric fastballs. He’s just not as fine-tuned as he should be because he’s been out for so long.”

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Ken Hill and Ramon Ortiz were the most impressive pitchers Tuesday, each retiring the side in order during his inning. Hill blew a fastball past Vaughn for a strikeout, and Ortiz caught Pat Kelly looking with a nice fastball for a strikeout.