Players Optimistic About Talks

The news out of the players’ union meeting Monday morning in Chicago was welcomed in the Angel clubhouse Monday afternoon.

With word filtering out that the players had yet to set a strike date, the Angels considered it a positive sign that a work stoppage may be averted.

“That’s what we all hope for,” said center fielder Darin Erstad. “The head of the players’ union decides what’s best, and that’s the decision he made so hopefully that means we’re making progress.”

Angel player representative Scott Schoeneweis returned from Toronto to Anaheim with the club Sunday night but did not comment on the proceedings. Jarrod Washburn attended the meeting in his place after pitching Sunday afternoon.

“We’re encouraged with how things are going and we didn’t see the need to set a date,” said Washburn, who returned to Edison Field during the Angels’ 7-0 win over Detroit. “My gut feeling is that something is going to get worked out. Nobody wants a strike.”

Angel right fielder Tim Salmon said that not setting a strike date was a move in the right direction.

“To get all those guys in Chicago, and they didn’t come out with a strike date, I mean to me that’s an optimistic sign,” Salmon said. “That’s not just a conference call. That’s a pretty good effort, and to come out of it without [a strike date], they must have a reason for that. It will just be interesting to see how the next few days transpire.”

Said Manager Mike Scioscia: “Right now there’s enough progress in negotiations not to warrant a step of setting a strike date, but people have to realize that by no means is it out of the woods yet.”

The American League West-contending Angels have not allowed the possibility of a strike to overshadow their surprising success a year after finishing 41 games out of first place.

“Not one bit,” Erstad said.

“We don’t talk about it, and it’s something that will take care if itself, one way or the other. We can only control it to a certain point so we’re focused on playing baseball.

“I’m just concerned about playing the Tigers ... and that [strike-related] stuff, there’s people with a lot more experience that know a lot more about the issues at hand, and they can think about that stuff. I’m going to think about our team.”

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Hit on the bottom of his left hand by a pitch Saturday, Salmon took three batting practice swings Monday and decided to sit out for the second consecutive game.

“It’s still obviously sore, but the big thing is grip strength,” Salmon said. “You expect it to be sore, but if I can’t hold the bat and swing with the authority that I expect, I mean I’m not going to [test it]. Right now we’re talking two days out, so it’s not worth it.”

Racked by injuries, Salmon had career-low numbers in batting average (.227), home runs (17) and runs batted in (49) in 2001. He is currently batting .297 with 18 homers and 76 RBIs.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

AARON SELE

(8-8, 4.57 ERA)

vs.

TIGERS’

JOSE LIMA

(3-5, 6.91 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Channel 9.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--Sele is 2-0 with a 3.46 earned-run average in two starts against the Tigers this season. The right-hander, who signed with the Angels as a free agent Dec. 26, is 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA lifetime against Detroit. Lima, who will be making his fifth start since returning to the Detroit rotation on July 24, has not started against the Angels since 1995.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.