Erstad’s Progress Remains Stalled

With Darin Erstad’s return from tendinitis in his right hamstring no more imminent than it was a week ago, frustration has started to set in for the Angel center fielder. After expressing optimism about a speedy return the first few weeks after the injury, Erstad now almost seems resigned to having little idea when he might rejoin the lineup.

Not that Erstad and the Angels aren’t trying everything in their power to get the team leader back on the field for the first time since April 19. Erstad is undergoing an extensive rehabilitation program and has been evaluated by doctors from Cleveland to Nebraska to Southern California.

“We’ve had baseball people look at it, we’ve had football people look at it,” said Erstad, who received a cortisone injection on Tuesday. “Everybody says the same thing. The way I understand it, the big problem is there’s no blood flow there. Obviously, it’s tough to heal something if your body’s not able to fight it. It takes longer.”

The Angels plan to send Erstad on a minor league rehabilitation assignment once his injury has healed sufficiently. Though there is no timetable for such a move, there also are no plans to shake up the roster.

Manager Mike Scioscia expressed doubt as to whether anyone outside the Angel organization could fill the void and said he didn’t feel the need to shift Garret Anderson over from left field. Eric Owens and Jeff DaVanon will continue to rotate in center field for the time being.

“Nothing’s come up as far as anything we’re looking at that we feel is going to make us a better club right now,” Scioscia said. “Owens and DaVanon, although they haven’t statistically filled the void, if you look at the last six or seven games they’ve really picked it up. That has a positive impact because they’re filling a void that really is a big part of our club.”

DaVanon recorded a career-high three hits last week in a game against the New York Yankees, and Owens had hit safely in four of his last five games before the Angels played the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday at Edison Field.

Erstad, who continues to take batting practice and run in the outfield, said he would be able to tell when he has recuperated sufficiently to start playing again.

“I’ll put the hammer down and I’ll turn around and go, ‘I’m going to rehab,’ ” he said. “It’s going to be like that.”

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Scioscia said designating Brendan Donnelly as Troy Percival’s setup man should allow Francisco Rodriguez “a chance to come in, work on some pitches maybe in a situation where the downside isn’t as critical.”

Rodriguez, the postseason phenom who hasn’t quite lived up to the hype in his first full major league season, is refining his delivery after compiling a 4.98 earned-run average in his first 14 appearances.

“I don’t think he’s pitched as bad as maybe a lot of people perceive,” Scioscia said, “but he’s definitely not locked in like he can be.”