Advertisement

Surgery Remains Option for Glaus

Share
Times Staff Writer

Troy Glaus has resumed throwing and said he is confident he will be ready for the start of spring training next season regardless of whether the torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder requires surgery.

“Either way, I’ll be ready to go,” said the Angel third baseman, sidelined nearly two months since landing awkwardly on the artificial surface at Tropicana Field.

Glaus, who batted .248 with 16 home runs and 50 runs batted in in 91 games, said he would wait to see how his arm responds to workouts before deciding whether to undergo surgery. Manager Mike Scioscia said a decision is expected within three weeks.

Advertisement

Glaus said he does not know how much recovery time surgery would necessitate.

“It all depends on how damaged [the shoulder] is,” he said. “MRIs show some of the story, but the only way they truly know is to go in and see [during surgery]. If I’m all right without them going in and seeing it, that’s the way I’m going to try to keep it.”

Glaus resumed throwing Monday from 30 feet and said he would lengthen the distance as soon as he regained additional strength in the shoulder.

“It’s going to take awhile,” he said. “But I’ve got nothing but time right now.”

*

One encouraging sign for Darin Erstad in his recovery from chronic tendinitis in his right hamstring is that he feels more confident running now than he did upon his initial attempts to return from the disabled list in June.

“It’s night and day,” said Erstad, who went back on the disabled list in early August and hasn’t played since. “It’s just a lot better.”

Erstad continues to undergo intensive massage therapy to break up scar tissue in his leg and has been told that the treatment is working. The center fielder has resumed running the bases and plans to further test his hamstring this weekend by catching fly balls.

“We’re going to work very hard with Ersty to do as many things as close to live action as we can to test his leg,” Scioscia said. “If it gets to the point where he’s comfortable playing in the game, that’s great. If he’s making progress and we’re running out of time, so be it.

Advertisement

“The important thing for us is to get Ersty simulating game activities as much as possible to get feedback of how his leg is and how it responds the next day.”

*

Oakland owner Steve Schott told USA Today that the Athletics would make a contract proposal to potential free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada, who has drawn interest from the Angels. “We’re going to talk to him and make a proposal,” Schott told the newspaper. “We know we cannot match offers from teams in larger markets. It’s not going to be easy.” Schott had said before the season that the Athletics would not make an offer to keep Tejada, the reigning American League MVP.... Scott Spiezio established a career record in the fourth inning with his 35th double.

Advertisement