Salmon Is Left to Ponder

Batting instructor Mickey Hatcher had no idea that Tim Salmon was hitless in 30 at-bats against left-handers this season. The Angels’ designated hitter, however, did not need to be reminded.

“As a hitter, you know,” said Salmon, who went 0 for 3 against Oakland left-hander Mark Mulder in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the A’s. “You think, ‘How does that happen?’ I’ve hit lefties my whole life, and all of a sudden I can’t figure them out anymore? I can’t explain it.”

Hatcher believes an inflamed left knee, which sidelined Salmon from April 30-June 8, contributed to his struggles, but Salmon, a notoriously slow starter who had a .271 average against lefties before this season, wouldn’t use that as an excuse.

“I don’t know if it’s the angles I’m taking, but something isn’t right,” Salmon said. “Everything I swing at, I foul off or pop to right field. It’s almost like I’m starting my swing late or something.”

Salmon’s struggles are troublesome, considering he is sharing DH duties with switch-hitting Jeff DaVanon and starts against left-handers. And with Raul Mondesi (right quadriceps tear) expected back by the All-Star break, Salmon might be in jeopardy of losing more at-bats.

But he saw one sign of encouragement Thursday. After grounding into a double play in the fifth and booting a water cooler in frustration, Salmon came back in the seventh and smoked a liner that center fielder Mark Kotsay caught. It probably was the hardest ball the Angels hit off Mulder all day.

“I’m trying to figure it out,” said Salmon, who plans to take more batting practice against third-base coach Ron Roenicke, who throws left-handed. “Early on, I was trying to find my swing, and I’m so much more comfortable against right-handers because you just don’t see left-handers much. And the ones you do see early are [Barry] Zito, Mulder, [Jamie] Moyer ... they’re not going to get you locked in.”

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After throwing a 30-pitch simulated game, closer Troy Percival, out since June 6 because of an inflamed elbow, declared himself ready to be activated for Saturday’s game against the Dodgers. Catcher Josh Paul, one of two batters to hit against Percival, agreed.

“The biggest thing for me is, he had a good breaking ball; it was nice and tight,” Paul said. “His velocity is fine, and he had good life on his fastball. To me, it looks like he’s game-ready.”

Manager Mike Scioscia seemed concerned that Percival wasn’t hitting the outside corner with his fastball consistently, so after the simulated game, Percival threw three or four pitches to the outside corner.

Scioscia said he will decide today whether Percival would be activated Saturday.

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The novelty of the Freeway Series rivalry between the Dodgers and Angels might have worn off, but Scioscia, the former Dodger catcher who won two World Series rings with Los Angeles, says it will still be special to walk into Dodger Stadium for tonight’s game.

“It’s a great place, a special place, and the memories when I walk into that stadium come alive, no doubt,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to play with a great organization, with some players who are in the Hall of Fame now, and an organization that always placed an emphasis on catching.”

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Darin Erstad, who left Wednesday night’s game in the second inning after dislocating a knuckle on the middle finger of his right hand on a checked swing, was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum. The team physician determined that the tendon in Erstad’s finger slipped out of -- and then back into -- position. Erstad, who had some swelling and soreness in the finger, is listed as day to day.