Knee Injury May Send Salmon to Disabled List

Manager Mike Scioscia says Tim Salmon’s left knee is “a little cranky.” The designated hitter’s bat isn’t in a particularly good mood, either -- Salmon is batting .188 -- but it was his knee and not his offensive struggles that landed him on the bench Friday night and could send him to the disabled list this weekend.

An MRI test Friday revealed some inflammation in Salmon’s knee cartilage, a condition that is not related to the surgery Salmon had after the 2002 season but is a repeat of the injury that sidelined him for four games from April 20-23.

Salmon said he would need at least three days to recover, but with shortstop David Eckstein out with a groin strain and Troy Glaus possibly needing a day or two off from playing third base because of a sore left shoulder, the Angels can’t afford to keep many more inactive players on their active roster.

Asked what his chances were of going on the DL, Salmon said, “Based on the questions Scioscia was asking me, there’s a chance. It comes down to whether they can carry me for five or six days. He knows I’d like to go day to day, but I know his hands are tied right now. If everyone was healthy, I could take up some roster space. We’ll see.”

Salmon was told by doctors Friday that if he “takes care” of the injury now, “they’re confident I’ll be fine” in the long term. Salmon admitted the best course of action may be to take a week or two off and give his knee time to heal properly.

“I took four days before and was better, then I came back and it got worse,” said Salmon, who is having trouble pivoting on his front leg when he hits. “If I don’t give it the time it needs, do I play with it and not be productive?

“There’s a side of me that thinks that” it would be best to take a week or two off, “but I don’t want to think like that. I want to minimize the down time. It’s their decision.”

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As expected, Kelvim Escobar was scratched from today’s start against the Twins because of a split fingernail on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Right-hander Aaron Sele, who has a 15-4 career record and 3.47 earned-run average against Minnesota, will start in Escobar’s place.

Scioscia chose Sele over Kevin Gregg because he believes Gregg, who has an ERA of 0.59 in 15 1/3 innings, could be more valuable over the weekend working out of the bullpen.

Escobar is scheduled to throw in the bullpen this weekend, and Scioscia hopes to fold him back into the rotation Tuesday or Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers in Anaheim.

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Eckstein, out since Wednesday because of a right groin strain, went through a complete workout Friday afternoon and hopes to return by Sunday or Monday.

“It felt a lot better, I’m very close, but they want to be a little cautious so I don’t aggravate it,” Eckstein said.

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Reliever Brendan Donnelly, recovering from complications stemming from a broken nose, needed only 11 pitches to complete an inning during an extended spring-training game in Mesa, Ariz., on Thursday. He is scheduled to throw another inning today and probably will start a minor league rehabilitation assignment at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga next week.