Opening Day Has a Different Feeling for Salmon

Batting instructor Mickey Hatcher noticed the throng of reporters around Tim Salmon’s locker, which is tucked in a back corner of the Angel clubhouse, perhaps fittingly next to an unoccupied cubicle labeled “Lost and Found,” and couldn’t resist a wisecrack.

“Salmon’s in the house,” Hatcher roared. “Must be payday.”

Salmon chuckled. It was good to be back amid the banter of the clubhouse, standing in the outfield during batting practice, putting the uniform on and hobbling to the third base line for pregame introductions for Tuesday night’s season opener against the Texas Rangers.

But it was also an emotionally taxing time for Salmon, the veteran outfielder who will sit out most of the season while recovering from surgeries on his left shoulder and left knee, and whose string of 12 consecutive opening-day starts ended.

“People are preparing for the game and you’re not, you’re introduced but not as a starter -- that’s a first for me,” Salmon said. “Unfortunately, sometimes you have to go through these things, and it’s tough. But maybe you come back with more of an appreciation for the game. I’m sure I will.”

Salmon considered retirement several times in the last eight months. The surgeries were considered major and there is no guarantee the 36-year-old Salmon, in the final year of a four-year, $40-million contract, will return to full strength.

But Salmon has not been going through grueling physical therapy sessions three times a week, five hours a day, in Arizona just so he can throw batting practice to his Little League-age kids. He wants to leave the game on his terms, on a better note, and his goal is to be fit enough to contribute at some point this season, even if it’s September.

To that end, Salmon began running on a treadmill for the first time Monday and has been doing agility drills and light weightlifting. His knee is further ahead, strength-wise, than the shoulder, but it’s still far too early to tell whether he’ll be able to return this season.

But if it’s inspiration Salmon needs, he knows where to find it.

“The more I’m around the guys and the team, it’s like I have a purpose to what I’m doing,” Salmon said. “I want to get back on the field.”

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In preparation for his move from middle relief to the rotation, Angel right-hander Kevin Gregg extended his arm to 75 pitches Monday during a Class-A intrasquad game at Rancho Cucamonga. Gregg, who will start Saturday against Kansas City in place of the injured Kelvim Escobar, doesn’t expect to surpass the 100-pitch count against the Royals but should be able to approach that number. “I’ll go until I quit getting them out,” Gregg said.... Escobar, on the disabled list because of a right elbow strain, has been throwing off flat ground and expects to pitch off a mound within a week. “I’m pain-free and feel good right now,” Escobar said. “Hopefully, I’ll miss one to two starts at the most.”