Anderson Plays Well Through the Pain

The 18 hits in 43 at-bats entering Tuesday, the three home runs, four doubles and eight runs batted in during that span, the rockets into the right-field corner and line drives over the wall might leave one with the impression Garret Anderson has recovered from the strained left arch that has bothered him since early March.

Not even close.

His condition, known as plantar fascitis, is causing constant pain, which the Angel left fielder described as worse than any nagging injury he’s had in his 12-year career. It hurts most when he runs, but he’s been able to block it out in the batter’s box.

Anderson has managed the pain well -- there was a fear he would be relegated to designated hitter, but Anderson has started in left field in 16 of 21 games, which has helped Manager Mike Scioscia keep Tim Salmon’s bat in the lineup.

The question is, will Anderson, who raised his average from .212 on April 12 to .329 Monday, be able to get through the season with this injury?

“I don’t know,” Anderson said. “I haven’t even thought about it. I’m just trying to get through today.”

Salmon, the former right fielder, had the same condition in 1998 and was relegated to DH for almost the entire season. He underwent surgery to detach the plantar fascia ligament after the season.

Anderson, who missed three weeks of spring training, is not feeling any better, “but it’s not getting any worse,” he said. “It’s about the same. I won’t really be comfortable until it’s not bothering me.”

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When Bartolo Colon went on the disabled list because of shoulder inflammation, the Angels were confident he would miss two or three starts and be ready when he was eligible to be activated Monday.

That’s highly unlikely. Colon began throwing lightly Monday, and the Angels are being very cautious with their ace, who was knocked out of the playoffs in October because of a small shoulder tear.

The plan is for Colon to go from catch to long toss to pitching off a mound. He’ll probably throw a simulated game or two, and he may need a minor league rehabilitation stint. The process could take another two weeks, if not more.

“We’re not going to put any date” on his return, Scioscia said. “He has to go through a progression. We’re confident he’ll be able to move forward, but he’s only going to do that if he does it the right way.”

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An MRI test confirmed the initial diagnosis of a strained left hamstring for utility player Maicer Izturis, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday. Izturis is expected to be out for at least a month.... Reserve outfielder Juan Rivera, out since April 17 because of a strained rib-cage muscle, is not expected to start swinging a bat until Friday. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday.