Escobar still seeking direction

Kelvim Escobar would like to help the Angels any way he can, the sooner the better. He would like to know whether they want him to return as a starter or reliever before he begins his minor league rehabilitation assignment.

“As a starter, it’s going to be a lot longer,” Escobar said. “I don’t know if I want to get myself ready as a starter and then come back in the bullpen.”

As a reliever, Escobar would not need several weeks to build arm strength sufficient to throw 90 pitches. In order to help the bullpen sooner, he said he could discard his slider and two-seam fastball to focus on his fastball, curve, change and split-finger, more than enough pitches for one turn through a lineup.

But Manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels plan to assess their pitching needs as they evaluate how Escobar responds to his outings. He’ll start in the minor leagues, at least at first, because they would not have the option to bring him back as a starter if they limited him to rehabilitation stints of one and two innings.

“We’d like to keep him in the starter’s frame of mind for now,” Scioscia said.

Escobar, out all season because of torn cartilage in his shoulder, could pitch a simulated game Tuesday and head to the minors soon thereafter.

Pitching inventory

Escobar said he expects to return as a reliever because the Angels have five strong starters, but the depth beyond those five has thinned to the point where Scioscia said, “I think our bullpen probably has more depth right now.”

Nick Adenhart, the Angels’ top pitching prospect, is 1-5 with an 8.80 earned-run average since returning to triple-A Salt Lake from Anaheim. Dustin Moseley, who started five games for the Angels this season and eight last season, is 2-3 with a 5.75 ERA at Salt Lake.

Mets mess

Darren Oliver pitched for Willie Randolph two years ago, when the New York Mets advanced to the National League Championship Series. The Mets arrive in Anaheim on Monday, although Randolph’s status appears so tenuous that he might not remain the manager by then.

“It’s unfortunate,” Oliver said. “I really like Willie. I had a lot of fun playing for him. But they’re never going to fire the players. It’s always the staff that goes first, in any sport.”

Oliver said the media siege must be intense, given the overwhelming coverage New York teams receive. Oliver has played for eight teams, including the Angels, Mets and Boston Red Sox.

“I always say, ‘If you’re going to have success, have it on the East Coast, where everybody will know who you are,’ ” he said.

“But you take the good with the bad. I’ll take the nice weather here. I’m definitely not complaining.”

Lakers mess

The Angels had the day off Thursday, so Casey Kotchman took in the NBA Finals game at Staples Center -- you know, the one in which the Lakers blew a 24-point lead.

“You hear the fans talking trash,” Kotchman said. “All of a sudden, they’re not talking trash anymore. Their tone changes dramatically.”

Short hops

Erick Aybar is scheduled to start a rehabilitation assignment today; Scioscia said he and shortstop Maicer Izturis would get playing time after Aybar returns . . . Outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. batted eighth, for the first time since 2005.

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com