ANGELS: OPTIMISM WINS OUT FOR SALMON VETERAN'S EXPECTATIONS SURPASSED.Byline: DOUG PADILLA Douglas ("Doug") Padilla (born October 4, 1956 in Oakland, California) is a former middle and long distance runner from the United States, who won the overall Grand Prix 1985 and the World Cup 5000m race in 1985. Staff Writer PHOENIX - The realistic Tim Salmon Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with his teammates as they rolled into his hometown for an interleague series against the Arizona Diamondbacks This article is about the baseball team. For other uses, see Diamondback. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a Major League Baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of the National League. . The optimistic Tim Salmon figured this could be the weekend the still-active player came to town one last time in an Angels uniform showing he was triumphant in his return from devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. knee and shoulder injuries. Optimism won out as Salmon will be in uniform tonight just miles from his Scottsdale, Ariz., home. Salmon isn't expected to play much, though, aside from a few potential pinch-hit appearances. Without the designated hitter designated hitter n. Baseball Abbr. DH A player designated at the start of a game to bat instead of the pitcher in the lineup. Noun 1. in use in a National League park, Salmon's role has been reduced this week. But the bench also is a fine place to soak in all the atmosphere of his final season. Salmon will be just as wide-eyed this weekend as he ever has been. ``There is no doubt that with everything I went through, I appreciate the game and look at it differently,'' Salmon said of the knee and shoulder surgeries that nearly ended his career. ``I look at everything differently. Really, instead of being so focused on myself and my play, I tend to really enjoy watching the performance of others and the game and the cities and the places you go. It's a different experience than it has been in the past.'' It also has been different on the field. Salmon has played defense just twice this season and has done so on the hard artificial surfaces at Toronto and Tampa Bay Tampa Bay, inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, 25 mi (40 km) long and 7 to 12 mi (11.3–19 km) wide, W Fla., separated from the Gulf by numerous small islands; it receives the Hillsborough River. St. in order to let Vladimir Guerrero Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (born February 9, 1976 in Don Gregorio, Nizao, Dominican Republic), and known in his native Dominican Republic as Miquéas (Spanish for Micah), is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. be the designated hitter. Salmon's starts have come primarily at DH, a spot he has started in a team-high 34 times this season. Even with the spotty playing time, the 37-year old has managed to be productive. Salmon is batting .280 this season with six home runs and 18 RBIs, and has even legged out a triple. ``I think as much as I would have wanted to play this year, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I really anticipated being here today at this point,'' he said. ``So that in itself has gone beyond realistic expectations. ``Everything along the way, I feel like I've been competitive when I got out there and even though it hasn't been on a regular basis I'm pleased with that. My biggest concern coming back was that whatever my role was going to be, could I help the team when I'm called upon? I feel like I've done that to some extent.'' To this point, it all has been worth it. ``My whole goal was to come back and play at some form of a level that I had, and I've done that,'' he said. ``I've been able to have success at times. When you're out there on the field and you have that success it makes it worth it.'' Asked if he feels any guilt over not being to play the field as outfielders like Darin Erstad Darin Charles Erstad (born June 4, 1974 in Jamestown, North Dakota) is a first baseman/center fielder in Major League Baseball currently with the Chicago White Sox. Prior to 2007, he had played his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise (1996-2006). and Garret Anderson Garret Joseph Anderson (born June 30, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball left fielder who has played his entire career for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. have played through injuries, Salmon said his conscious is clear. When he started his comeback, it was well known that his days of significant time in the outfield were done. ``Everything I've gone through in the last year and a half, twoyears, has changed my whole perception or understanding to what my abilities are,'' said Salmon, who has a career .283 batting average batting average n. Baseball A measure of a batter's performance obtained by dividing the total of base hits by the number of times at bat, not including walks. Noun 1. with 296 homers and 1,007 RBIs. ``I was a surprise guy to make this team, and from that standpoint anything I can give the team I think is a benefit. ``I don't think this team relies on me from the standpoint of other everyday players, but it relies on me to be a bench guy and from that role I can accomplish and do what is called of me.'' The last major milestone Salmon should reach is the 300-homer mark, which still is four away. Even if it doesn't happen in the final few months, he's not wavering from his earlier declaration that this season will be his last. It is for that reason also that he views the game just a little different these days. ``The season seems like it's cruising along; we're out of June almost,'' Salmon said. ``When you think about it, you think it's halfway through the season. Well, I keep thinking there is only three or maybe four more months that I get to play this game again. I do think like that sometimes just as a constant reminder to keep smelling the roses and enjoy it.'' doug.padilla@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2731 CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Entering tonight's game against Arizona. Tim Salmon is batting .280 this season with six home runs and 18 RBIs for the Angels. John Willamson/MLB Photos via Getty Images Box: ANGELS at ARIZONA - Doug Padilla |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion