ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SALMON'S RETURN MAY BE IN N.Y.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

Results of the MRI performed on right fielder Tim Salmon's sprained left wrist showed nothing abnormal and he says he hopes to return to the lineup before the end of the road trip.

Salmon, who injured the wrist trying to make a sliding catch last Monday in Anaheim, said it's feeling better each day, but there's no reason to rush back, especially considering the importance of his wrists when hitting.

``Waiting two or three more days right now may be the difference in continuing to have a great year offensively or having a so-so year because it still hurts,'' Salmon said. ``I don't see it as a two-week thing. I'm day-to-day. It may not be here (in Boston) but maybe in New York (Tuesday through Thursday).''

Considering the bad news the Angels have received this season regarding injuries, the news on Salmon was surprisingly encouraging.

``That's the biggest relief,'' said Salmon, who is hitting .347 with a team-high seven homers and 25 RBI. ``But I've got to let time take its course to heal. The hardest thing is not to rush it.''

Help on the way: The Angels are expected to make a roster move today to bolster the bench. With Salmon out for the next few days and second baseman Randy Velarde out indefinitely with a stiff lower back, the Angels bench is thin. And they've been playing a man short to begin with because they're carrying 12 pitchers.

A pitcher - probably Scott Schoeneweis - will be sent to Triple-A Edmonton to make room on the roster.

Velarde's MRI revealed results similar to an MRI performed on his back last September. Velarde will continue to receive therapy, but no conclusive diagnosis will be given until Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum reads the results.

``It's obviously frustrating, but what can you do?'' Velarde said. ``Injuries happen. I just have to make sure I remain patient. A back is something to be concerned about.''

Velarde, who said any movement he makes feels like he's being stabbed in the back, was off to a good start, hitting .336. But he said he isn't worried about losing the good feeling at the plate.

``When I come back, I feel confident I'll pick up where I left off,'' he said.

Familiar setting: Mo Vaughn's return to Fenway Park as a member of an opposing team reminded some of pitcher Roger Clemens' return as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997.

Clemens, who hit Vaughn with a pitch in the first inning, struck out 16 Red Sox that day, including Vaughn to end the eighth, Clemens' final inning of work in a 3-1 Blue Jays win.

ANGELS vs. BOSTON

Time: 10:05 a.m. at Fenway Park.

TV/Radio: No TV; KLAC-AM (570), XPRS-AM (1090, Spanish).

Matchup: Tim Belcher (1-2, 9.96 ERA) will start for the Angels and try to get past his recent struggles. In his past three starts, he has failed to go five innings and has given up 19 earned runs. ``I'm not searching for any major flaw,'' Belcher said. ``I'm not going to make any major changes. You get into trouble doing that kind of thing. I just need to make better pitches.'' Pitcher Juan Pena, called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday, will start for Boston.

- Joe Haakenson

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Box: ANGELS vs. BOSTON (See text)