ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SALMON'S RETURN UNCERTAIN.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Struggling right fielder Tim Salmon is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, but more likely it'll be the middle of the week at least before he's activated.

``He didn't do a thing for 10 days,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``His shoulder is better, so is his neck. But he had just his second workout (Thursday).''

Going on a rehab assignment next week is a possibility.

``That's premature right now,'' Scioscia said. ``Will it be helpful for him to get eight or 10 at-bats? We'll see.''

Salmon had surgery on his left shoulder after last season as well as an operation on his right foot.

Asked how that might have contributed to Salmon's poor start (he's hitting just .206 with nine homers and 26 RBI), Scioscia said, ``There are a lot of things you can point to. Yes, he had two surgeries. But I don't think he's using that as a crutch. What's happened, all his extra work has caused his shoulder to inflame.''

--Nieves back: The Angels recalled infielder Jose Nieves from Triple-A Salt Lake to take Larry Barnes' spot on the roster. Barnes was optioned Monday to Salt Lake.

Nieves has been recalled twice before this season and has yet to get a hit in seven at-bats. In 61 games at Salt Lake, Nieves was hitting .329 with 11 homers and 37 RBI.

In other moves within the organization, right-hander John Lackey and shortstop Alfredo Amezaga were promoted from Double-A Arkansas to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Lackey was 9-7 with a 3.46 ERA at Arkansas. Amezaga was hitting .312 with 24 stolen bases.

--Like father like son? The All-Star break enabled Scioscia to watch his 12-year-old son, Matthew, play in a Little League tournament near Oxnard.

``He went deep again,'' Scioscia said, proudly. ``He even had a little home-run trot.''

Scioscia smiled, then added, ``But he certainly didn't learn that from me.''

--Terry Johnson memorial: The Angels requested a moment of silence to honor longtime Southern California sportswriter Terry Johnson, who died last week in a car accident. He was 49.

Johnson covered the Angels, Dodgers, Kings, USC and UCLA for various papers during a 25-year writing career.

The Los Angeles-Anaheim chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America is accepting donations on behalf of the family. They can be sent to Terry Johnson Memorial Fund, c/o BBWAA, 16541 Gothard St., Suite 101, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.

ANGELS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: Ismael Valdes (5-4, 4.32 ERA) will go for the Angels against the Diamondbacks' Curt Schilling (12-3, 3.20). The next two nights the Angels get Schilling and Randy Johnson, who between them have accounted for nearly half the Diamondbacks' wins. ``You can search long and hard and not find a combo like that,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We face some pretty good arms, but ... for talent, and experience, and production, and both of them power pitchers who come right at you with their best stuff ... pretty tough.'' Schilling was supposed to start for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game, but after throwing 102 pitches just two days earlier against Oakland, he opted out, and Johnson started instead. Schilling, who leads the NL in innings (143 1/3) and complete games (5), has lost his last two starts. Valdes has pitched well against Arizona. He's 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in seven starts against the Diamondbacks.

-Gordon Verrell

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ANGELS vs. ARIZONA (see text)