Collins Will Play It Safe With Edmonds

Jim Edmonds is eligible to come off the disabled list today, but the center fielder won’t be joining the Angels in Oakland tonight or Thursday, and he may not be ready to play until the weekend or next week.

Edmonds, who has not played this season because of injuries to his groin and non-throwing shoulder, was lifting a box out of a car over the weekend when his shoulder, which he re-injured lifting weights before the season, locked up again.

Edmonds has been bothered by wear and tear in his right shoulder for three or four years, and doctors recently discovered a cyst buried in a muscle behind the shoulder.

After hitting off a tee Sunday--the first time Edmonds had swung since March 29--the shoulder still felt tender, and Edmonds was scheduled to swing again Tuesday afternoon in Edison Field.

“He hasn’t even run a sprint yet, and I’m not sure he’s ready to hit a fastball,” Manager Terry Collins said. “I’m not going to play this guy until he’s 90-95% ready to go. . . . He’s obviously not well enough to play now, and I have no idea when he’s going to come back.”

*

The copper bracelet around his right wrist, Matt Walbeck said, is supposed to “get in your bloodstream and help your overall well-being.” The “static neck guard,” a rope-like necklace he wears, is for good luck. Walbeck has also worn a magnetic bracelet that supposedly promotes healing.

“Hey,” Walbeck said, “anything you can do to get an edge.”

Walbeck claims that copper bracelets were worn in ancient Egypt. Walbeck, who broke a bone in his right hand two years ago and aggravated the injury in spring training, noticed several professional golfers wearing them, and he bought one in a golf shop in March.

“I’ve never played with it on, but I’m going to start,” Walbeck said. “I want to see if it eases the pain.”

Angel bullpen coach Joe Coleman couldn’t help but chuckle as he heard Walbeck discuss his voodoo-like medical measures with reporters.

“Hey Wally,” Coleman said, “you gonna show them all the dolls you have in your locker?”

TONIGHT ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (1-0, 6.00 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ KENNY ROGERS (0-1, 5.79 ERA)

Oakland Coliseum, 7

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KLAC (570)

* Update--This pitching matchup would not appear to favor the Angels. Finley has a career 7-17 record--no opponent has fared better against the left-hander--and 3.90 ERA against the A’s, and Rogers has a 11-5 record and 3.39 ERA against the Angels, including a perfect game against them when he pitched for the Texas Rangers in 1994. Rogers is also in high demand. The Indians, Mets and Cardinals are believed to be involved in trade talks with the A’s about him. Collins gave Jeff Huson a start in left field Tuesday night, and Tim Unroe probably will get his first start there tonight.