All Still Quiet on Trade Front

The Angels lurk in the background of the race for the American League wild card. They begin today eight games behind Cleveland and Minnesota. They also would have to overtake Boston and Oakland.

“We have the confidence as a team that we’ll be able to do it,� outfielder Darin Erstad said. “But we can’t worry about a wild-card race right now. We just have to play baseball.�

It seems more and more likely that if the Angels are to gain the wild-card spot, they will have to do it with the current roster. Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said Thursday that a trade seemed unlikely before Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

“Our objective would be to help the team,� Stoneman said. “If we did something for the short term, it would have to be a player who would really help us. I don’t see anything like that out there right now.�

Stoneman said he was listening to all offers from other teams but has “heard nothing really appealing.�

The Angels have climbed back to the fringe of the race by going 14-6 in their last 20 games. The offense, with the exception of outfielder Tim Salmon, has been more consistent. The Angels had averaged six runs in their seven games before Friday.

“I’m optimistic,� Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “If we get Tim Salmon producing, that would be the biggest deal we could ever hope for. Our hitting has stepped up. What we’ve shown in the last three weeks has helped more than any trade.�

Troy Percival gave his own medical report Thursday night after sitting out Monday and Tuesday because of muscle spasms in his back and right hip.

“I was trying to tell everyone that it was no big deal,� said Percival, who had an MRI and X-rays on his hip and back Monday.

His actions spoke louder. He hit 95 mph or higher on all 12 fastballs he threw in the ninth inning against Tampa Bay Thursday. Percival, who hit a high of 98 mph, retired the side for his 26th save.

“What can you say about a guy who is throwing about 100 and hitting his spots?� catcher Bengie Molina said.

Gary Johnson, outfielder for the Angels’ double-A team in Arkansas, may bring literary knowledge to the Angel clubhouse someday.

Asked about lengthy minor league bus trips, Johnson told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “There’s some Greek book, I think it was like, Odysseus or something. They were attacking the Romans or something, they came out in ships and they were on this island--they burned all their ships, so either they kicked the trash out of the Romans or they all died. I try to think of it like that.�

Johnson needs to start kicking trash out of pitchers if he wants to get to Anaheim. He is hitting .246 for the Travelers.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ PAT RAPP

(3-9, 4.63 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’ WILLIS ROBERTS

(7-8, 5.20 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--Since being moved into the No. 2 spot in the order, the Angels’ Troy Glaus has driven in 10 runs in seven games.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.