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Pearly Gates: An Angels Blog
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Thursday, September 02, 2004

End of an era

Tim Salmon will have surgery on his right shoulder and left knee, likely signaling the end of his great career as an Angel:
The veteran outfielder said Wednesday he would have surgery on his ailing left shoulder and left knee — undergoing one procedure as early as next week and the other in the next three months — and he probably would sit out the 2005 season.

"Next year is out of the picture," said Salmon, who is signed for 2005 for $9.75 million. "There's a potential for an eight- to 10-month recovery process for both surgeries, and if we stagger them by two or three months, we're looking at this time next year before I'm healthy."
I've been calling on Salmon to get the shoulder surgery for weeks now, in the hope that he could make a run at a healthy 2005 and bow out in style. But I didn't realize that he had a bum knee as well, which greatly extends the recovery time. Despite the hardships, Salmon made it clear that he doesn't intend on going out like this (does that surprise anybody?):
"We'll see what the situation is," Salmon said. "There are so many variables — my health, the makeup of the team. I want to come back and be healthy enough to play every day, maybe not 160 games but 140 or 150.

"I'm going at it with the intent to come back and play. The reality is, I have time against me. But I don't want to go out like I'm playing now. In my heart, I feel like I still have it in me. I worked hard this off-season, but my body fell apart. I'd like to go out on a better note."
With Salmon out of the picture for next year, you've got to expect the Angels to move on quickly. Will there be a place for the Kingfish on the 2006 Halos? I doubt it. If Salmon wants to continue playing, it's most likely going to have to be in some other city- a scenario that must be unimaginable for Angels fans.

Like many of you, I dread the day that I see Tim Salmon wearing anything other than Angel red (or Angel periwinkle blue). I'm a selfish prick- I would rather see Tim retire than move on. But of course, it's up to him completely. The need to make a comeback is completely understandable- no one this great should go out like this. What ever he decides, I'll be rooting for him.

Tim- announce your retirement today. Let us give you the send-off you deserve. Retire an Angel. Retire the greatest Angel in history.

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