ANAHEIM -- Joe Smith's sprained left ankle still feels "cranky" every morning.
"The ankle," Smith said, "wakes up like my attitude."
The Angels' setup man is frustrated that he can't help his team at its most critical juncture, embarrassed that he's out of action because he tripped down a flight of stairs. But Smith has also progressed rapidly. He threw a bullpen session on Sunday, took part in pitchers' fielding practice prior to Monday's series opener against the A's and plans to throw off the mound again on Tuesday.
"Today was one of the first where you could see the light at the end of the tunnel," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "but there's still some things he needs to get a little more proficient at.