Angels’ Rodgers Postpones His Return Until Aug. 28 : Baseball: He says he needs more time to recover from injuries received in May bus crash.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —  Angel Manager Buck Rodgers, still moving tentatively after beginning to walk without crutches Monday, has postponed his return to the club until Aug. 28.

“It’s going to take a little longer,” said Rodgers, who has been out since sustaining multiple injuries in the team’s May 21 bus accident. “I’ve been on my back for 2 1/2 months. There’s still some atrophy there.

“(My left knee) is coming along fine. It’s healed up. It’s just a matter of taking a little more time.”

Rodgers, who was hospitalized for 10 days after undergoing surgery on his left knee and right elbow, once hoped to return right after the All-Star break, but didn’t get medical clearance. Team orthopedist Lewis Yocum told Rodgers Monday that it is safe to return to managing as soon as he is confident on his feet. On Thursday, Rodgers put aside his hopes of returning today.

“I suspected on the second day that when I got out of bed it wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” he said from his home in Yorba Linda.

The Angels begin a six-game home stand today, then depart on a 13-game trip to Oakland, Boston, New York and Baltimore--including a repeat of the bus trip during which the accident occurred between New York to Baltimore.

“He doesn’t feel up to going on the long road trip,” interim Manager John Wathan said. “If we were home for two weeks like after the All-Star break, it’d be different. . . . It’s four cities and a bus ride. This makes more sense.”

By Aug. 28, when the Angels begin a 12-game home stand at Anaheim Stadium, Rodgers will have missed 89 games.

Rodgers said he is confident this is the last postponement.

“I wasn’t going to jeopardize 2 1/2 months of work by coming back a week or two too early,” he said. “I should be ready in two weeks and this three-week date is very solid. I hate to keep giving a date and not be able to keep it, but I know I can make the 28th, no sweat.”