BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Correia Joins Team as Insurance Policy

The Angels, unable to rely on the availability of infielders Damion Easley and Kelly Gruber, have decided to call up triple-A infielder Rod Correia today.

The decision to bring up Correia was made Saturday afternoon, according to a source, but will not be announced until today. The Angels want Correia for the start of their 10-game trip that begins Monday in Kansas City, and will require playing seven consecutive games on artificial turf.

Correia, 25, who will be making his major league debut, is a middle infielder who has played exclusively at second base and shortstop at Vancouver this season. He was hitting .271 in 60 games, scoring 43 runs with 10 doubles, four triples, four homers and 28 RBIs. He also has made 14 errors.

The Angels still were unsure who would be put on the disabled list to make room for Correia. Easley, who has played only four innings the last three games, continues to be bothered by nagging shin splints.

Gruber, who has been unable to play third base in four of the last five games because of a strained left shoulder, is scheduled to be examined this morning by Dr. Lewis Yocum. The Angels then will make a determination which player will go on the disabled list.

“Hey, I’m not crippled,” Easley said. “I think the DL is only for people who know for sure they absolutely cannot play.”

Said Gruber: “I’m still stiff and sore. It got so bad at times Friday where it felt like electric shocks were sent through me, and I got these headaches. But I could have played (Saturday), and I tried to plead my case, but the trainers thought it would be best to wait a day.”