BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : DiSarcina Will Be Tough to Replace

The aftermath of Gary DiSarcina’s injury was being sifted through Saturday. The Angel shortstop probably will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ulna ligament in his left thumb Thursday.

“You can’t replace an All-Star shortstop who is hitting .300,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said. “There aren’t a lot of those guys floating around out there.”

Lachemann said the priority will be defense. The Angels, who average 6.3 runs, can possibly live without DiSarcina’s offensive production.

As to who will be that player, only time will tell.

Spike Owen started the past two games, but has a shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season. The Angels need to see if it will hold up with Owen in the lineup every day.

Dick Schofield, who was signed to a minor league contract Friday, won’t be ready for two to three weeks, according to Lachemann.

Second baseman Damion Easley has been mentioned as a possible replacement. Easley took ground balls at shortstop before Saturday’s game, working on double plays with Coach Bobby Knoop. Easley played shortstop at Midland in 1992 and has played there three times during his three-year major league career. He last played shortstop in 1992.

The Angels also have two stop gaps in Rod Correia, who was called up Friday, and Rene Gonzales. Neither would seem to be the full-time replacement needed.

“We don’t want to go off half-cocked and jump into something,” Lachemann said. “We don’t want to make too disruptive a move. We don’t want to use a lot of different people there. But if we have to do that, then that’s what we’ll do.”

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Pitcher Shawn Boskie threw approximately 25 pitches in a simulated game Saturday. Boskie, who has tendinitis in his elbow, is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list.

Lachemann said Boskie will work out with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez on Monday and then will then be sent out on a rehabilitation assignment. He will start for Lake Elsinore on Thursday or Friday.

“We need to get him up to the 85-90 pitch range,” Lachemann said.

Lachemann also said Boskie will return to the starting rotation when he is ready. He will probably take Mike Harkey’s spot.

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Lachemann’s has been mentioned as a contender for manager of the year.

Said Lachemann: “That shows how much ability has to do with it.”

Ability?

“The players’ ability,” he said.