BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Arias Is Fighting to Stay in Majors

Rookie third baseman George Arias admits he’s waging the fight of his life to remain in the major leagues. Arias, batting .184, has started only once in the past six games. The Angels want him to play every day--whether it’s with them or in the minors.

Arias has been working with hitting coach Rod Carew in recent days, hoping to iron out his swing.

“If I’m not playing, I like to sit next to him in the dugout,” Arias said. “It’s just a matter of working with him and listening to what he has to say. You’re a fool if you don’t listen.

“We’re fighting it right now. It’s just a matter of time. It’s all new to me. . . . I’m not going to give up. I’ve worked too damned hard to let it upset me. I’m young. I’m going to learn from this. To have a guy like Rod here is phenomenal. I’m very lucky.”

Arias, a .279 hitter at double-A Midland last year, believes he might have forgotten one important part of reaching the majors.

“I haven’t had the chance to let myself have fun,” he said. “I need to do that. This is what I’ve dreamed about. Since I’m here, I should be having fun. Everybody else is.”

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Right-handed starter Steve Ontiveros, on the 60-day disabled list because of elbow trouble, has been playing long toss for the past two weeks and has been pain free.

“I aired it out on Tuesday and it felt fantastic,” said Ontiveros, who underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow after last season.

The next step is throwing off the mound. Ontiveros refused to guess when that might happen. “It’s dangerous looking ahead,” he said. “It’s dangerous to the psyche. You can get all geared up, then, ‘Uh-oh,’ something bad happens.”

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Gary DiSarcina, the only Angel to play all 33 games before Thursday, was given the night off. Randy Velarde replaced him at shortstop. Rex Hudler took Velarde’s place at second base. . . . The day after undergoing surgery, pitcher Mark Langston returned to Anaheim Stadium to begin rehabilitating his right knee. He walked into the clubhouse with the aid of a crutch. . . . Damion Easley’s rehab assignment at double-A Midland continues. He reports no pain in the injured right arm and shoulder that forced him to the disabled list during spring training. . . . It will probably be several more days before reliever Bryan Harvey throws again. He stopped a workout Monday after four throws. He was scheduled to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, club medical director, Thursday night. . . . Kansas City pitcher Tim Belcher on Brett Butler, a Dodger teammate in 1991: “I would be shocked in the coming weeks as he begins his treatment if there aren’t only positives out of his mouth. He’s a very positive guy and I think that will help him. I know it will help him.”