BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Fenway’s Infield Gets Thumbs Down

The groundskeepers in Anaheim Stadium will be happy to know their infield no longer ranks at the top of Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina’s list of “Worst Fields I’ve Ever Played On.”

After watching Wil Cordero’s potential inning-ending, double-play grounder take a wicked hop over third baseman George Arias’ shoulder, clearing the way for Boston’s three-run sixth inning Saturday, Fenway Park’s infield drew the wrath of DiSarcina.

“I don’t want to hurt any feelings, but this is the worst infield I’ve ever stepped on,” said DiSarcina, who for years complained about Anaheim’s infield, which underwent a make over in July.

“There’s no way a big-league game should be decided by field conditions. That was a double-play ball and it almost hit George in the chops.”

DiSarcina said almost the exact same thing about Anaheim Stadium’s infield after a 13th-inning grounder bounced over Chicago shortstop Ozzie Guillen’s head and gave the Angels a 9-8 victory over the White Sox. But what one field gave the Angels in June, another field took away Saturday.

“You always hear that Boston has the worst defense in the league, but they also have the worst infield,” DiSarcina said. “Not just the dirt, the grass, too.

“So when you hear that [third baseman] Tim Naehring or [shortstop] John Valentin has 18 errors, you take it with a grain of salt. And if you see Naehring needs dental work or [first baseman] Mo Vaughn needs his teeth replaced, you’ll know why.

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A Houston hand specialist diagnosed Chuck McElroy’s injury as a strained abductor tendon in his left thumb. The reliever will remain in Houston until at least Wednesday, when he will be re-examined.

McElroy, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 10, will likely go on the disabled list, but General Manager Bill Bavasi said he wasn’t sure when he would make a roster move.

Relievers Mark Eichhorn and Mark Holzemer are on rehabilitation assignments at Class-A Lake Elsinore and might soon be ready, or a starter such as Shad Williams could be called up from triple-A Vancouver for Tuesday’s game at New York.

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Arias, a rookie, described Roger Clemens as “nasty,” and admitted being in awe of the Red Sox right-hander, who shut out the Angels Saturday. “Sometimes I’d be thinking, ‘Geez, I’m facing Roger Clemens,’ but I’ve got to get that out of my head,” Arias said. “By the time I realize he’s sticking it down my throat, I’ve got two at-bats already.” . . . Reliever Kyle Abbott, who struck out Darren Bragg in the eighth inning Saturday, is the 26th pitcher the Angels have used this season, extending their single-season record beyond the 24 pitchers used in 1993. . . . The Red Sox are expected to activate shortstop John Valentin from the disabled list today, and the team also announced that former reliever Jeff Suppan (1-1) will start Monday night’s series finale against Jason Grimsley and the Angels. . . . Three Angel pitchers rank among the top six in the American League in hit batsmen--Grimsley (11), Chuck Finley (10) and Mike James (9). . . . Garret Anderson has grounded into a league-high 20 double plays.