McNamara Awaits Release From Hospital

John McNamara, hospitalized since Wednesday because of a blood clot in his right calf, said he felt fine and was ready to leave Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. But doctors were still working Monday to balance his blood- thinning medication.

“They’re still not sure how [the blood clot] got there, but as soon as they get [the medication] where they want it, I’m going home,” McNamara said.

McNamara has yet to be given the medical OK to return to his job as the Angels’ interim manager, but he sounds as if he has made up his mind.

“The plan now is for me to go home [to Nashville] for a couple of days to rest,” he said, “and that way I won’t have to make the long flight [back to Anaheim] all at once.”

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Left-hander Chuck McElroy, on the disabled list because of numbness in his left hand, threw in the bullpen before Monday night’s game and said his arm and hand felt “great.”

“First couple of pitches, I felt like I hadn’t thrown in three years,” said McElroy, who last pitched Aug. 10, “but everything was great after that. Now, it’s just a matter of how everything feels [this] morning.”

McElroy said he injured a tendon in his hand by gripping the ball too tightly when throwing split-finger fastballs. Resultant swelling caused nerve damage and the numbness.

“When I give up a hit and get mad, I really jam that thing in there,” he said, smiling.

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Jim Edmonds, who has been bothered by a twitching eyelid, said he thought the condition had pretty much subsided until Monday morning. “It started up again and was really bothering me,” he said, “It’s been about five days now.” The eye apparently wasn’t bothering him too much Monday night. He singled in his first at-bat and hit his 24th homer in the sixth inning. . . . The Red Sox acquired right-hander Pat Mahomes Monday from Minnesota for a player to be named later. Mahomes, who was 1-4 with a 7.20 earned-run average with the Twins earlier this season, was 2-0 with six saves and an 0.71 ERA in 20 appearances with Salt Lake City during August. . . . Interim Manager Joe Maddon said pitchers Mark Eichhorn (inflamed rotator cuff) and Mark Holzemer (strained left shoulder) should be ready to come off the disabled list Sept. 1. . . . Roving minor league instructor Orlando Mercado has joined the Angel coaching staff Monday to help fill the void left by McNamara. . . . Former Dodger shortstop Maury Wills has joined the Red Sox as a baserunning instructor, working primarily with right-fielder Darren Bragg, second baseman Jeff Frye and center-fielder Lee Tinsley. “We need to find other ways to win ballgames, besides sitting around the dugout waiting for the home run,” Manager Kevin Kennedy said. “It gives you more options. And these guys can really learn from Maury.”