McNamara’s Return Delayed Again

John McNamara’s return as interim manager will likely be pushed back another week--until Sept. 13 at the earliest--but the setback hasn’t deterred him.

“They want me back, even if it’s just for the last game of the season,” said McNamara, who originally hoped to join the team Friday. “Heck, I’ve got to go back at some point and get my clothes.”

Joe Maddon, interim to the interim manager, said it’s possible McNamara, 64, sidelined because of a blood clot in his right calf, could join the Angels in Kansas City Sept. 13, then return to Anaheim for the final home stand of 1996.

“Everything is fine,” McNamara said. “The swelling [in my leg] is gone, I can walk normally, I have no aches, no pains, no nothing . . . I’m just biding my time.”

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The Angels, who pulled the plug on their Dominican program last year, have established a working agreement with Mexicali of the Mexican Winter League and will send five players, a manager, a pitching coach and a trainer there in October.

The Angels have not announced which prospects will be going to Mexico, but one will be pitcher Matt Perisho, who was 3-2 with a 3.21 earned-run average at double-A Midland and 7-5 with a 4.20 ERA at Class A Lake Elsinore this season. He will be joined by Midland Manager Mario Mendoza, Midland pitching coach Kernan Ronan and Lake Elsinore trainer Alan Russell.

“In the past, [winter league] clubs have had positions open and asked us if we could fill them,” said Ken Forsch, director of player development. “Now we’ll be able to tell them what players we’re sending and we can position the team around our players.”

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The bats of Baltimore right fielder Bobby Bonilla and Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez, confiscated at the request of opposing managers during Sunday’s game, were X-rayed Wednesday afternoon and found to be clean and legal. The bats will be returned to the players. . . . Angel second baseman Randy Velarde, who hit a grand slam the last time he faced Oriole pitcher Scott Erickson Aug. 25, and shortstop Gary DiSarcina did not start Wednesday night. . . . Angel pitchers lead the American League in wild pitches (Chuck Finley, 15), hit batsmen (Jason Grimsley, 12) and home runs allowed (Shawn Boskie, 34).