James Injury Makes Room for Greene

You had to figure if Todd Greene hung around the Achin’ Angels long enough, someone would get hurt and clear a spot for the hot-hitting catcher.

Sure enough, reliever Mike James went on the 15-day disabled list after Wednesday night’s game because of an inflamed right elbow, and Greene, who joined the team Wednesday as insurance in case Jim Edmonds had to be disabled, was activated before the game against the Dodgers.

James has been pitching with elbow pain all season, often effectively--the right-hander had six saves in the first six weeks of the season in place of injured closer Troy Percival--but it was obvious his condition worsened the past week and a half.

James, who had been on the disabled list once previously, for a strained neck in 1995, gave up a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning against Texas on June 24 and three runs on four hits against Colorado on Monday night.

He gave up Tripp Cromer’s eighth-inning, go-ahead RBI single in Wednesday night’s loss to the Dodgers, and his earned-run average swelled to 4.85.

“I asked him how he felt and he said his elbow hurt but he could pitch,” Manager Terry Collins said. “I told him I needed him in the second half and I wasn’t going to blow him out now.”

James’ velocity has been good, in the 93-mph range, but his pitches have lost a lot of their bite. “The thing I noticed is the tailing action on his fastball, the movement, was not there,” Collins said. “I didn’t know if he could finish his pitches off.”

Collins said Rich DeLucia, who was 6-3 with a 2.20 ERA in 26 appearances before Thursday, would assume most of James’ setup duties.

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Collins said he will give Edmonds, who started at designated hitter Thursday night, the weekend series against Seattle off, meaning the oft-injured outfielder will have six days--three over the All-Star break--to rest his ailing knees and sore shoulder.

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina was given Thursday off, and catcher Jim Leyritz, who suffered a bruised chest when he was hit by a foul tip Wednesday night, was available to pinch-hit. Leyritz will return tonight.

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Yankee Manager Joe Torre, who will manage the American League in Tuesday’s All-Star game, is looking forward to seeing Angel pitcher Jason Dickson, Kansas City pitcher Jose Rosado and Detroit pitcher Justin Thompson walk into the Jacobs Field clubhouse for Monday’s workout.

“It’s fun to pick someone who’s never been on the team and see their eyes as they walk through the door,” Torre said on a conference call. “I remember how I felt when I walked into an All-Star clubhouse and saw names like Koufax, Drysdale and Mays above lockers.”

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ON DECK

* Opponent--Seattle Mariners, three games.

* Site--Anaheim Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--ESPN tonight and Sunday, Fox Sports West Saturday night.

* Radio--KTZN (710).

* Records--Angels 42-41, Mariners 48-36.

* Record vs. Mariners--3-4.

ANGELS’ DENNIS SPRINGER (4-2, 5.51 ERA) vs. MARINERS’ RANDY JOHNSON

(11-2, 2.18 ERA)

* Update--With Manager Terry Collins giving Jim Edmonds the weekend off and the Mariners starting three left-handers, Greene, who hit .357 with 25 homers and 75 RBIs in 63 games at triple-A Vancouver, should get plenty of at-bats. “I don’t care what my role is here,” Greene said. “I’m just going to try to do the same things I was doing down [in triple A].” Johnson, the Seattle ace, will start on five days’ rest, but Manager Lou Piniella juggled his rotation this week so Jamie Moyer and Jeff Fassero can start against the Angels on three days’ rest. The Mariners took three of four from the Angels last weekend. Matt Perisho, who threw four strong relief innings against Colorado on Monday, returns to the rotation in place of Kevin Gross on Saturday night.

Saturday, 7 p.m.--Matt Perisho (0-2, 5.55) vs. Jamie Moyer (8-2, 4.50).

Sunday, 5 p.m.--Chuck Finley (4-6, 5.36) vs. Jeff Fassero (8-3, 3.87).