DiSarcina, Glove Go Hand in Hand

Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina has used the same glove for so long, the model isn’t even made anymore. His name is handwritten on the back of the glove, not monogrammed like today’s big league models.

“You know that old saying, ‘It fits like a glove’? That applies here,” DiSarcina said.

Most players break in new gloves every year, but DiSarcina has used the same one since 1989, his second year in professional ball. The once tan but now dark brown glove has been on his left hand for all 864 of his major league games, and 1,206 of his 1,277 pro games.

And those nice, shiny gloves he uses in spring training and batting practice, the ones with his name stitched on them?

“They’re all backups,” DiSarcina said.

Minor league instructor Bob Clear gave DiSarcina the glove during instructional league in the fall of 1988.

DiSarcina scrapes the dirt and grime off the glove every day and conditions it every three days with a foamlike substance he works into the cowhide.

It has been restrung twice and occasionally tightened by former Angel reliever Bob Patterson, baseball’s renowned glove doctor who is the only other human to wear DiSarcina’s mitt.

“No one else has even put a hand on it,” DiSarcina said. “No one likes anyone touching their gamers, unless they ask.”

*

Chuck Finley was lucky this time. A line drive by the Chicago White Sox’s Chad Kreuter missed his elbow by an inch or so Saturday and, as Finley reasons, “I’ll take my chances with meat over bone any time.”

Finley, who figures he is hit half a dozen times a season, will start again Saturday night against Detroit.

“You put the ball in a certain spot and you know you’re in trouble,” he said, “but it happens so fast there’s nothing you can do. You know it’s going to get you. You’re just not sure where.

“In 1989, [former Oriole] Randy Milligan hit a ball that brushed the hair on my neck as it went by. I spun around just in time to see [center fielder Devon White] short-hop the ball.

“Am I surprised so many pitchers have been hit this year? I’m surprised somebody hasn’t really been hurt. And some people are talking about [using] aluminum or graphite bats? Line ‘em all up and I’ll kick every one of them.”

*

No one needed Thursday’s day off more than the Angel bullpen. In six games since May 1, relievers had combined to throw 484 pitches, an average of 81 a game, over 24 1/3 innings, giving up 21 earned runs for a 7.77 ERA. In comparison, Angel starters combined for 528 pitches in the six games.

“An off day isn’t necessarily good because your swing can get messed up,” center fielder Jim Edmonds said. “But our pitching really needs a rest, so it will help them.”

* Opponent--Detroit Tigers, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West Saturday night.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 17-15, Tigers 9-20.

* Record vs. Tigers (1997)--5-6.

* Tickets--(714) 634-2000.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ ALLEN WATSON (1-3, 6.75 ERA)

vs.

TIGERS’ BRIAN MOEHLER (2-2, 4.29 ERA)

Edison Field, 7:30 p.m.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

Update--Angel designated hitter Cecil Fielder hit 245 home runs in 6 1/2 seasons with Detroit but has had little success against the Tigers since leaving Detroit. As a Yankee in 1997, Fielder hit .161 with two homers and 14 strikeouts in 31 at-bats against the Tigers. Detroit has been the biggest flop of 1998 so far. Picked by many to finish second in the AL Central, the Tigers have struggled in every phase of the game--pitching, offense and defense--and have the second-worst record in baseball. The injury-plagued Angels have lost four straight, blowing leads of three, five and four runs in their last three games.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Chuck Finley (4-0, 1.79) vs. Frank Castillo (0-1, 22.85).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Ken Hill (5-1, 3.22) vs. Tim Worrell (2-3, 5.93).