DiSarcina Faces Decision on Whether to Have Surgery

Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina said Wednesday that he is mulling several possible treatments for his ailing right shoulder, among them surgery that probably would end his season.

DiSarcina and the club declined comment on the specific nature of the options that were put before him after a series of tests by vascular and orthopedic specialists this week in Chicago.

“Until I’m done talking to everybody, I don’t want to say something I’ll go back on,” said DiSarcina, who spent at least an hour meeting Wednesday afternoon with Manager Mike Scioscia, General Manager Bill Stoneman and head trainer Ned Bergert. “It is serious enough for me to really think about what I want to do.”

DiSarcina said that his career is not in jeopardy, regardless of his decision. Asked if his season was, he said, “Could be.” Surgery, he said, was “in the mix.”

“Until I make a decision in my mind,” he said, “there’s not much to talk about.”

In DiSarcina’s place, journeyman Benji Gil has started 29 of 40 games. He had three hits in his last 29 at-bats before Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. Shortstop Keith Luuloa was promoted Tuesday night from triple-A Edmonton, where he was batting .241. Trent Durrington was optioned to Edmonton.

How much they will be used, and whether Stoneman is searching for a long-term replacement outside the organization, probably will be determined by DiSarcina’s decision.

“This is a frustrating situation for an athlete,” Scioscia said of DiSarcina. “I can sympathize with what Gary is going through.”

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The Angels were 18-22 after 40 games last season. The humiliation hadn’t even started. Players were reasonably happy. The manager, Terry Collins, hadn’t shed a tear. Neither had the general manager, Bill Bavasi.

So what makes this season, and a 19-21 record after 40 games, so different?

This story:

The team flew to Baltimore on May 1 to begin a six-game trip. Thinking a few guys might want to dine together that evening, pitcher Tim Belcher reserved a table at a popular Inner Harbor steak house and announced that he would be there. Anyone who wanted to join him was welcome.

Twenty-four players showed. Only Bengie Molina, who suffered from food poisoning and could hardly get out of bed, did not.

Belcher was pleasantly surprised.

“I think that said a lot about our club and how it has changed from a year ago,” he said.

When the Dodgers visited the White House after the 1988 World Series, Belcher said, there weren’t 24 players who attended.

“Things have changed for the better,” he said. “It’s important after last year, when we were called a little bit of everything, some of it deserved.”

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Belcher threw fastballs from a bullpen mound for 10 minutes on Wednesday. He again is progressing after recent minor setbacks, though the club has not set a date for his return. He is scheduled to throw again Saturday.