DiSarcina’s Agent Optimistic After Meeting

The agent for injured shortstop Gary DiSarcina came away from a meeting with Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman this week feeling “very encouraged” about DiSarcina’s chances of returning to the team in 2001.

But Tom Tanzer acknowledged that if DiSarcina is to remain an Angel it will be under a restructured contract that reduces the team’s financial liability in case DiSarcina doesn’t fully recover from rotator-cuff surgery.

“I’m optimistic the Angels want Gary back and will work with us to make that happen,” Tanzer said. “I also think they’ll bring some people in to compete for the job. Gary knows he’ll have to win his job back, and he’s OK with that.”

The Angels hold a $3.45-million option on DiSarcina for 2001, but with recovery time for his May 25 surgery pegged at 9-12 months, he may not be ready for the start of next season.

Doctors have also told DiSarcina he has an 80% chance of returning to peak form. The Angels, who must make a decision about the option by Nov. 1, are not about to commit $3.45 million to a player who may not be able to perform.

But DiSarcina, an eight-year veteran, said he is open to renegotiating a contract that would include a low base salary and incentives based on plate appearances or games started.

“Gary won’t be able to start throwing until September, but Bill [Stoneman] said he’s not going to base this decision on Gary’s ability to throw,” Tanzer said. “The worst thing they can do is rush it.

“He’ll probably come back with a chance to win the job and a chance to make some money, and that can be built into the contract. We have to be open to that because Gary really likes it here and wants to stay.”

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Kevin Stocker had started 19 of the previous 22 games through Sunday, but the Angel shortstop was not in the lineup Wednesday for the third consecutive game, even though the Angels faced their third right-handed pitcher in a row.

The switch-hitting Stocker has started virtually every game against right-handers in the second half, with Benji Gil’s starts limited to left-handed pitchers. But Gil, who had four hits, including a homer, and three RBIs in the past four games, was in the lineup Wednesday.

Is Stocker’s knee acting up again? Did he reinjure his hip? Sore arm? How about none of the above.

“This is the best my body has ever felt, but we’re in a pennant race, we’ve got to go with the hot hand, and Benji has the hot hand,” Stocker said. “I’m not the kind of person who’s going to be all ticked off.”

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The Angels announced they will move their double-A affiliate from Erie, Pa., to Little Rock, Ark., next season. . . . When Fred McGriff drew a two-out walk in the sixth inning Tuesday night it ended the Devil Rays’ string of 45 consecutive innings without a walk, a streak that started last Thursday against Cleveland. The last time a team went four complete games without a walk was the Kansas City Royals in 1992.