DiSarcina Suffers Serious Setback

An MRI test has revealed a partial tear of a tendon in Gary DiSarcina’s throwing shoulder, a significant setback for the Angel shortstop trying to rebound from major rotator-cuff surgery, and one that further clouds his chances of returning to full strength this season.

DiSarcina’s new injury is to the infraspinatus tendon, located in the back of the shoulder. This is not the tendon surgically repaired last May--that was the supraspinatus--and there are no plans for surgery at this point.

But DiSarcina, the 33-year-old who sat out 2 1/2 months of 1999 because of a broken bone in his forearm and all but 12 games of 2000 because of the shoulder injury, will remain in Orange County for rehabilitation, and no timetable has been set for his return.

DiSarcina, 33, had hoped to return in early May, and he sailed through the first three months of his throwing program, not missing a day. But when he tried to test his arm by cutting loose several full-strength throws on March 1, he came down with an extremely sore shoulder the next day.

“He got some bad news--hopefully he’ll get some good news eventually,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We can only hope for the best and see if he can get through this. It’s tough because we all know how hard Gary worked to get to this point.”

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A visiting dignitary graced Angel camp Friday when Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, the former Dodger left-hander, stopped by to see Scioscia and his coaching staff and to tutor a few pitchers.

“I was lucky enough to be throwing a side piece on the day he was here, so I tried to dig him for information,” Angel reliever Mike Holtz said. “It’s awesome any time you have one of the greatest pitchers in baseball around.”

Koufax spent much of his time discussing mechanics with Scioscia and Bud Black, the Angel pitching coach.

“He’s an encyclopedia of knowledge,” Scioscia said. “He has a great way of communicating and is as approachable as anyone you could meet. Any piece of advice he can bounce off of us is big.”

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The Angels had a rough day Friday, losing an afternoon split-squad exhibition game to Oakland, 5-2, in Tempe Diablo Stadium and an evening split-squad game to Seattle, 7-6, in Peoria, Ariz.

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Scioscia has ruled out any chance of second baseman Adam Kennedy, sidelined because of a broken bone in his right hand, being ready when the Angels open the season at Texas on April 3. But he is hoping Kennedy can return by the home opener on April 11. . . . Tim Salmon (slight abdominal strain) and Jose Canseco (tight right hamstring) took batting practice Friday and could return by Monday or Tuesday.