McPherson Is Likely in Need of Hip Surgery

The more doctors Dallas McPherson visits, the more likely it appears the injured third baseman will need season-ending surgery on his left hip.

McPherson, who has been on the disabled list since July 8, traveled to Nashville on Monday for a second opinion, and it was the same as the first: Thomas Byrd, the Tennessee Titans’ team physician, confirmed a previous diagnosis of an impingement in McPherson’s hip.

Doctors at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., recommended that McPherson undergo surgery immediately to shave down a bone spur and repair cartilage in the hip, and they told McPherson he could risk further damage by playing this season. Recovery time for the procedure is about three months.

The doctors in Colorado believe McPherson has had the bone spur for several years, and that it may have contributed to the bulging disk McPherson suffered in his lower back in March.

McPherson was hoping to procure an opinion from a doctor who would endorse postponing surgery until after the season, even if McPherson was limited to designated hitter for the rest of 2005.

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Manager Mike Scioscia will have another option at third base against left-handed pitchers, a choice that could cut even further into center fielder Steve Finley’s playing time: Utility player Robb Quinlan, who had 11 hits in his last four games at triple-A Salt Lake, joined the Angels on Monday night and will be activated today.

Quinlan, who batted .344 with five home runs, 23 runs batted in and 14 doubles in 56 games last season, has been on the disabled list since July 1 because of neck and shoulder injuries.

If Scioscia uses the right-handed Quinlan at third against left-handers, as he often did in 2004, that would push Chone Figgins from third to center field, in place of the struggling Finley. With third-string catcher Josh Paul still in Salt Lake, the Angels will continue to go with only two catchers, Bengie and Jose Molina.

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Despite David Ortiz’s bunt single with no one on base in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Boston, Scioscia said he would continue to use an exaggerated infield shift against the left-handed-hitting Red Sox slugger, but with one modification:

Second baseman Adam Kennedy will remain in shallow right field, shortstop Orlando Cabrera will remain on the second-base side of the bag, but Scioscia will probably move Figgins from the shortstop area to a spot closer to third.

“You’re playing the percentages with that shift,” Scioscia said. “If we can get him to give himself up [with a bunt] and not drive the ball, we’re OK with that.”