Injured Elbow Disables Cabrera

Orlando Cabrera has made very little progress in his recovery from an inflamed elbow and was put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, a setback that is causing great consternation for the Angel shortstop.

“I’m really concerned because I’ve never had a problem with my elbow before,” said Cabrera, who last played against the Dodgers last Sunday. “The MRI showed no major damage, nothing that has to be fixed with a scalpel, but I’m afraid it’s going to be like this forever.”

A fear of the unknown is gnawing at Cabrera, who was on the disabled list only twice previously in his seven-year career, for a shoulder injury in 2000 and a foot injury in 1999. He sat out three games against Texas from June 20 to 22, played twice against the Dodgers June 24-25, and his elbow pain returned while playing the next day.

Cabrera tried to play catch Friday for the first time since June 26 and could barely toss the ball 15 feet. He didn’t even try to extend his elbow. Saturday, he was back in the trainer’s room for treatment, with no plans to throw. He will be out until after the All-Star break.

“For me to go on the DL is a major thing,” said Cabrera, who has played superb defense this season but is struggling with a .243 average. “But you don’t win championships now; you win later.”

The Angels are winning now without Cabrera. Maicer Izturis has been a more than capable replacement, batting .419 with nine runs batted in since June 20 and playing sparkling defense. Izturis doubled and scored in the fourth inning Saturday and singled in a run in the eighth.

Izturis has played well enough to make a struggling starter in the first year of a four-year, $32-million contract feel a little insecure about his future, but Cabrera insists Izturis is more of a luxury than a threat.

“We have a great player in Izturis who is doing a great job, so there’s no reason to try to rush things, to get a cortisone shot, when I can rest my arm and get back to the way I was playing before,” Cabrera said. “I want Maicer to do well. I have no reason to be worried about anything like that. I want my team to win.”

To replace Cabrera on the roster, the Angels recalled outfielder Curtis Pride from triple-A Salt Lake.

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Utility player Robb Quinlan, who was put on the DL Friday because of two bulging disks in his neck and an inflamed left shoulder, had been experiencing discomfort in his neck since the last week of spring training, and Manager Mike Scioscia said the condition contributed to Quinlan’s struggles at the plate.

“He didn’t make a lot of it, but we noticed his swing was not quite the same, his bat speed was not the same, and I’m sure this was connected,” Scioscia said of Quinlan, who is hitting .159 in 63 at-bats. “That lead shoulder is important in your swing.”

Quinlan, who was called up from Salt Lake on Tuesday, started at first base against Texas on Thursday and went hitless in four at-bats.

“It wasn’t so much the good swings, it really hurt when I took a bad swing,” said Quinlan, who will be out for several weeks. “There was a sharp pain in my neck and shoulder.”