BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DiSarcina Empathizes With Abbott

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina battled a difficult slump that dropped his average to .150 in mid-May, so he knows what is going through left-hander Jim Abbott’s mind.

Hitting coach Rod Carew helped DiSarcina escape the skid. Who can best help Abbott, DiSarcina was asked.

“You can’t take anyone out there [on the field] with you,” DiSarcina said. “When you’re hitting rock bottom, it’s tough to have confidence out there. You have to hold your head up and exude confidence. That’s what I did. I tried to take anything positive I could from a game. If I hit a ball hard, for example.”

DiSarcina believes Abbott is putting a great deal of pressure on himself.

“I think he’s bothered because he’s not helping the team,” he said. “You can only tell a guy, ‘Keep hanging in there. Next time, next time,’ for so long. I think he’s got to get by this.”

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Right-hander Steve Ontiveros is scheduled to make his second rehab start Wednesday or Thursday at Class-A Lake Elsinore. Ontiveros, on the disabled list because of elbow trouble since spring training, gave up two runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings in his first rehabilitation start Friday. Reliever Bryan Harvey, continuing his comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery, will work out with Lake Elsinore while the Angels go on a nine-game trip to Minnesota, Cleveland and Kansas City.

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Disney is considering moving the Angels’ triple-A affiliate out of Vancouver, Canada. Las Vegas is a possible new home. The San Diego Padres are reportedly unhappy with Las Vegas and want to move their top minor-league club. . . . Baltimore activated third baseman B.J. Surhoff from the disabled list, officially eliminating the need for Cal Ripken Jr. to move from shortstop.