ANGELS NOTEBOOK: AMEZAGA'S NAME ADDED TO GROWING LIST OF INJURED.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Alfredo Amezaga has a slight tear in his right labrum, an injury that will hinder the Angels' ability to evaluate their middle-infield situation for the 2004 season.

Amezaga had an MRI taken Thursday in Anaheim, and the results Friday revealed the tear. Because there is no damage to his rotator cuff, the Angels believe he can return before the end of the season.

Amezaga will be re-evaluated when the Angels return to town Wednesday, but how much of the season he'll be able to take part in remains unclear. Starting shortstop David Eckstein has an irritated nerve in his right hamstring, so Chone Figgins will start at shortstop over the weekend before the Angels can expand their roster.

Manager Mike Scioscia indicated help could come from beyond Triple-A, so Double-A Arkansas shortstop Brian Specht will receive strong consideration to get a call; he hit .252 with 14 homers and 62 RBI. Triple-A shortstop candidates include Keith Johnson (.290 at Salt Lake), Adonis Harrison (.293) and recently signed Jerome Alviso, who was released last month by Colorado and played in 18 games at shortstop for Salt Lake.

The bigger conundrum for the Angels involves Amezaga, whom they hoped to get an extended look at after they faded from contention. With two scouts in Japan keeping an eye on Seibu Lions shortstop Kazuo Matsui, and the free-agent market to include Oakland's Miguel Tejada, the Angels wanted to see whether the good-fielding Amezaga could produce enough offense to provide a cheaper upgrade over Eckstein, who might have second base or a reserve-infield role in his future.

In 22 games, Amezaga hit .159 (10 for 63), with one home run, three RBI and 10 strikeouts. At Triple-A Salt Lake, he hit .347 with 45 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Amezaga suffered the injury Tuesday when he dived trying to track down a groundball in shallow left field. He said his shoulder felt better after doing therapy exercises during Friday's 10-3 victory over Kansas City.

``I didn't think it would be this bad,'' Amezaga said. ``I felt something, but I wasn't thinking torn anything. (Trainer) Ned (Bergert) said the tear wasn't too big, so I started breathing better.''

--Appier away: Former Angels pitcher Kevin Appier's turn in the Kansas City rotation would have come today, against Scot Shields, the man who replaced Appier when he was released July 30.

But Appier (Antelope Valley High of Lancaster/Antelope Valley College) is done for the year and is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday to repair and reattach the torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. Appier's locker at Kauffman Stadium has been cleared out.

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- Gabe Lacques