Stocker Lands New Assignment, Fills Vacancy At Anaheim

Looking for help at shortstop with Gary DiSarcina out for the season, the Anaheim Angels signed infielder Kevin Stocker to a major league contract on Tuesday.

Stocker, a former Central Valley High School and University of Washington star, was released last week by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who had acquired the nine-year veteran in a trade with Philadelphia in 1997.

He will join the Angels for Friday night’s home game against Los Angeles.

“We were fortunate that Kevin Stocker became available when he did in order to help offset the loss of Gary DiSarcina,” Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said. “Kevin is an experienced and capable shortstop who will help us both offensively and defensively.”

It’s a low-risk move for the Angels since the Devil Rays will have to pay all but $133,000 of Stocker’s $3.3 million contract.

Attendance hits record pace

Major league attendance reached the 20-million mark faster than any time in history this season, passing the plateau before Memorial Day.

The 30 teams went over 20 million on Sunday, getting there in 727 dates, a release from the commissioner’s office said. The previous record was 764 dates, set in 1998.

Attendance through Sunday’s games was 20,384,110, a 5.9 percent increase over 1999.

Ordonez sidelined with broken arm

Rey Ordonez, the three-time Gold Glove shortstop of the New York Mets, might be sidelined six weeks after breaking his left forearm while making a tag.

Ordonez flew to New York to have his arm examined by the team physician, the Mets said. The initial diagnosis was a “non-displaced fracture of the ulna bone.”

Ordonez was injured in Monday’s game in Los Angeles.

Castillo offers to fine himself

After failing to lay down a sacrifice in the ninth inning of a game at Cincinnati on Sunday, Florida Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo tried to fine himself.

Castillo walked into manager John Boles’ office after that game and shoved a wad of money into Boles’ hand - an undisclosed sum that Castillo thought he should be fined for the botched bunt.

The Marlins’ leadoff man had two hits and three stolen bases in Florida’s 3-1 win over Cincinnati, just a day after getting four hits against the Reds. But none of that mattered after Castillo’s failed bunt attempt.

“It’s the first time in my 20 years in professional baseball that I’ve had a player come to me and fine himself,” said Boles, who refused to take the money. “It just shows you how serious he is about this team and about his performance.”