McNamara Still Waiting for OK

John McNamara’s return as interim manager, originally scheduled for tonight, will be pushed back at least a week, while doctors work to regulate medication for the treatment of a blood clot in McNamara’s right calf.

Doctors have told McNamara, 64, that flying could exacerbate his condition, so the manager, who was released from a New York hospital Wednesday, will remain at his Nashville home while bench coach Joe Maddon runs the team.

General Manager Bill Bavasi said McNamara would manage the Angels when he receives medical clearance. “That’s our deal--he manages the club as soon as he can,� Bavasi said. “We’re disappointed, and I know he’s disappointed, but I’m glad we can take a safe route with this.�

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Catcher Don Slaught’s request for a trade apparently won’t be fulfilled. Slaught, who is hitting .324 but has only eight at-bats in the last month, was informed by front-office officials this week that there wasn’t enough interest in the veteran to warrant a deal.

With the Angels out of contention, Jorge Fabregas and Todd Greene have been sharing catching duties while Slaught, 37, and his impressive bat rot on the bench. Slaught has six homers and 32 RBIs but has been a non-factor since injuring his back in mid-July.

“I don’t want to come off sounding bitter, because the Angels gave me an opportunity to play this year,� Slaught said. “I can understand why they’re doing this, but I wonder what would have happened if we were in the race.�

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Reliever Bryan Harvey, who hasn’t pitched since undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery in May, 1995, had to cut short Friday’s simulated game after 24 pitches because he had “no arm strength or power.�

Harvey said he would consider attending the Angels’ instructional league in November in an effort to return next season, but he hasn’t given up on 1996.

“I want to pitch at least once, to see what I could do with a little more adrenaline,� Harvey said. Told he could blow his arm out again if he was physically sound, Harvey said, “Yeah, I may just throw one pitch.�

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Mark Langston, who entertained thoughts of returning from his knee injury despite an Angel announcement that he was out for the season, appears to be out for the year . . . again. Trainer Ned Bergert said scores on tests to determine the strength in Langston’s right knee “have come up, but they’re still not acceptable for Mark to return pitching at this time.� . . . The bat Garret Anderson used to hit a grand slam Thursday has been sent to Cooperstown, N.Y., where it will be displayed in the Hall of Fame’s record-breakers wing. Anderson’s homer was the 124th grand slam of this season, breaking the previous major league record of 123, set in 1995. . . . The Yankees’ trade-a-day pace continued Friday when they acquired third baseman Charlie Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named. How convenient: Yankee third baseman Wade Boggs left Friday’s game in the fourth inning because of stiffness in his lower back.