BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Springer Sidelined by Back Injury

Angel starter Russ Springer, praying that he would be the one in his family to escape a serious back injury, instead learned that he has three degenerative disks.

The Angels believe Springer will be able to pitch before the end of the season, but it’s an injury that will have to be treated the rest of his life, according to trainer Ned Bergert.

“I hope it won’t affect my career,” Springer said, “but it worries me right now. Baseball is the only thing that I’ve ever done, and I want to stay.

“I hope that I’ll be able to do something to make it better because I can’t pitch right now. I’ve proven that the last two games.”

Springer (1-6, 7.20 earned-run average), the lone starter acquired in the Jim Abbott trade with the New York Yankees, said his back has bothered him in his last three starts.

Springer’s father had a ruptured disk that causes pain to shoot down his legs; his mother had polio; his brother slipped a disk in his back when he was 14; and his two sisters have scoliosis.

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Kansas City third baseman Gary Gaetti blames the Los Angeles media as much as anyone for J.T. Snow’s demotion to triple-A Vancouver, where he continues to struggle.

“You guys did a number on J.T., didn’t you?” Gaetti said, waving his hand at reporters. “I saw it coming. I saw it coming. You guys had to know every detail of his life, and the expectations got so big because of the buildup.

“I wish I was around so I could have warned him.”

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The Angels have not gone longer than 11 days without making at least one roster move since May 31, and have made 10 moves alone in the last nine days. . . . Kansas City center fielder Brian McRae strained his left hamstring in Tuesday’s game, and is not expected to return until at least Friday.