Figgins hopes fingers won’t be fickle

Gripping and swinging the bat hasn’t been a problem. The arm strength is there and his legs are in good shape.

Chone Figgins’ only concern when he begins a minor league rehabilitation assignment Wednesday or Thursday will be the accuracy of his throws from third base, a potential problem for a player who fractured the tips of the index and middle fingers on his throwing hand in late March.

“I don’t want to start throwing stuff all over the place, giving away souvenirs and hearing Kotchman’s mouth,” Figgins said, referring to Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman. “I don’t want to take a chance playing games here. I have to make sure I can throw it.”

Figgins made several long throws from behind the bag during batting practice Saturday and will have another rigorous workout today.

The Angels haven’t determined where he will begin his rehab assignment, but Figgins says he thinks he’ll need only a handful of games to get ready, so he could be activated early next week.

Though his throwing appears to be the only issue at this point, Manager Mike Scioscia has no plans to start Figgins at second, in place of injured Howie Kendrick, and keep Maicer Izturis at third. When Figgins returns, he will play third and Izturis will move to second.

“We want to get Figgins comfortable at third and Izzy at second -- I think that gives us a better look until Howie gets back,” Scioscia said. “If you’re not accurate from third, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be accurate from second. Right now, Figgy is going through some touch and feel issues, and they shouldn’t linger. But if you’re having problems with accuracy, it doesn’t matter what position you’re playing.”

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What is it with the Angels and left-handed relievers?

They traded for J.C. Romero after the veteran went 4-3 with a 3.47 earned-run average in 68 games for Minnesota in 2005, and Romero went 1-2 with a 6.70 ERA in 65 games for the Angels last season.

They signed Darren Oliver to a one-year, $1.75-million deal last winter after the veteran went 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA in 45 games for the Mets last season, but Oliver has an 18.90 ERA in seven games so far, and opponents are batting .529 against him in 3 1/3 innings.

Oliver pitched six times in the first two weeks, but his rocky outing Saturday, when he gave up three runs and three hits and retired one batter, was his first appearance since April 14.

“Like most relievers, he needs regular work,” Scioscia said. “I thought his stuff looked good [Saturday]. Some hits fell in, but I think he’s going to be fine.”

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Kendrick, who broke a bone in the back of his left hand when he was hit by a pitch Tuesday in Oakland, could be out for three to six weeks, depending on how fast the bone heals.

“I knew something was wrong when I got hit, but I didn’t think I fractured it,” Kendrick said. “I want to be 100% when I go back out there so I don’t re-injure it.”

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The man who tends to the injured needed some first aid himself Sunday. Ned Bergert, the Angels’ longtime athletic trainer, was struck on the top of the head in the ninth inning by a sharp grounder that Adrian Beltre fouled into the Angels’ dugout.

“He didn’t have to tell us where it hit him because it looked like a cartoon, as big as the lump on his head was,” Scioscia said. “It’s pretty bad when you’re looking around for a trainer, and he’s the only one on the bench.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com