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Bad news on Kelvim Escobar

June 23rd, 2009, 6:25 pm · 8 Comments · posted by MARK SAXON, OCREGISTER.COM

The handy solutions to the Angels’ bullpen problems are becoming more and more remote.
Kelvim Escobar felt a pinching sensation in his right shoulder after playing catch Monday and was set to meet with team orthopedist Lewis Yocum before Tuesday night’s game with the Colorado Rockies.escobar4
Escobar said he no longer feels like he’s on a fast track to helping the Angels bullpen.
“I think I need to slow down,” Escobar said. “I expected to feel a lot better. Sometimes, it takes time.”
Escobar said he would heed the advice of his close friend, Freddy Garcia, whose career still hasn’t resumed since he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum at the end of the 2007 season. Escobar had surgery to repair a torn labrum last July.
“He said sometimes he’d feel good and he kept throwing and it got very, very bad and he had a long setback,” Escobar said.
Escobar’s situation could make the Angels’ search for a setup reliever more imperative before the July 31 trade deadline.
Another at-hand option, 40-year old Rudy Seanez, was shut down at Triple-A Salt Lake after pitching in three games earlier this year because of a strained pectoral muscle. Seanez has resumed a throwing program, but it could be weeks before he is an option.
The Angels have seven losses this season when holding a lead in the eighth inning or later. They lost a total of eight games in that situation last year.
With Scot Shields out for the season following knee surgery, Manager Mike Scioscia’s eighth-inning options are limited. Scioscia acknowledged the Angels might need to reach beyond the organization for the solution.
“We need more production from the back end of the bullpen and I don’t mean Brian (Fuentes),” Scioscia said. “He’s done a great job, but getting to Brian has been a problem. We need consistent arms down there.”
The competition for top-end relievers could be fierce around the trading deadline, because so many teams need them.
“I can name you 29 other teams,” Scioscia said.

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Posted in: Angels • Kelvim Escobar • Mike Scioscia
 
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 8 Comments

  • Earl Bloom says:
    June 24, 2009 at 8:55 am

    Mark, this isn’t pretty, is it?

    In my comment on your June 19 Escobar article, I expressed my reservations that Escobar would shortly solve the Angels’ setup problems.

    Even I was optimistic enough to think he just needed a buildup after a layoff … but now this.

    I’m going to use this forum again to ask the Angels to spend a little money and acquire a former Cy Young Award winner. I don’t care if Pedro Martinez is only throwing 85 mph.

    Yesterday I watched Jamie Moyer baffle the defending AL champion Rays with 80 mph inside fastballs, 73 mph changeups and 66 mph curveballs. Knowing how to pitch is sometimes more important than velocity, and Pedro surely knows how to pitch.

    Post Reply
  • hbrealist says:
    June 24, 2009 at 9:53 am

    i will say it again. escobar cannot keep himself in shape or healthy. anyone who thought things would be different and he would make an impact on the angels season is a fool. The first time escobar came off the DL, i stated the same thing and also said he would be back on the DL within the month, and I got nothing but flack from it. The angels need to use that money and get someone who can consistently help the team, not keep the team doctor/trainer busy. Good riddance escobar.

    Post Reply
    • Steve_F says:
      June 24, 2009 at 12:24 pm

      I also said that his early success and hitting the radar in the mid 90s was not a sign that he would make it all the way back. There are other issues to deal with, like inflamation of the bicep tendon. After several months of inactivity, inflammation is normal, especially if a thrower overdoes it during rehab. But as long as Escobar takes care of himself, he has a better chance of returning than Pedro Martinez does. Joe Saunders had his labrum repaired in 2003, it took him a couple years to make it all the way back,

      Post Reply
  • GREG says:
    June 24, 2009 at 9:59 am

    When will the Angels get a clue and learn from the Cubs this guy is never going to pitch for more than a week. This reminds me of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood just move on like they finally did this guy piches 2 games and then is out for a year at a time. Get rid of Escobar he is far too fragile what waste oif time and money this guys has been dump him now please I am tried of hearing about him.

    Post Reply
  • Jake Logan says:
    June 24, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Earl, how is signing Pedro gonna help the bullpen.
    The Angels aren’t afraid to spend money, they just do it wisely; unlike the Dodgers (Jason Schmidt). If the Halos were desperate for a starter then maybe we could have this conversation. All signing Pedro does is waste $5 million and bring an idiot in to the clubhouse.

    Post Reply
  • Steve_F says:
    June 24, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Earl; Pedro went under the knife for rotator cuff surgery. Ask any orthopedic surgeon who specializes in repairing shoulders. Rotator cuff surgery is the worst procedure for a thrower because the odds on making a comeback are very long. Less than 10% the last I heard.

    Post Reply
  • Steve_F says:
    June 24, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    Here’s an article about Joe Saunders from Baseball America. It better explains the rotator cuff and labrum. Apparently Saunders also had a partial rotator cuff tear.

    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/040331shoulder.html

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