Injuries take toll on Angels... - Revolution42's Blog

Revolution42's Blog

Injuries take toll on Angels...

Posted on April 25, 2009 at 04:07 PM.

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Injuries have made contending in the American League West a major challenge for the Los Angeles Angels.
"Right now, we just have to hang on," said injured Angels starter Kelvim Escobar. "We have to hang on until everybody's ready to come back."
Escobar was supposed to be ready to pitch by the end of April. But after some inflammation in his shoulder this spring, that was pushed back.
"They told me my arm was fatigued," he said.
Escobar missed all of 2008 with arm problems after hanging in the Cy Young Award race through most of 2007 before being slowed by injury. He will throw a bullpen session today; if all goes well, he expects to spend most of May on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.
"After that, we're looking last week of May, probably June 1, to be back up here," Escobar said.
Besides Escobar, the Angels are without Ervin Santana (elbow) and John Lackey (elbow), who both are still in extended spring training; and Darren Oliver, on the disabled list with a strained left triceps.
The team also is still reeling from the death of rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, and will have another youngster named Anthony Ortega making his major-league debut tonight.
"Can you believe all this?" Escobar said. "We just have to try to hang on, stay close. This team over there [the Mariners], I think they're a good team. I think they're going to be right there. We have to stay close to them now."
May day for Johjima?
Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima, on the disabled list with an ailing hamstring, doesn't expect to return to the field until May 1.
Johjima, who took batting practice for the first time Friday, says he needs one more week to get fully healthy.
"It hurt a little bit when I had to extend too much," he said, in English, without an interpreter present. "So I have to be careful. I have to take it slow."
He also did some squatting, catching and blocking of balls in the dirt