Colon has a tear
October 13, 2005
Matt Hurst
Press-Enterprise
CHICAGO - While the Angels sound optimistic that Bartolo Colon can pitch again this postseason, it is highly doubtful given the news.
An MRI exam taken Wednesday revealed that Colon suffered a tear in his right shoulder, something both General Manager Bill Stoneman and Manager Mike Scioscia hope treatment and a week-and-a-half off could fix before the World Series -- if the Angels advance.
"We will continue to work on it and do what we can," Stoneman said. "Will he be available is we move on to the World Series? The truth is we don't know."
Colon, 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA this season, declined to speak with reporters on the matter, but losing the Cy Young Award front-runner would obviously be a huge blow to the Angels' title hopes.
If there is a silver lining, it would be that surgery doesn't appear necessary, his rotator cuff was intact, and Colon could be ready for the 2006 season.
"It's positive in the sense that we're not wheeling this guy to the hospital for surgery," Stoneman said. "It sounds what really, the deal is, is that it's a strain. We'll deal with this with therapy and whatever time it takes the strain to heal."
His velocity was down in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against the Yankees and he was visibly in pain.
"He's not going to get out there with any risk to his long-term future," Scioscia said of Colon, and Colon who has two years and $26 million remaining on his contract. "We'll see what transpires in the next week or so. If he's healthy he'll get out and pitch, but we don't want to do anything to put Bart's health at risk."
Impatient Hitters
The Angels will never be mistaken for patient hitters -- they were ninth in the AL in walks -- but Mark Buehrle had thrown just 99 pitches through nine innings, reached a full count on one batter and didn't issue a walk.
Vladimir Guerrero swung at the first pitch he saw in both the first and fourth innings, grounding out each time. It was important in the fourth because Orlando Cabrera was on second after his one-out double and Guerrero left him stranded.
When the 2004 MVP batted in the sixth, he watched the first pitch go by for a ball and swung at the next one, grounding into a 6-4-3 double play. He is 0 for 8 in the series and has seen just 17 pitches.
"We didn't play well on the field," Scioscia said. "We didn't hit the ball. We'll bounce back, though. You have to give Buehrle credit. He pitched a terrific ballgame."
Lineup Switches
Bengie Molina got his first night off behind the plate in the playoffs and was the team's designated hitter while Jose Molina caught. But the move took Juan Rivera's bat (.286 in the playoffs) out of the lineup.
"Juan's been swinging the bat well the last month, but against Buehrle he hasn't had much success (2 for 17)," Scioscia said. "It's a chance to give Bengie a little time."
More Angels Notes
Game 1 of this year's ALCS drew a 7.7 rating and a 12 share Tuesday on Fox. One ratings point is worth more than 1 million households, and share is the percentage of televisions tuned in to the broadcast. Ratings are down 23 percent from last year's Yankees-Red Sox ALCS opener, which had a 10 rating and 16 share.
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