Tuesday, October 11, 2005 |
UTK LCS Notes
The Angels now face an uncertain future. Bartolo Colon left Game Five with what the team is calling an "inflamed right shoulder." This was a clear cascade injury that Colon was tipping as early as the warm-ups. Colon stepped off the rubber several times and shook his shoulder, took it in circles, and twice did a behind the head stretch. All of these indicate a rotator cuff problem and controlling this inflammation will be key to his availability. Colon was examined in the clubhouse by team phyisican Lewis Yocum after leaving the game. The team will have an MRI done in hopes that a decision can be made regarding the roster for the ALCS. There's no clear alternative for the roster slot. Complicating matters is the continued illness of Jarrod Washburn. His flu-like symptoms scratched him from Game Four and have him as the rough equivalent of "probable." That leaves Paul Byrd as the Game One starter, not exactly the intimidating establisher that a team wants. John Lackey on a second start with three days rest is another possibility, though one that is decidedly less risky if Lackey continues focusing on efficiency in those starts. Getting Washburn back is key, making it possible to use Ervin Santana in the Game Four slot at home.Without quoting the whole damn thing, the Chisox are healthy, Frank Thomas and Scott Podsednik notwithstanding, and look to be very ready for an ill-rested Angels squad. Will does have one other interesting tidbit about Jake Peavy of the Padres:The bullpen faces some fatigue issues. You might have noticed Francisco Rodriguez grimacing and shaking his arm at times. His fastball hasn't come back since his mid-season DL stint, forcing him to throw slider after filthy slider, taking an enormous toll on his shoulder and elbow. Kelvim Escobar also appears to be extended due to the back-to-back appearances and his elbow not being at full strength. This could put more of a load on Scot Shields and Brendan Donnelly for the ALCS than we saw in the five-game set just completed.
The team is relatively healthy on the field. Garret Anderson has some ongoing issues with his back and possibly some lingering effects of the arthritis that limited him last season. It hasn't affected his bat. Ben Molina is surely still feeling the shot he took off his left elbow--one I was sure had fractured it--but his play contradicts that. The Angels made it to the World Series just a few years ago due to a year where they were nearly the best team in the league at preventing injuries. While hardly fluky--the Angels are seldom out of the top half--it's going to be their ability to keep their pitchers effective that will decide if beating the Yankees was as close as they get to a title.
We may never know the full story on Jake Peavy now that the Padres are out of the playoffs. Peavy, like Mark Mulder a few years ago, is supposed to have been healthy enough to pitch if the series had gone to a game four. While possibly true, it's a bit too convenient, akin to a medhead "my dog ate my homework." There are as many stories about Peavy circulating as there were about Mulder. If it's a simple fracture, then there's no concerns. If the team was disguising a shoulder injury as reliable sources have told me, he'll be like Mulder was--a red flag until he proves he's healthy in spring training.
Then again, Vlad and Chone could get hot again . . .
: 10/11/2005 01:17:00 PMNah, that's not completely true. The pace on his fastball is about where it should be now, but K-Rod's problem is that he's precluding his fastball for mostly his vertical power curve. Inevitably, it screws up his release point (again, he has two), and leaves stuff over the plate. He hardly throws his near side-arm curve ball probably for that reason.
That being said, it's understandable since the Yanks are among the best fastball hitting teams in baseball. I'm worried about K-rod myself. To be honest, I would have been comfortable using K-rod in the setup role and Shields as closer.
<< Kelvim Escobar also appears to be extended due to the back-to-back appearances and his elbow not being at full strength. >>
Escobar's relief work was pretty good. He threw splitter, which is among the best in the business. If his arm wasn't holding up, I don't think he would have thrown as many as he did.
I'm not terribly worried about Shields, actually. The great thing about this guy is that he naturally has great tailing action on his fastball. Meaning, he can outright miss his location, and still not be shelled. His problem against the Yanks was facing the middle of the lineup, at the Bronx, and walking the first guy with no out. He don't walk the first guy out, he probably gets out of the inning.
Donnelly's fastball is dead. No sink. No reason to put him in there except for cleanup.
: 10/11/2005 01:36:00 PM : 10/11/2005 04:18:00 PM : 10/11/2005 04:59:00 PM : 10/11/2005 08:22:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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