Monday, April 03, 2006
Escobar ready to get started
Starter back in rotation after elbow shelved him for most of 2005
Kelvim Escobar spent more time with the trainer last year than he did with a baseball in his hand, and doesn't try to hide the fact that he quickly grew tired of seeing so much of the Angels' medical staff.
"It was hard going to the ballpark every day and being in the training room," Escobar said. "I hate the training room. I don't like to go in there.
"You have to do it, but I'm glad everything feels fine."
After elbow injuries limited him to 59 2/3 innings last year, the Angels' No. 4 starter said he is fully healthy and looking forward to a better season in 2006.
Escobar won 11 games in his first season with the Angels in 2004 and entered last spring with high expectations, but he landed on the disabled list three times and eventually underwent surgery on June 29 to shave down bone spurs in his right elbow. Before the surgery, he endured nearly constant uncertainty about whether his arm would recover with therapy or he would have to shut down his season.
Escobar eventually returned in September, but, with rookie Ervin Santana having established himself in the starting rotation, was pushed into the bullpen. It was soon clear that the post-surgery Escobar was as good as new, as he posted a 1-0 record and a 1.89 ERA in 19 regular-season innings. He was just as effective in the postseason.
"That was a good thing, because I pitched a lot coming off surgery," Escobar said. "I showed them that I was back healthy and told myself that, too."
He continued his progress by going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings this spring. Escobar is expected to start the Angels' home opener against the Yankees on Friday.
"I know that results are not very important in Spring Training," he said. "But if you're working on something and you do it, you're going to get good results. If you're not getting good results, then something's wrong."
Angels manager Mike Scioscia feels one of the biggest strengths of this year's team is its starting rotation, especially considering Escobar and staff ace Bartolo Colon appear healthy to start the season.
"When we came into Spring Training," Scioscia said, "if you had told me our rotation would be where it is now, with the guys we had banged up last year, I would be ecstatic.
"I think Kelvim, from coming off arm surgery to going into the bullpen to reestablishing himself as a starter, it's easier said than done. He's accomplished that."
Kelvim Escobar spent more time with the trainer last year than he did with a baseball in his hand, and doesn't try to hide the fact that he quickly grew tired of seeing so much of the Angels' medical staff.
"It was hard going to the ballpark every day and being in the training room," Escobar said. "I hate the training room. I don't like to go in there.
"You have to do it, but I'm glad everything feels fine."
After elbow injuries limited him to 59 2/3 innings last year, the Angels' No. 4 starter said he is fully healthy and looking forward to a better season in 2006.
Escobar won 11 games in his first season with the Angels in 2004 and entered last spring with high expectations, but he landed on the disabled list three times and eventually underwent surgery on June 29 to shave down bone spurs in his right elbow. Before the surgery, he endured nearly constant uncertainty about whether his arm would recover with therapy or he would have to shut down his season.
Escobar eventually returned in September, but, with rookie Ervin Santana having established himself in the starting rotation, was pushed into the bullpen. It was soon clear that the post-surgery Escobar was as good as new, as he posted a 1-0 record and a 1.89 ERA in 19 regular-season innings. He was just as effective in the postseason.
"That was a good thing, because I pitched a lot coming off surgery," Escobar said. "I showed them that I was back healthy and told myself that, too."
He continued his progress by going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings this spring. Escobar is expected to start the Angels' home opener against the Yankees on Friday.
"I know that results are not very important in Spring Training," he said. "But if you're working on something and you do it, you're going to get good results. If you're not getting good results, then something's wrong."
Angels manager Mike Scioscia feels one of the biggest strengths of this year's team is its starting rotation, especially considering Escobar and staff ace Bartolo Colon appear healthy to start the season.
"When we came into Spring Training," Scioscia said, "if you had told me our rotation would be where it is now, with the guys we had banged up last year, I would be ecstatic.
"I think Kelvim, from coming off arm surgery to going into the bullpen to reestablishing himself as a starter, it's easier said than done. He's accomplished that."
# posted by Sarah @ 11:21 AM 
