escobar returns
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Kelvin Escobar was scheduled to pitch Wednesday at Arizona for the first time since his shoulder injury (a labral tear) on March 25.
“Escobar is going to pitch tomorrow, start the progression,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday night before the Angels faced the Red Sox in the first of three games at Fenway Park. “He’s very encouraging. He’s definitely more optimistic.”
After learning about his labral tear, Escobar discussed the option of having surgery, especially since it could mean a career-threatening situation.
Escobar’s injury is similar to that of Mark Gubizca, the FSN West broadcaster, who currently travels with the Angels and spent 14 seasons as an eminent pitcher in the Major Leagues. He, too, was part of the team for his final four seasons despite suffering a labral tear in 1993.
“I rehabbed the way he’s rehabbed now with Dr. Lewis Yocum,” Gubicza said, referring to the team’s orthopedist. “I strengthened the back of my shoulder and stayed there for four years. Dr. Yocum said he was going to give me new exercises and I felt like new. It can be done. That’s what I would tell Kelvim. That was in the ’90s; now it’s even more advanced with techniques, machines. He has to do the program every day. Even when you start to feel like you’ve got it back, you can’t go a day without doing the exercises. I was able to get my strength back that way, and I’m back on the rotation the following year”,
In 1988, Mark Gubicza had a 20-game winner when he pitched 269 2/3 innings for his team, the Royals, but went to the bullpen after returning from a torn labrum in 1993, making 43 of 49 appearances. After three years with the Royals he transferred to the Angels in 1997 where he played twice but injured his arm and decided to retire.
On the other hand, Escobar, who won 18 games in 2007, had been throwing soft pitches for nearly a week when his shoulder pain returned. He has been resting all spring after aggravating his shoulder in December training.
Escobar is young, he is 32 years old. Gubicza was 31 years old after completing his comeback from the labral tear in 1993.
“I’m still young,” Escobar said. “I will be 32 in two weeks, but retirement is getting into my head, because it is hard to rehab. I want to be playing and I have done everything to be healthy. He has a chance,” Gubicza said. do. He’s got a million pitches he can throw, so it’s not like he has to throw 93 or 94 mph to be effective. He’s got all those other pitches he can go to besides the fastball.”
An additional advantage for Escobar is his versatility. Escobar has pitched every position there is, starting as a long reliever to be closer to the starter, and has performed outstandingly at each one. Escobar is currently in the second year of a three-year, $28.5 million deal and has no intention of retiring yet, hoping to do what’s best for the team in the next game.
“I know you have good days and bad days when you go through this,” Escobar said after aggravating his shoulder throwing on March 17. “I had some good days … and then a bad day. I’m going to go ahead and do what I can. I want to come back when I’m ready and help this team win.”