Colon on DL

[RME JICO]

Right shoulder inflammation lands Colon on DL

 

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Angels placed right-hander Bartolo Colon, the AL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, on the disabled list Wednesday with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.

 

The move was made right before the game in Minnesota and was retroactive to Sunday, when Colon lost to Baltimore. Right-hander Kevin Gregg was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take Colon's roster spot, and Gregg was available to pitch Wednesday against the Twins.

 

Right-hander Hector Carrasco will take Colon's turn in the rotation on Thursday.

 

Colon (0-2) gave up only one earned run in seven innings against the Orioles on Sunday, but he has gone three starts without a victory, and his ERA is 7.07.

 

Twins physician Dr. John Steubs examined him Tuesday night at the Metrodome, and Colon had an MRI exam Wednesday that revealed the inflammation. This is only the second time the 32-year-old Colon has gone on the DL in his major-league career. He missed almost a month in the 2000 season with the Cleveland Indians because of a pulled oblique muscle.

 

Last season, Colon went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA with 157 strikeouts in 222 2/3 innings.

 

Manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels are anticipating he'll only miss two starts and be ready to return when he's eligible to be activated on May 2.

 

"You're always concerned with Bart, because he's such a horse," Scioscia said. "When he needs to take a step back we're obviously concerned. Based on the MRI and diagnosis, we can breathe a little sigh of relief. We didn't see anything structurally wrong in there."

 

The Sox play LAA 28-30 April, so they will not see Colon.

[The Critic]

Ironic that he can pitch while being swollen almost everywhere else on his body (face, gut, legs, ankles) but a swollen shoulder shuts him down.