Bullpen Is Feeling Left Out Without Donnelly

When Brad Fullmer smacked a pinch-hit three-run double Monday off Angel reliever Ben Weber, capping a come-from-behind victory for the Texas Rangers, it illustrated the limitations of an Angel bullpen that does not include a left-hander.

It also demonstrated how much the Angels miss All-Star setup man Brendan Donnelly.

“The bigger issue is not having Brendan Donnelly,” Manager Mike Scioscia, who insists that the Angel bullpen can excel without a left-hander, said Tuesday. “We’re very confident with anybody we bring out there, Web or whoever it would be. [But] when you had someone who was throwing the ball as well as Brendan was, it makes everybody in that bullpen better.”

Donnelly, stuck in Arizona indefinitely while he recovers from complications stemming from a broken nose suffered in spring training, was a critical component of a bullpen that over the last two seasons posted the best earned-run average in the American League. Last season, Donnelly was 2-2 with three saves and a 1.58 ERA in 63 games.

Without Donnelly, the Angel bullpen had posted a 7.04 ERA with one blown save in two chances.

“Everybody’s role has expanded,” said reliever Scot Shields, who gave up four runs in two innings Sunday. “It’s a challenge for us. We have to pick up the slack.”

Shields spoke to Donnelly by phone Tuesday and said the setup man is eager to return and help the team. Donnelly was struck in the nose by a batting-practice fly ball March 9, suffering 20 fractures. He later experienced nosebleeds so serious that he lost roughly half the blood in his body over a 48-hour span before undergoing surgery to cauterize the blood vessels in his nose. Donnelly was examined Tuesday and cleared to resume light exercises. If all goes well, he can step up his workouts after a week.

Even when Donnelly returns, which might not be until June, the Angel bullpen might still be without a left-hander.

The Angels signed left-hander Yoshitaka Mizuo to a one-year contract in March, but Tony Reagins, the club’s minor league director, said the former Japanese League pitcher probably would need until midseason “before he even gets close” to pitching in the major leagues. Mizuo received his visa Tuesday and is scheduled to join the triple-A Salt Lake Stingers next week.