Angel Notebook : Tests Ordered for Pitchers Candelaria and Lucas; Fraser Makes His Bid

A year has passed and the injuries are different, but the health concerns on the Angel pitching staff remain the same--Gary Lucas and John Candelaria.

Last spring, it was Lucas’ back and Candelaria’s elbow that worried the Angels. This spring, it’s Lucas’ left shoulder and Candelaria’s right leg. New developments prompted the Angels to schedule additional medical testing for the ailing pitchers.

Lucas reported soreness in his shoulder after pitching two innings Saturday and left camp Sunday to undergo an arthrogram at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood. Candelaria, who continues to complain of numbness in his right calf, will undergo a nerve test called an electromyogram (EMG) Wednesday.

An Angel spokesman said Lucas’ arthrogram was scheduled “more to rule out anything.” In an arthrogram, the injured area is injected with dye, and an X-ray is taken. “It can tell you if there’s a tear in the rotator cuff muscle or the cartilage,” team therapist Roger Williams said.

Recovery time from such a test can range from two to four days, meaning Lucas will probably not pitch again until the Freeway Series--if then. With the season opener eight days away, Lucas stands a chance of beginning his second season as an Angel the same way as the first--on the disabled list.

Manager Gene Mauch was asked about the possibility of Lucas being placed on the disabled list.

“I haven’t given that any thought,” he said.

Mauch was asked if he thought the injury was serious. A long pause followed.

“I really don’t know,” he finally answered. “I’m not indifferent. I’m very caring. I just don’t know at this point.

“Lucas said the shoulder wasn’t as bad as it was before, but he still had a tendency to flinch. We might have gotten away with it if we had only pitched him one inning. But we wanted two. And somewhere during that second inning, he felt a twinge.”

Candelaria was able to pitch in a simulated game Sunday afternoon, throwing 103 pitches after taping up his right ankle. His fastest pitch was timed at 85 m.p.h., and Mauch termed it “a real good workout. His pitching motion looked fine to me.”

Candelaria said he could pitch in a real game if needed, although he allowed, “it’d be real interesting to see what my reaction would be covering first base.” He said he didn’t favor the leg during the workout but admitted that “a couple times, it gave a little bit.”

The prospect of undergoing an EMG doesn’t thrill Candelaria.

“I’m not looking forward to it. It’s very painful,” he said. “They stick Teflon needles in you to see how much feeling you have. They hit the nerve and then you know.”

Mauch has tentatively scheduled Candelaria to start Friday night’s Freeway Series opener against the Dodgers at Anaheim Stadium. “If he gets a green light from the doctor, he’ll pitch Friday,” Mauch said.

The current uncertainty on the Angel pitching staff could translate into good news for rookie Willie Fraser.

Excluding Mike Witt, Fraser has been the most impressive pitcher in the Angel camp. He pitched 5 innings Sunday against the San Diego Padres, allowing 3 runs in the first and then settling down to shut out the Padres the rest of the way. That left Fraser with a spring ERA of 2.16.

But if everybody’s healthy, the only spot open on the staff is long relief--and Mauch has said he’d rather have Fraser start every fifth day in Edmonton than pitch mop-up for the Angels. “We’ll find some significant innings for Willie Fraser or none at all,” Mauch said.

Depending on Lucas’ status, there could be many significant innings to be had come April 7. Mauch may have no choice but to try the 22-year-old where he’s never pitched before--short relief.

“I’ve never thrown as a short man, but I have no problem with that,” Fraser said. “I could pitch long relief, too. I don’t care what role, I want to be in the big leagues.”

Angel Notes

How did the Angels beat the Padres, 7-6, in the bottom of the 11th inning Sunday? On an RBI single by Devon White, of course. The Padres had scored twice in the top of the 11th, but the Angels rallied to tie at 6-6 and put runners on first and third with one out. San Diego reliever Dave Dravecky then issued an intentional walk to Brian Downing, loading the bases for White. White hit a chopper over the pitcher’s mound. Shortstop Joey Cora dove one way, second baseman Tim Flanney dove another, and the ball bounded between the two over second base. It was White’s 22nd RBI of the spring and his third hit of the afternoon, raising his average to .396. . . . Jack Howell also had three hits to improve his average to .291. Mark McLemore added a pair of singles. . . . Donnie Moore pitched a hitless ninth inning and afterward called it “my best in a long time.” Moore was clocked several times at 91 m.p.h.