Washburn Seeks Healthy Season

Most baseball players are extremely sensitive to being labeled “injury prone.” The tag seems to follow them wherever they go, raising questions in the minds of coaches and decreasing their value in the eyes of front-office executives.

Angel pitcher Jarrod Washburn knows some have placed that label on him, but he is not bitter.

“It’s a fact. I’ve been hurt. I haven’t been able to help the team for two years,” said Washburn, a 26-year-old left-hander who seems to be a lock for the Angel rotation . . . if he is sound. “I have to prove I can stay healthy and shed that label.”

Washburn missed almost two months of 1999 because of a strained oblique muscle. Another rib-cage strain prevented him from opening 2000 with the Angels, and two other injuries, a strained biceps and a small fracture in his shoulder blade, sidelined him for more than two months.

When sound, he has been effective in the big leagues. He went 6-3 with a 4.62 earned-run average in 11 starts in 1998, 4-5 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 starts in ‘99, and 7-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 14 starts in 2000.

His stuff isn’t overpowering, but Washburn’s fastball has so much late action it seems to rise as it approaches the plate. Teammate Scott Schoeneweis calls it a “dark ball . . . it just disappears.”

Kind of like Washburn does far too often, when he gets hurt. And that’s a label he hopes will disappear.

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The Angels held their first full-squad workout Tuesday, but new designated hitter Jose Canseco, suffering from flu-like symptoms, was a no-show. Canseco, whose wife and daughter were also sick, was scheduled to arrive in the Phoenix area Tuesday night, undergo a physical this morning and join the team today.

Once in uniform, Canseco will work with the outfielders, even though his chances of playing the field this season are slim. After talking with Manager Mike Scioscia in January, Canseco was under the impression he would play some first base this spring.

“That was a few weeks ago,” Scioscia said. “Jose won’t play first. It would be an advantage if he can play some outfield, but his contribution will be with the bat. We have to keep him healthy.”

Angel coaches will monitor Canseco closely. The slugger who was the first player to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season in 1988 has lost about 20 pounds and hopes to be more aggressive on the basepaths, but Scioscia doesn’t want the oft-injured Canseco to run his way onto the disabled list.

“Hopefully, the risk of injury will diminish as he gets lighter,” Scioscia said. “We want him to do everything he can to help us win, but he has to pick his spots. We don’t want him stealing just to steal a base. It’s more important he go from first to third and score from second on hits.”

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First baseman Mo Vaughn, who underwent season-ending elbow surgery in early February, will have his stitches removed and get fitted for a brace today. He is expected to be in Tempe to begin physical therapy. . . . Reserve catcher Shawn Wooten, out for four days because of a swollen knee, is expected to return to action today.