Rapp Pitched With Injury

The Angels removed Pat Rapp from their starting rotation Monday, after which Rapp revealed he had pitched most of the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

“Most guys don’t pitch when they get hurt,” Rapp said. “I’m proud of myself for pitching with this. I learned how to do it.”

Rapp said he was bothered by persistent shoulder stiffness since the second game of the season and said an MRI test at the All-Star break in July confirmed the injury.

The Angels placed Rapp on a strengthening program and reduced his throwing between starts, but never announced the injury.

He has started 28 games, tied with Ramon Ortiz and Scott Schoeneweis for the team lead. Rapp is 5-12 with a 4.80 earned-run average.

Ortiz was diagnosed with a torn labrum early last year and completed the season without missing a start. Manager Mike Scioscia credited Rapp with working diligently with physical therapist Brian Scherr, but said virtually all pitchers endure what he called “normal wear and tear” on their shoulders.

“I don’t want to minimize what Pat has done,” Scioscia said. “He has worked very hard. He’s had a much better year than his won-lost record shows. But did Pat go out there and pitch when he shouldn’t? No.”

The Angels replaced Rapp in the rotation with rookie Matt Wise, 25, who pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Rapp on Saturday. Scioscia said the Angels considered using a six-man rotation that included Rapp and Wise, but said off days made that impractical. In six starts for the Angels earlier this season, Wise was 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA.

Rapp, 34, who will work out of the bullpen for the final three weeks of the season, said he anticipated the move.

Although Scioscia told Rapp on Monday, the Angels had not yet decided whether to offer him a contract next season. The team hopes Wise can produce statistics similar to Rapp’s at a cheaper price--Rapp earned $2 million this season--and improve from there.

“I’m a realist. That’s pretty obvious,” Rapp said. “He’s a young guy coming up. He’s got good stuff, and he’s earned a look.”

When doctors diagnosed Rapp’s injury, they offered him the chance at season-ending surgery. He hopes that his ability to pitch through the injury, combined with a winter of rehabilitation, will earn him a free-agent contract somewhere next season.

“If I have surgery, I’m done,” Rapp said.