Schoeneweis Likes Role in Toronto

Scott Schoeneweis hated pitching in relief for the Angels, and his griping about his demotion from the rotation to the bullpen contributed to him being traded to the Chicago White Sox in July 2003.

But the left-hander can think of about 5.2 million reasons -- namely, the two-year, $5.2-million contract he signed with Toronto last winter -- why he has embraced a full-time relief role.

“That made it easier to accept,” Schoeneweis said, referring to his contract. “These guys wanted me solely for the bullpen with the option to start. I’m at a point in my career where I just want to be good at something and help the team win, and this is how I can help the team most.”

Schoeneweis is 2-2 with a 4.54 earned-run average in 48 games, striking out 31 and limiting opponents to a .225 average in 33 2/3 innings. Left-handers are batting .174 against Schoeneweis.

The irony that the Angels are searching for relief help, especially from the left side, is not lost on Schoeneweis, who spent 4 1/2 years in Anaheim. “Teams are finding out how important those specialty roles are,” Schoeneweis said.

The Angels learned it the hard way in October, when Manager Mike Scioscia summoned starter Jarrod Washburn, his only left-hander on the staff, to face Boston’s David Ortiz, who hit a game-winning, division-series-clinching home run on Washburn’s first pitch.

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The deeper Dallas McPherson goes into his rehabilitation for hip, groin and lower-back injuries, the more apparent it becomes that the third baseman won’t return to the Angels soon.

McPherson, who was put on the disabled list July 8, returned to Arizona this week for physical therapy and to resume baseball activities -- he began taking batting practice Monday -- but Scioscia said that McPherson wouldn’t begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment “for at least a week to 10 days.”

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Veteran left-handed reliever Pedro Borbon Jr., who was signed to a minor league contract over the All-Star break and hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2003, was promoted from double-A Arkansas to triple-A Salt Lake.