Injury to Elbow Concerns Cabrera

An injury the Angels announced as “elbow tightness” sounded a little more severe after talking to shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who was scratched from Monday night’s game against the Texas Rangers and may sit out the three-game series.

“I woke up [Monday] and could barely lift my arm,” said Cabrera, who had played in the Angels’ first 68 games, starting 67 of them, and sat out only two games in the previous two seasons. “It felt like I threw nine innings [Sunday].”

Cabrera, who spent a five-minute interview massaging his right forearm, said an X-ray of the elbow Monday showed “nothing serious.” But if he is not feeling better after taking anti-inflammatory medication for a few more of days, Cabrera will undergo an MRI test.

The elbow first began bothering Cabrera on Wednesday, and he wore a sleeve for extra protection in the weekend series against Florida.

“It feels like a muscle problem,” said Cabrera, who was slowed by a sore arm in spring training. “I usually play through shoulder and elbow problems, and it didn’t bother me to throw until [Monday]. I’ve never had this before.”

*

Reliever Brendan Donnelly will base the appeal of his 10-day suspension for having pine tar on his glove on the fact he did not throw a pitch before Washington Manager Frank Robinson asked umpires to check the glove Wednesday night.

Crew chief Dale Scott cited Donnelly for violating Rule 8.02(b), which states that a pitcher may not have on his person, or in his possession, any foreign substance. The penalty for such an infraction is immediate ejection from the game.

But before issuing the suspension, Bob Watson, who oversees discipline for Major League Baseball, indicated he was guided by Rule 3.02, which states that no player shall intentionally discolor or damage the ball by rubbing it with ... a foreign substance.

Rule 3.02 also says that “if the pitcher delivers such a discolored or damaged ball to the batter, the pitcher shall be removed from the game at once and shall be suspended automatically for 10 days.”

Donnelly, who spent the weekend poring over baseball’s rule book, was ejected after warming up in the seventh but before delivering a pitch. He says he thinks there are grounds to at least have the length of his suspension reduced. The appeal is tentatively scheduled to be heard Friday.

*

The Angels have come to terms with 16 of the 51 players they selected in the recent draft, including second-round pick P.J. Phillips, a high school shortstop from Georgia who signed for $500,000. Phillips is the brother of Cleveland infielder Brandon Phillips. Also agreeing to terms were Tommy Mendoza (pitcher, fifth round), Jerome Moore (outfielder, sixth), Robert Romero (pitcher, seventh) and Robert Mosebach (pitcher, ninth).