Colon in No Mood to Talk

Bartolo Colon has spoken to reporters after every start for two seasons, he has been accessible, cordial and candid to the media, but the Angel right-hander is so distraught about the shoulder injury that knocked him out of the American League championship series that he has declined interview requests since the series began.

“He’s definitely bummed,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He realizes what our need was for him to do what he can do. With him being the lead dog in our rotation, he naturally feels let down. But he also knows we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in without his contributions.”

Colon suffered a strain, or a slight tear, in the back of his shoulder and was pulled from Game 5 of the division series against the Yankees in the second inning. Though the Angels are holding out hope the ace can pitch again in this postseason, Colon is not expected to be activated for the World Series should the Angels advance.

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The Angels didn’t necessarily pull John Lackey after five innings Friday night with an eye toward Game 6, but because the right-hander threw only 83 pitches, the Angels will have the option of starting Lackey on three days’ rest Tuesday should the series return to Chicago.

Lackey, who was pounded for five runs and eight hits in five innings of the Angels’ 5-2 loss Friday, said he would have “no problem” coming back Tuesday on short rest; he gave up one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Yankees in Game 4 of the division series on three days’ rest.

But as of Saturday, the tentative Angel rotation after Paul Byrd starts Game 5 tonight is Jarrod Washburn for Game 6 and Lackey for Game 7, if necessary.

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With Steve Finley’s poor performance during the season followed by an even worse performance during the playoffs, the Angels have considered benching him and moving Garret Anderson to center field.

With Anderson in center, the Angels could play Juan Rivera in left field and Casey Kotchman at designated hitter.

After batting .222 during the regular season, Finley is batting .150 in the playoffs, with six strikeouts in 20 at-bats.

The Angels made one lineup change Saturday, replacing Rivera with Kotchman to add a left-handed bat against the right-handed Freddy Garcia. Finley, who was benched briefly last month, remained in the lineup.

Scioscia said he had considered moving Anderson to center, as well as moving Chone Figgins there and playing Robb Quinlan every day at third base, before deciding to stick with what he considered the Angels’ best defensive lineup.

However, in the first inning, Tadahito Iguchi ran on Finley, tagging from first base and taking second on a fly ball to center. In the second inning, with the tying runs on base, Finley grounded into an inning-ending double play.

“If we’re going to get this thing done, we have to hit, but the guys that have to hit aren’t on our bench,” Scioscia said.

“The guys that have to hit are already in our lineup.”

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Spare the feelings, spoil the team.

So goes Ozzie Guillen, who says what he says, then moves on to the next guy.

“My rules, dealing with me every day, throwing some players under the bus once in a while, most every day,” Guillen said. “Every time they see me in the clubhouse, they go, ‘Vroom! Under the bus.’ There’s one thing about me, I will tell my players the truth and they know me. Once in a while we bring somebody, they don’t know me, don’t know my team, be late for the national anthem. I don’t want superstars. I want good players. To be a good player is your will to win, not for you numbers or for your stats or to be the best in the game.”

Ultimately, Guillen said, “I think we have a pretty good chemistry in this ballclub and I don’t want to change it. I told Kenny [Williams], ‘I want to lose with the guys who die for me,’ and they did it.”

Or something like that.

When Guillen arrived in the big leagues, Tony La Russa was the White Sox manager, and there was no question who was in charge.

“Now, players make so much money and they think they can do whatever they can do,” Guillen said. “[Saying], ‘If I’m late he can’t do anything to me because you’re not going to bench me, not going to release me, not going to trade me.’ Well, with the White Sox it’s a little bit different because I don’t care how much money you make, I don’t care how good [you are], if you don’t go by my book, you’re not going to play for the White Sox.”

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With rain in the forecast for Saturday night and today, the infield was covered with a tarp after the game Saturday.

Staff Writers Bill Shaikin and Tim Brown contributed to this report.