Team Isn’t Concerned by Colon’s Slow Recovery

Bartolo Colon last pitched two weeks ago today, and the reigning Cy Young Award winner will probably sit out several more weeks.

“It’s taken longer than we expected to get him to a point where he’s comfortable,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said.

When the Angels put Colon on the disabled list, Stoneman said, “It looks like he’ll be back on May 1.”

Colon has yet to progress beyond playing catch, but Stoneman said the slow recovery is not cause for concern that the shoulder injury might extend beyond the inflammation and scar tissue shown in an MRI exam 10 days ago.

The Angels have no plans for another MRI.

“You can’t increase the pace at which this thing is going to heal,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Right now, he’s still crawling through the process.”

Asked whether that process could take weeks or months, Scioscia said, “No one’s talked to me about months. We’re going to make sure he’s got firm ground under him before we move forward.”

Scioscia said Hector Carrasco would continue to fill Colon’s spot in the rotation. Carrasco pitched three innings in his first start and five in his second, giving up eight runs, 11 hits and four walks in those eight innings.

*

The Angel Stadium crowd booed Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, the beneficiary of the third-strike drama in last year’s American League championship series. Kelvim Escobar threw strike three to Pierzynski, but he ran safely to first base after catcher Josh Paul failed to tag him out and umpire Doug Eddings failed to call him out.

Pierzynski is notorious for getting under the skin of opposing players and teams, so Chicago Manager Ozzie Guillen chuckled at the pregame question of how the Anaheim fans might receive Pierzynski.

“They boo A.J. everywhere,” Guillen said. “Even in his backyard, his wife and kids boo him.”

*

Scioscia called it “unlikely” that outfielder Juan Rivera (strained rib cage) would be activated when eligible Monday and said his return was “still a number of days away.” ... FSN West is experimenting with a three-man broadcasting crew this weekend, with Jose Mota joining Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler in the booth. The Angels and FSN West will evaluate the experiment next week.... Author Robert Goldman will sign copies of his newly released team history, “Once They Were Angels,” at the ballpark tonight.