Angels place reliever Sean Burnett on disabled list
SEATTLE — Pitching in games wasn’t so much of a problem for reliever Sean Burnett, who had a 1.04 earned-run average in 11 appearances before being placed on the 15-day disabled list because of forearm irritation Sunday.
The discomfort Burnett felt between appearances is what prevented him from pitching on back-to-back days and sent the veteran left-hander to the sidelines for at least another two weeks.
“Pitching-wise, I feel better than I have all year,” said Burnett, who had surgery to remove two bone spurs from his elbow last October. “I’m able to execute my pitches and do what I want with the ball right now, which is the funny part — the better I’m feeling physically pitching, my arm feels worse.”
Burnett had Tommy John surgery after the 2004 season, but an MRI test ruled out any structural damage in the ligament. He is the third Angels reliever to go on the DL since the start of the season, joining Kevin Jepsen and Mark Lowe. Closer Ryan Madson, still recovering from elbow surgery, opened the season on the DL.
“It feels fine as long as I can take a few days off, but it’s not fair to my teammates to do stuff like that,” Burnett said. “It’s just not the way it’s going to happen. ... Hopefully, with a few days of no throwing, it will calm down. It just seems like right now the muscle is mad at me.”
Burnett was replaced on the active roster by pitcher Tommy Hanson, who had been on the bereavement list. Hanson will start Monday night’s game at Oakland.
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