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--RHP John Lackey was given a cortisone shot in his inflamed right elbow on March 28. Lackey probably will open the season on the disabled list for the second consecutive year (triceps tendinitis in 2008) after experiencing discomfort in his elbow during his start against the Royals on March 22.
--Even before he was shut down because of inflammation in his right elbow, negotiations on a contract extension for John Lackey had been making little progress. Lackey can become a free agent next winter and is believed to be seeking a contract in the neighborhood of five years and $80 million. His agent, Steve Hilliard, has met with Angels general manager Tony Reagins this spring, with the two sides exchanging preliminary proposals but advancing little beyond that. Lackey has said he does not want the negotiations to drag into the regular season.
--RHP Kelvim Escobar pitched in his first game since shoulder surgery last summer when he faced a group of Cubs minor-leaguers for two innings on March 23. Escobar reached 96 mph on one radar gun during the 34-pitch outing, another significant step in his rapid recovery. Manager Mike Scioscia said he expects Escobar to be back in the Angels' rotation by May 1.
--RHP Ervin Santana has begun the long-toss phase of his throwing program after being shut down because of a sprained ligament in his elbow. Santana probably will to miss at least the first month of the season while continuing his throwing program and then going on a minor league injury-rehabilitation assignment. But Santana said he is "pretty confident now" that he won't require surgery to repair the ligament.
--CF Torii Hunter was hit on the face by the ball as he chased a drive to the wall during a game against the Rockies on March 25. Hunter fell to the ground in a heap and was taken for precautionary X-rays. "I would have bet my bottom dollar his nose was broken," manager Mike Scioscia said. It wasn't, and Hunter talked his way into the lineup the next day and then hit his first two home runs of the spring. Hunter was 4-for-24 this spring before that game.
BY THE NUMBERS: 21 -- Exhibition victories by the Angels through March 27, tying the winningest spring in franchise history.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think I've tested my arm every time this spring, and it's feeling good. For now, I'm going to just focus on my mechanics instead of waiting -- 'Is this going to hurt? Is there going to be a pinch (in his shoulder)?'" -- RHP Kelvim Escobar on his rapid recovery from shoulder surgery.
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The Angels' enthusiasm about RHP Kelvim Escobar's rapid recovery from shoulder surgery and the renewed spring in RF Vladimir Guerrero's step has been tempered by injuries to two other starting pitchers -- RHPs John Lackey and Ervin Santana. Both are expected to open the season on the disabled list, but the Angels hope they will have their starting rotation intact (including Escobar) before long. They'll need it. The offense will have to overcome the offseason losses of free agents Mark Teixeira and Garret Anderson.
1. RHP John Lackey
2. RHP Ervin Santana
