PHOENIX – The Angels gave Joe Blanton an opportunity, and it didn’t go well.
Blanton, whose roster spot is tenuous, gave up four runs in 41/3 innings in the Angels’ 9-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon.
Blanton was pitching for just the third time since moving to the third base side of the rubber. His results in the first two games were encouraging, but not this time.
“It was rough to start,” Blanton said. “Since moving over to the third base side it’s the first time I’ve really had to make adjustments during the game, so it took me a little bit to figure it out.”
Blanton, who has a 7.08 ERA this spring in 201/3 innings, allowed a homer to the first batter of the game. He walked three and hit a batter – an uncharacteristic lack of control, even in one of his bad games.
The only positive for him was that he retired five of the last six batters he faced.
The question is whether those will be the last batters he ever faces in an Angels uniform. His next turn would fall on Thursday, when the Angels play at Dodger Stadium, and Hector Santiago is expected to get that game. If Blanton does pitch again, it’s likely to be in a minor league game.
The Angels then need to decide if they want to keep him in the bullpen, trade him or release him.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Blanton said. “All I can do is go out and pitch and try to make the adjustments in-game and keep working hard and do what I have to do.”
Asked if this had been a “weird” spring for him, fighting for a job: “I’d be lying if I said no. So, yeah. But at the same time, it’s something you really try not to think about.”
RELIEF FOR BURNETT
Sean Burnett said the discomfort that caused him to prematurely end his bullpen session on Friday was because of an arthritis injection, unrelated to his surgery, so he’s not concerned about the brief interruption to his rehab.
“It’s a day or two,” the Angels lefty said Saturday morning. “It’s a setback, but it will cost me one or two days, but nothing serious.”
Burnett said he gets periodic injections of synvisc, a lubricant injected in arthritic joints. This time, he said the fluid caused an irritation in his muscle, on the opposite side of his elbow from where he had surgery last year.
Burnett said doctors saw him Saturday and reassured him that it was nothing serious.
“I could throw again today, they said,” Burnett said. “But I’m going to give it a day off today and may take it off tomorrow.”
Burnett has to get back on the mound for a bullpen session, including breaking balls, and then face hitters in a simulated game. He’ll then need at least four or five games in a minor league rehab assignment before being activated. The Angels are not expecting him to be active before the middle of April.
DECISION DAY
Yorvit Torrealba left no mystery about what will happen if he’s not added to the Angels 25-man roster. He will not play in the minors.
“No,” the veteran catcher said of accepting a minor league assignment. “Zero chance.”
On Sunday, Torrealba can request his release if he’s not added to the Angels roster. Barring something unforeseen, that’s exactly what is going to happen.
The question is whether that spells the end of Torrealba’s big-league career or if he hooks on with another club. Either is possible.
“If it has to come to that, I’m really happy with my career,” Torrealba said. “This is my 19th spring training. I can not complain about anything. I’ve been playing almost 20 years. I have been blessed all my career.”
Infielders Chad Tracy, who hit a three-run homer on Saturday, and Carlos Pena face the same decision on Sunday.
NOTES
Dane De La Rosa threw all his pitches in a bullpen session for the first time since he suffered a strained forearm on Mar. 6. Manager Mike Scioscia said De La Rosa will need to appear in multiple games, so it’s still possible he could begin the season on the disabled list. … Brian Moran got clearance from doctors to resume throwing for the first time since Mar. 12. A left-hander, Moran still won’t be on a mound for “a while,” Scioscia said. … Jered Weaver’s final start before the regular season will be in a minor league game on Tuesday. The Angels want to ensure that he can get up for seven innings, which is easier to do in the controlled environment of a minor league game.
Contact the writer: jlfletcher@ocregister.com
