TEMPE, Ariz. – Sean Burnett and C.J. Wilson stood in the Angels clubhouse Friday morning knowing they probably wouldn’t be there if not for Dr. Frank Jobe.
“He changed the life and livelihood of a lot of pitchers and baseball players,” Burnett said of the surgeon who invented the Tommy John surgery that saved his career. “Without him, there are a lot of us who wouldn’t be where we are today. He’s a Hall of Famer in my book.”
Jobe, who died Thursday morning, did not perform the surgeries on Burnett or Wilson, but he created the surgery. Burnett had the procedure in 2004 and Wilson in 2003.
“Tommy John surgery is the No. 1 career extender,” Wilson said. “There is nothing around it. Dr. Jobe is a pioneer. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else but the people who studied under him or under Lew (Yocum). They are the best surgeons in the world.”
Wilson pointed out that, beyond the surgery, the shoulder exercises pitchers do are called “Jobes,” another legacy of the surgeon.
“His name will be synonymous with baseball until the robots take over,” Wilson said.
HEALING RELIEVERS
An MRI revealed that Dane De La Rosa has a strained right forearm, but he said he doesn’t expect it to prevent him from being ready for opening day.
“I should be fine,” the Angels reliever said. “I’m not really sure about the timeline. I can’t really say, but it won’t be too long.”
De La Rosa said he felt something wrong during his Thursday outing, when he allowed a grand slam and retired only two batters.
“I just didn’t feel the ball,” he said. “There were a few times when I just had no idea where it was going. I just couldn’t feel my fingertips. If you can’t feel your fingertips when you’re pitching, it’s not a good thing.”
De La Rosa, who said he had the same feeling to a lesser extent during his first outing, was relieved when the tests showed no structural damage.
Manager Mike Scioscia said he believes De La Rosa can be ready for opening day.
“It’s still realistic because he’s a bullpen guy,” Scioscia said.
In other bullpen injury news, a day after Scioscia revealed a more cautious timeline for Sean Burnett than Burnett had been describing, the left-hander said he has not had a setback.
“I thought it was going to be a couple days (before getting on the mound), to tell you the truth,” Burnett said. “They don’t tell me each day what’s going to happen.”
Burnett said he still thinks he can be ready for opening day. Realistically, he probably needs to throw off a mound within a week or so for that to happen.
“I feel good,” he said. “I know if everything is good, it doesn’t take me too long to get locked in. The feel and command is already there.”
PLATE REWIND
Mike Trout still seemed puzzled the day after his controversial play at the plate, which was reviewed both to see if Trout was safe and if Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis blocked the plate.
“Honestly, I don’t really know the rules right now,” Trout said. “I’m told to go in sliding, but then I heard if he’s in the way I can run into him, but I can’t lead with the shoulder. … I’ve got to do my homework.”
Trout slid headfirst around Ellis, who might have left enough of an opening for Trout. The new rule prohibits catchers from entirely blocking the plate until they have the ball.
NOTES
Replays seemed to indicate a blown call by umpires in the Angels’ 3-2 loss against the Chicago Cubs in Tempe, but it was not one of the plays that can be reviewed. Luis Jimenez hit a popup that appeared to hit Cubs catcher John Baker in fair territory and then go foul, but fair-foul calls on the infield are not reviewable. …
Former NFL star Brian Urlacher dressed with the Angels and took some batting practice. Urlacher is a friend of Angels trainer Rick Smith. …
Archie Bradley, who will pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Angels on Saturday, is considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.
Contact the writer: jlfletcher@ocregister.com