| The Angeles Angels Pitcher Kelvin Escobar was | | | | tear in 1993, getting in 43 of 49 emergences. After |
| scheduled to pitch on Wednesday at Arizona for the | | | | three years with the Royals he transferred to the |
| first time since his shoulder injury (a tear in his labrum) | | | | Angels in 1997 where he played in two occasions but |
| this past March 25th. | | | | injured his arm and decided to retire. |
| "Escobar's going to throw tomorrow, start the | | | | On the other hand, Escobar who won 18 games in |
| progression," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said on | | | | 2007 had been throwing soft pitch for almost a week |
| Tuesday night before the Angels faced the Red Sox | | | | as he felt pain in his shoulder again. He has been |
| in the first of three games at Fenway Park. "It's very | | | | resting all spring after getting worst on his shoulder in |
| encouraging. He's definitely more upbeat." | | | | workouts in December. |
| After knowing about his labrum tear, Escobar argued | | | | Escobar is young, he is 32 years old. Gubicza was 31 |
| about the option of having to go through surgery | | | | years old after he completed his return from the |
| especially due to the fact it could mean a | | | | labrum tear in 1993. |
| career-threatening situation. | | | | "I'm still young," Escobar said. "I'll be 32 in two weeks, |
| Escobar's injury is similar to Mark Gubizca, the | | | | but retirement is getting into my head, because it's hard |
| announcer for FSN West, who currently travels with | | | | to rehab. I want to be out there playing, and I've done |
| the Angels and who depleted 14 seasons as a | | | | everything I can do to be healthy. He's got a shot," |
| eminence Major League pitcher. He was also part of | | | | Gubicza said. "It definitely can be done. He has a million |
| the team in his last four seasons despite having a | | | | pitches he can throw, so it's not like he has to throw |
| labrum tear in1993. | | | | 93 or 94 mph to be effective. He's got all those other |
| "I rehabbed the way he is rehabbing now with Dr. | | | | pitches he can go to in addition to the fastball." |
| Lewis Yocum," Gubicza said, referring to the team | | | | An additional advantage for Escobar is his versatility. |
| orthopedist. "I strengthened the back of the shoulder | | | | Escobar has pitched in every position there is, |
| and got four years out of it. Dr. Yocum said he was | | | | beginning as long reliever to be closer to starter, and |
| going to give me new exercises, and I felt brand new. | | | | he has perform in excelled way in each of them. |
| It can be done. That's what I'd tell Kelvim. That was in | | | | Presently Escobar is in the second year of a |
| the '90s; now it's even more advanced with | | | | three-year, $28.5 million contract and he has no |
| techniques, machines. He has to do the program every | | | | intentions to retired yet, he expects to do the best for |
| day. Even when you start feeling you've got it back, | | | | the team next game. |
| you can't go one day not doing the exercises. I was | | | | "I know you have good days and bad days when you |
| able to build my strength back up that way, and I went | | | | go through this," Escobar said after aggravating his |
| back into the rotation the next year," | | | | shoulder throwing on March 17. "I had some good days |
| In 1988 Mark Gubicza had a 20-game winner as he | | | | ... and then a bad one. I'll keep going and do what I can. I |
| threw 269 2/3 innings for his team the Royals but | | | | want to get back out there when I'm ready and help |
| went to the bullpen after returning from the labrum | | | | this team win. |