Newly add bullpen having some set backs

 

Ryan Madson and Sean Burnett had some set back during Spring Training but I won't not worried because they will be good for the season. Ryan wont be ready for Opening Day but he will be a force once he comes back. As for Sean Burnett he will be ready to support Scott Downs for Opening Day. I feel like Sean was one of the biggest signing for the Angels because he is a very good reliever that could be a good set up man or a lefty specialist but he is not just a lefty specialist.

 

Article from Angels website:

 

MRI on Burnett's back reveals no damage

TEMPE, Ariz. -- An MRI on Sean Burnett's lower back didn't show any structural damage, revealing only the stiffness the Angels anticipated when he left camp early Monday.

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said that stiffness didn't result from any specific bullpen session, just through general soreness. While with the Nationals, the lefty reliever missed a little more than a week with lower-back stiffness in the middle of March, then four games in early April.

The Angels said the tests were done as a precautionary measure and also to get a better read on Burnett's history with the condition.

"We're not anticipating anything dramatic, but we want to be sure," Dipoto said before results were revealed. "Just get a baseline image to know what we're working from with Sean. He came in and he had some back tightness. We'd rather be safe than sorry."

Madson Throws off flat ground

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Potential Angels closer Ryan Madson threw off flat ground for six minutes on Monday morning, picking up a baseball for the first time since being shut down 18 days earlier.

Madson was progressing well from Tommy John surgery, getting in four bullpen sessions prior to the start of camp. But inflammation and soreness from his Feb. 1 session got him off the mound, led to an MRI that came back clean, put him on a strengthening program for about a week and basically forced him to start from scratch.

There's still no telling when he'll get back on the mound.

"He's going to start from the beginning of his throwing program, just activating the arm," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "How long it takes, I don't know, but he won't be throwing a bullpen for a while, until he can get out there and stretch his arm out a little bit. How long that takes, I don't know. But it's not a situation where he's going to throw today and throw a bullpen in a couple days."

Opening Day is essentially out of the question for the 32-year-old right-hander, who missed all of the 2012 season with the Reds after undergoing the ligament-replacement surgery last April. If Madson can start getting into some Spring Training games by the middle of March, though, that could set him up to join the Angels' bullpen at some point in April.

It initially took Madson three months to go from tossing off flat ground to throwing a bullpen session, from September to November. It won't take that long this time. Madson believes he can play catch daily and get back on the mound by the third week, then progress toward eventually pitching in games thereafter.

"But that's just a total guess," he added.

Asked if he can still get into Spring Training games by the middle of March, which was initially the plan, Madson said: "I don't know. I really don't know the pace -- I don't know that they have it lined up. I think it's just play it by ear."(Angels)

Ryan Madson might not be ready for Opening Day

 

        Ryan Madson, recovering from Tommy John surgery, suffered a setback during a February bullpen session and is "doubtful" for opening day, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

       Madson, 32, suffered a torn UCL in late Feburary last season and didn't appear in a single game for the Reds. He underwent Tommy John surgery on April 11 and was on track to return sometime between opening day and mid-April 2013. Although Madson said such setbacks are often normal for those rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, he's still disappointed and called his chances of returning for the opener "very doubtful."

      Madson nearly had a four-year, $44 million deal with the Phillies before the 2012 season, but talks unraveled and he was forced to take a one-year, $8.5 million deal with Cincinnati. After missing the entire 2012 season, he signed an incentive-laden $3.5 million deal to pitch for the Angels in 2013.(CBS)

I don't feel like this is a bad thing because we have depth in the bullpen this year. Also having Frieri to close games at the beginning of the season is not a bad option. I'm very positive that Madson will be pitching this season but I do understand that he will have some tough games at the beginning but overall he will be fine. However, if not he could always be a setup man for Frieri.


Also on a side note I have heard that Frieri learn a new pitch which is a change up. This is a very good pitch for him because he has a very nice fastball and what better pitch then a change up to balance it out.

Angels Will Introduce Ryan Madson, Tommy Hanson Joe Blanton and Sean Burnett

 

Angels will be holding a press conference tomorrow Wed Dec 11, to introduce the new set of Halo pitchers Ryan Madson, Tommy Hanson Joe Blanton and Sean Burnett. The press conference will be televised by Fox Sport West starting at 11:30am PST

Angels agree to terms with RHP Ryan Madson

 

Its official the Angels sign RHP Ryan Madson.

 

Angels inked Ryan to a 1-year, $3.5-million deal with incentive of $2.5 million based on the number of days he spends on the active roster and an additional $1 million in games finished incentives. (LA TIMES)

I really like this signing because the Angels are very informed with Ryan's post surgery recovery because the Angels medical staff was the group that did the surgery and has been helping him in the rehabilitation so it is not like the Angels are going in with their eyes close.

 

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Angels are making Jordan Walden available. However, I am not sure how I feel because Jordan is still young and he has a 100+ fastball. I just feel like he need to have confident in himself and learn from players like Scott Downs how to pitch. If the Angels sign one or two more relievers I might be ok with him being traded because I don't see the Angels getting much for him right now.



Sources say Ryan Madson is the new Halo

Angels seem to be getting ready to add a new arm in the pen

Free-agent reliever Ryan Madson has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year contract pending a physical exam, a baseball source told ESPN.(ESPN)

Just like I said earlier this month that the Angels should go after Madson because he is a very good closer if he is healthy. He will be a low risk high reward guy. If and when this deal goes through it will really help Ernesto and Downs to have a ideal set up role.



2013 Off Season Bullpen Wish List

Joakim Soria became a free agent when Royals decline his 2013 option. Soria missed 2012 season after Tommy John surgery.(ESPN)



 

Reasons Why he will be a good fit

• He is 28 years old
• Has been a proven closer with 143 games safe under his belt (7th highest from 08-11). (ESPN)
• He has a career record 13-15 with a 2.40ERA with 341 Ks in 315 1/3 inning. (ESPN)
• Angels could probably buy low and could get very good results as a closer or set up man

 

 Jonathan Broxton pitched 2012 for the Royals and Reds. He was a free agent last year and the KC took a chance on him and got a really good pitcher. He signed a one year $4 million deal with KC and how is a free agent again.

 

Reasons Why he will be a good fit

• He is 28 years old (ESPN)
• Proven closer and he also was a good set up man for Chapman with the Reds. (ESPN)
• Collected 27 saves 10 holds just 6 blown saves and a 2.48ERA. (ESPN)
• He might be a little more money but still should not be getting a big contract



 

Ryan  Madson did not pitch at all in 2012 due to Tommy John surgery after signing a one-year, $8.5MM deal with the Reds last winter. Madson declined his half of a mutual option for 2013, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The option was worth $11MM, and he'll instead receive a $2.5MM buyout. (MLB Trade Rumor)



Reasons Why he will be a good fit

• He is 32 years old
• From 2009-2011 he pitched to a 2.78 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. (MLB Trade Rumor)
• He is a proven back end pitcher and closer. He will be looking to close this season and he will  probably be looking for a 3-4 year deal similar deal as Brandon League sign with the Dodgers. (MLB Trade Rumor)

Please feel free to comment Let me know what you think.