C.J. Wilson. Tyler Skaggs. Andrew Heaney. Nick Tropeano. Garrett Richards. Huston Street. Cam Bedrosian. Cory Rasmus. Nate Smith. Now, Matt Shoemaker’s name can be added to the list.
Which list? The list of Angel pitchers who have been or are currently injured. The Angels just came out of a successful weekend series against the Mariners, winning two of three, but also lost 3B Yunel Escobar to a HBP on Saturday and then Shoemaker to a grisly comebacker off the bat of Kyle Seager on Sunday.
Shoemaker’s season is likely over after suffering a laceration, small skull fracture, and a hematoma in the ordeal. While the Angels’ can’t blame this wretched season solely on injuries, it’s hard to be competitive when you’re forced to turn to pitchers like Tim Lincecum, Jhoulys Chacin and Brett Oberholtzer in your rotation.
Assuming even a few of those pitchers had stayed healthy and effective this year, it’s not hard to picture a rosier scenario for this Angel season.
Jered Weaver takes the mound next for the Angels against the Athletics in Oakland, and here’s hoping the only Angel pitcher to make every start this year continues to do so over the final month.