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Angels' lefty C.J. Wilson has yet to throw a pitch in camp and it is looking as if he won't even step on a mound before opening day. Coming off surgery on his left elbow, Wilson has been set back this spring with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. To his credit, Wilson seems to be taking the right approach in his recovery:
"If it takes an extra 3-4 weeks, whatever. It's better than me going out there and being substandard and getting my head knocked off and being like, 'OK, now what do we do?' That's what a lot of guys do, and it's not a good way to do it. I'd rather build up to the point where I need to be, and then I'll be fine."
Just a few days ago, C.J. told reporters that he would be changing his arm angle and delivery, claiming he "...won't even look like the same pitcher". While it is nice to see that Wilson is doing what he can to improve and will not be rushing back in an ill-advised attempt to "help the team", it seems more and more clear that the team should not hold their breath in anticipation of him making an impact on the starting rotation. With Jered Weaver returning to the mound today, it is as important as ever that the veteran righty can hold himself together and contribute to the Angels' suddenly shallow starting rotation.
In other roster news, the team placed Rule 5 selection Deolis Guerra on waivers, which he cleared and then signed a minor league deal with the club. Apparently the Pirates had no interest in taking the reliever back, as the Angels would have had to offer him per Rule 5 guidelines. That combined with every other team passing on his services, you have to wonder if he will ever see a major league mound again.
Jett Bandy, meanwhile, was optioned to AAA Salt Lake just a day before his birthday, an expected move with catchers Carlos Perez and Geovany Soto ahead of him on the team's depth chart. Bandy has nothing to be ashamed of as he enjoyed a solid spring with the big club, batting .391/.517/.435 in 29 PA. Entering his age 26 season, Bandy has little to prove in AAA and should get the next call if anything happens to Perez or Soto.