Anaheim, Calif. – Whether the Los Angeles Angels have their ace for the American League Championship Series against Chicago remains an unanswered question.
Bartolo Colon, a 21-game winner and Cy Young Award candidate, left Monday night’s game against the Yankees after just 23 pitches and was replaced by rookie Ervin Santana. Colon has struggled with back problems and tightness since early September, but original reports Monday were that his shoulder was sore and inflamed.
“I wouldn’t call it a bad shoulder,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s got some stiffness there. We’re going to evaluate it and see how things move along.”
Asked if Colon would still be a factor in the ALCS, Scioscia said: “Well, it’s too early to tell. We’re going to take this slowly with ‘Bart’ and make sure that he’s physically healthy enough to go out there and pitch.”
Bye-bye, Bernie
Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams will soon be a free agent, and there is a lot of speculation he has played his final game in pinstripes. He deflected that speculation after Monday night’s loss.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “I’m just not in a good position to answer that question now. I’m going to have to sit back and reflect.”
When the Yankees and Angels played Sunday night in New York, the fans called on Williams for a curtain call, anticipating it might be his final home game in New York.
Torre’s torment
Yankees manager Joe Torre took the loss hard.
“I’m just terribly disappointed,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more disappointed in a final score. You know, it’s just tough. You just want to win so badly.
“You’re like a bunch of little boys out there playing the game, and when you have to go home, it’s pretty tough.”
Footnotes
Angels slugger Garret Anderson led his team with seven RBIs in the series, including a solo home run in the second inning Monday. … L.A. catcher Bengie Molina hit safely in each game of the series and led the club in batting with a .444 average (8-for-18). … The Yankees’ Randy Johnson made the third postseason relief appearance of his career, and his first since the seventh game of the 2001 World Series in Arizona. … Before the Angels’ win Monday, the home team had lost Game 5 of the ALDS five times in a row.
ALCS: Game 1 pitching matchup
Jose Contreras (15-7, 3.61 ERA in the regular season) was the White Sox ace in the second half of the season with an 11-2 record and a 2.96 ERA. He held the mighty Boston Red Sox bats to two runs in 7 2/3 innings in Game 1 of the ALDS. Paul Byrd (12-11, 3.74), who made one appearance against the Yankees in the division series, was 1-0 with a 7.50 ERA in one start this season against the White Sox.
