by hybrid » Sat May 14, 2005 10:13 pm
Here is what the Arkansas newspaper had to say....
"It looked like Ervin Santana was about to get the hook.
Instead, he is waiting on pins and needles.
Santana, the Arkansas Travelers’ right-handed ace, was pulled from Friday’s game with the Tul-1 sa Drillers after 2 /3 innings and by all appearances is heading for a promotion, possibly to the parent Los Angeles Angels.
"He’s pitched so good here we’re assuming that he probably could be done here, that’s what the assumption is," Manager Tom Gamboa said.
Santana labored in the first inning — seven of his first nine pitches were out of the strike zone and Delvin James was warming up in the bullpen — but by the time he struck out Alvin Colina to start the third, Santana was showing the form that made him the Angels’ top pitching prospect.
Then Gamboa came to the mound, and Santana soon was surrounded by teammates patting him on the head and back before he left for the dugout. Santana originally confirmed a promotion to Los Angeles in the clubhouse after he left the game, but after the Travs concluded their 4-1 victory, Santana said he was waiting to see what the Angels had in store for him.
"They haven’t told me yet," said Santana, who nonetheless appeared pleased at the turn of events.
"It’s one of those very possible maybes, nothing’s definite," Gamboa said.
Angels farm director Tony Reagins, making a visit to Little Rock this week, wouldn’t say Santana’s promotion was official. The Angels have been particular in the past about when and how such announcements are made.
"I’m not saying that there’s a promotion to the major leagues," Reagins said. "But what I am saying is we took Ervin out of the game tonight so that he’s in a position to help out at the higher level if he’s needed."
The Angels’ Kelvim Escobar was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of bone spurs in his right elbow.
"Injuries happen," Reagins said. "That’s a part of the game. Obviously Ervin’s a starting pitcher but it doesn’t directly mean what happened to Kelvim directly affects Ervin."
Reagins said the Angels wanted Santana to get his scheduled start but limit his pitches should he be needed immediately. Reagins said Santana would stay in Little Rock at least for today to stick to his usual off-day treatments and routines.
"The scenario with him is there’s some things that are happening at higher levels and we didn’t want to extend his pitch count," Reagins said.
Reagins told Gamboa before the game to hold Santana to 30 pitches, which forced Gamboa to tell the right-handed James to be ready, explaining why James was up in the bullpen in the first."
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