Another setback for the Angels' Kelvim Escobar

Shortly after learning that an MRI exam of his shoulder showed no deterioration Friday afternoon, the Angels pitcher couldn't even complete 10 tosses at Angel Stadium before discomfort forced him to stop throwing.

Acknowledging that surgery was a possibility, Escobar said he hoped soon to meet with David Altchek, medical director for the New York Mets, to seek another opinion on his shoulder. Escobar said Altchek could consult with Angels team orthopedist Lewis Yocum to recommend whether to undergo surgery or continue rehabilitation.

"It's not fun," Escobar said of the herky-jerky rehabilitation process. "Mentally, it's just not good for me because it's up and down, up and down."

Escobar aggravated his injury during his second rehabilitation start Monday and underwent an MRI two days later that showed no significant changes from another exam performed in the spring.

"The MRI was good," Escobar said. "They said muscles that didn't look good before looked a lot better. [But] something's causing me a lot of inflammation, and they don't know what it is. When I throw, it's taking longer than normal to recover."

Decision time for Bootcheck

In what could mark the end of a disappointing career with the Angels, the team activated reliever Chris Bootcheck from the disabled list and outrighted him to triple-A Salt Lake.

Bootcheck, a former first-round draft pick who compiled a 6.04 earned-run average in parts of five seasons with the Angels, cleared waivers and has until Sunday to decide whether to accept the assignment or decline it and become a free agent.

"He needs to go down and work and pitch and try to fix some things," Manager Mike Scioscia said of Bootcheck, who was 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in 10 games this season before going on the disabled list because of a strained right forearm. "The opportunity, if it presents itself in another organization, then it's a good time for Chris. If he accepts the opportunity we're giving in our organization, it's good for him."

A perfect delivery

After holding Oakland to two runs in seven innings Tuesday night, Ervin Santana made the short drive from Anaheim to a Newport Beach hospital in time to witness the birth of his son, Jonathan Michal.