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Garrett Richards won’t be ready for Opening Day

By Stanford Crissey

Aug 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards (43) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards (43) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Angels ace Garrett Richards has hit some setbacks in rehabbing his knee injury, and the Angels don’t expect him to be ready when the season starts

Los Angeles Angels ace Garrett Richards has been adamant that he wants to return by Opening Day. But according to his manager, that’s not very likely to end up happening.

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Angels manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com that his ace right-hander will not be ready to return when the Angels open the season in Seattle.

Richards tore his left patellar tendon on Aug. 20 while covering first base. According to the MLB.com story, Richards threw a 50-pitch bullpen session on Sunday, but is still unable to fully pitch without restrictions.

"“He knows it,” Scioscia said of Richards’ availability for Opening Day. “He knows it. He’s not going to be able to rush it because our medical staff is not going to let him. There’s a progression. He has to pass every plateau. It’s great that he’s going to shoot for being ready by Opening Day, he’s working very hard to be ready by Opening Day — but he’s not going to be ready Opening Day.”"

Richards, for his part, has continued to insist that he will pitch on Opening Day, recently saying “That’s not going to change, regardless of what anybody in here says.”

That’s admirable, but not necessarily likely. A more likely scenario sees the Angels getting their ace back sometime in mid-April.

Richards, 26, was in the midst of a breakout season last year and was a big part of the Angels ending up with the majors’ best record. He posted a 2.61 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 168.2 innings, all career bests in his second full season.

For a team with plenty of offensive firepower but little in the way of starting pitching standouts, getting a healthy Richards back and playing at last year’s level is crucial. The Angels have big names in the rotation with Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson, but Wilson and Weaver have more pedigree than success in recent years, and the rest of the rotation is made up of unknowns or young players like the recently acquired Andrew Heaney.

Angels fans should hope for a smooth recovery for Richards; in a tough division, he might be the most important player for the Angels this season. Well, excluding Mike Trout, who is of course the most important player on all the teams.

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