The Los Angeles Angels struggled last year largely because of the back of their bullpen, which blew a league-leading 23 saves with Mansfield native Jordan Walden at closer before Ernesto Frieri took over later in the season.
The Angels took a big step toward shoring up their bullpen in the offseason when they signed free agent closer Ryan Madson away from Philadelphia after he missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery in 2011.
Madson reportedly suffered a setback in his rehab while throwing on Feb. 1, leaving Angels manager Mike Scioscia to put Madson's timetable for return as "some time in April." Madson says he'll be ready to go for Opening Day on April 1.
Either way, this isn't what the Angels wanted to hear at this point. The word "setback" is never a good thing and they were counting on Madson to, at the very least, be a big-time set-up man for Frieri, if not the other way around.
