Updates on Meche and Pineiro

Gil Meche and Joel Pineiro were teammates on the 1998 Timber Rattlers.  They are going through some health issues now.

Pitcher Gil Meche prepares for his third shoulder surgery

The best-case scenario has him ready for spring training or missing a month or two of next season. If the doctor finds something serious that needs repair, Meche will miss more time.

In two minor-league starts, Meche changed his pitching mechanics to compensate for the pain. The motion of bringing his arm upward, into the cocked position, from being extended down during his windup hurt.

“I can’t get through that zone,” Meche said. “I can’t get to that point unless I short-arm it. It’s just not a good feel. I can’t keep pushing it.”

Meche went on the disabled list following a May 25 start against Texas because of what club officials then diagnosed as bursitis. He is signed through 2011.

Angels pitcher Joel Pineiro to be sidelined 6-8 weeks

The team announced during the eighth inning of Wednesday's game that right-hander Joel Pineiro, scratched because of a left oblique strain suffered in pregame warmups, will be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

An MRI test during the game confirmed doctors' initial diagnosis of Pineiro, who is 10-7 with a 4.18 earned-run average and has been one of the team's most consistent and effective starters since early June.