Late Treatment Irks Kotchman

Casey Kotchman hasn’t beaten mononucleosis yet, but he’s feeling better after visits to several specialists and a round of medication. He isn’t happy, however, that the Angels did not refer him to specialists when his illness was diagnosed during team physicals at the start of spring training.

“It’s nice to get medicine three months after your diagnosis,” he said wryly.

Kotchman, the Angels’ starting first baseman, batted .421 in spring training but .152 through May 9, when the team put him on the disabled list. In the interim, he said, he received intravenous fluids three times a week and used a hyperbaric chamber in what he called “individual efforts to help myself, because I wasn’t getting it here.”

He said he kept team trainers informed of those treatments. He also said he believed the Angels did not send him to specialists because he appeared to play well enough while tolerating the illness.

“The medical staff is diligent in its monitoring of our players,” spokesman Tim Mead said. “We feel that is the case in Casey’s regard.”

During the last two weeks, Kotchman said, he had 10 doctor’s appointments, including visits to a cardiologist and an infectious-disease specialist, who prescribed the medication that he said has eased his fatigue and dizziness. He has yet to resume baseball activities, as he concentrates on regaining his strength. He expects to return this season, but he isn’t sure when -- or why his recovery should have taken so long.

“I’m just now seeing a specialist. They’re the ones who told me I had mono,” he said. “You guys make your own [conclusions].... If you wait to treat something, it might take longer, and you might have relapses.

“I just want to get my health back. My quality of life has been brutal.”

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Jered Weaver makes his major league debut tonight, joining big brother Jeff in the Angels’ starting rotation, at least for now. With Bartolo Colon expected to return within a few weeks, the brothers appear to be competing for one spot in the rotation.

The easy solution would be to return Jered to triple-A Salt Lake, where he was 4-1 with a 1.89 earned-run average. But, Manager Mike Scioscia said, “He could win a job, of course.”

If he does, and if no other starter is injured in the interim, Jeff could move to the bullpen, or to another team in a trade for a hitter.

“We’ll wait and see where we are when Bart comes back,” Scioscia said. “We’re not going to pigeonhole ourselves into anything right now.”

For now, Jered takes the rotation spot of Kevin Gregg, who moves to the bullpen. The Angels designated reliever Esteban Yan for assignment.

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The legal bills for the city of Anaheim in its name-change lawsuit against the Angels now total $3.8 million, with the City Council expected to decide next week whether to appeal.