ANGELS NOTEBOOK: COLON ON THE FAST TRACK.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Bartolo Colon is progressing so fast that manager Mike Scioscia on Monday dared to say the right-hander might be pitching for the Angels by late April.

Colon is expected to pitch from a mound today for the first time since throwing one inning July 26 at Tampa Bay.

He will throw an eight-minute bullpen session using exclusively fastballs.

"I think it's certainly a possibility that we're going to see him pitching for us sometime in April if there are no setbacks," Scioscia said. "If not, (he could pitch) shortly after we make the turn into May, based on where he is right now and how he feels.

"It's contingent on how he comes out of his throwing session, how his body responds. As you get on a mound, you start stressing your body and testing it. If he keeps passing it, he's going to come quickly."

Colon threw on flat ground from 180 feet Sunday and Scioscia deemed the session impressive.

"We're pleasantly surprised, although I think knowing Bart and how hard he works we anticipated him on a mound sometime in the middle of March," Scioscia said. "Was it going to be March 6 or 7 or March 15? You don't really know when you're that far out. We anticipated sometime in March and he's at the early end of it, so he's moved along very well."

Scioscia said recently there was an outside chance Colon would pitch in a Cactus League game this spring, but it is now looking like more of a reality.

At the very least, Colon now looks aimed for a simulated game, intrasquad game or minor-league game before camp breaks.

Slower progression: Jered Weaver, meanwhile, isn't expected to have his first bullpen session until later in the week. But that timetable does not mean Weaver's return to the rotation will come after Colon's, even though he lags behind his teammate in his recovery.

Because Weaver's biceps tendinitis is not as damaging as Colon's rotator cuff injury, Weaver's recovery window is expected to be shorter. Scioscia still insists there is a chance Weaver could make his first start April 6.

"If you look realistically, if you can get on the mound here in the next week, it's going to be close to see if he's going to make that first start or not," Scioscia said. "If he can, great. If he doesn't, we'll push him back."

Lackey back: John Lackey, who lost between seven and eight pounds over the past six days after a bout of bronchitis, threw a bullpen session. It was his first time on a mound since last week's intrasquad game.

Scioscia said he was impressed with the session and that his right-hander is still in line to start Thursday at Tucson against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Right, right, left: With the Angels facing Oakland left-hander Brad Halsey on Monday, Scioscia's lineup had Vladimir Guerrero batting third, Shea Hillenbrand batting fourth and left-handed hitting Garret Anderson fifth.

"Right now I think it would help us against lefties to get a right-handed bat behind Vlad," Scioscia said. "But Garret's going to have to hit lefties whether he's hitting fourth or fifth. We'll adjust when we have to. When Garret's healthy, he can hit against anybody and that's what we're anticipating."

Not enough work: Ervin Santana breezed through three innings against the A's, allowing no runs on three hits. The outing was so easy, Santana ended up throwing 10 more pitches in the bullpen just to make sure he had enough work. Santana threw 40 pitches and has not allowed a run in five Cactus League innings over two starts.

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(color) The Angels' Kendry Morales hits a two-run double in the fourth inning at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Oakland beat the Angels 8-7.

Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer

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- Doug Padilla