SF Giants' Brian Wilson knew elbow was injured BRIAN WILSON

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Brian Wilson told his manager and trainer that he turned an ankle on that 1-0 pitch to Colorado first baseman Tyler Colvin on Thursday. In fact, he said Sunday morning, he felt a pop in his elbow but had no intention of letting someone else finish a game that Madison Bumgarner started.

"I was still able to finish the inning," Wilson said in his first public comments since his severe elbow injury was disclosed. "My mind-set was, 'OK, if it's inflammation, get out of your mess. If it's season-ending, your last pitch is going to be preserving Bumgarner's win. I'm not walking off the mound a failure.' "

Wilson walked off the Coors Field mound with a save. He also expects it was the last time he will stand on a mound in 2012.

Wilson plans to get several more opinions in his elbow in the coming days, including a visit with Dr. James Andrews in Florida, but he already is thinking about Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery and a 2013 return.

"The likelihood is, yeah, the season's over," he said. "We all know what structural damage is. The likelihood of me throwing again this year is minimal.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 13: Brian Wilson #38 of the San Francisco Giants sits in the dugout before the Giants game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park on April 13, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) less SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 13: Brian Wilson #38 of the San Francisco Giants sits in the dugout before the Giants game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park on April 13, 2012 in San Francisco, California. ... more Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close SF Giants' Brian Wilson knew elbow was injured 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

"I've obviously prepared for a different view of the game. I have an opportunity now to be a better teammate and watch other stories unravel and be more of a student of the game, as I still have a lot to learn, and I still have a lot to teach.

"By no stretch of the imagination is my journey over here. This is just a mild bump in my road. Nothing's been really easy when I've pitched or lived."

Wilson disclosed in spring training that his elbow hurt more than he let on in 2011. Asked Sunday when he first realized something was seriously wrong, he said, "Two thousand ten, if you want to be honest. I was pitching on borrowed time last year."

He insisted he did not pitch with an ulnar collateral-ligament injury, saying the issue in 2011 was a flexor tendon. Wilson said he has no regrets and would not have done one thing differently to prevent this outcome. Neither would manager Bruce Bochy.

"There are always going to be questions," Bochy said. "We did everything we wanted to do with Brian on his rehab. The medical staff did a great job. ... I don't know what else you could do, to be honest."

Wilson seemed to be in good spirits Sunday. He walked toward two beat reporters standing near a mail bin filled with overnight shipping envelopes, smiled and said, "Maybe I can FedEx my arm somewhere."

The first question in a formal 10-minute interview was how he was feeling. His answer made it clear he thought about what he would say.

"I'm doing fine. I'm not down at all," he said. "This is an opportunity for me to get a better arm. Why is that disappointing? I get to throw harder. I like it. I like my odds. I get to become more involved in the community, and Kruk and Kuip better watch out because I'll be upstairs in the booth. I'll be announcing games, maybe win an Emmy."

He acknowledged that a tough year lies ahead if he needs a second Tommy John operation, having gone through the "monotony" of the rehab in 2003.

He also made it clear that he plans to be visible in San Francisco during the process and will not do the work at the Giants' Arizona facility.

"I'm not going to disappear," he said. "If I do have to rehab, it's going to be here. I'll be in the locker room. I'm not going to miss a game.

"I know a lot of people are sad. I know Giants fans are probably going to look at this as a huge loss, but we have the best bullpen in the league. I've gotten honored to play with those guys, teach them some things, and they've taught me a lot of things. They're going to fill my role the best they can. I don't think they're going to falter. I think we're going to take the West whether I'm here or not.

"I'm not going to sit here and say I'm the savior and things are going to fall apart. No, not at all."

Wilson said the one blessing is the timing. He believes he can return at the start of 2013 for his final season before he becomes a free agent.

"It's a year. No big deal," he said. "If I plan on playing forever, this is a small percentage of my career. I'll be on the mound again next year playing baseball. I'm not going to look back at this and go, 'Man, that sucked' or 'Woe is me.' I don't think that way.

"I've got 24 best friends out there and the coaching staff. I've got an entire city that's my friend. I'm not going to be down. I've got baseball. I'm a fan of baseball, so I've got another 150-something games to watch and see what kind of story unfolds."