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Wednesday, March 28 Updated: April 4, 12:58 PM ET Pitchers on the comeback trail By Sean McAdam Special to ESPN.com | |||||||||
| Spring training is supposed to provide some answers for teams hoping for healthy pitching staffs. But this spring seems to have brought as many questions as answers, leaving rotations and bullpens in flux.
A look at some of the rehabbing pitchers and the progress -- or lack thereof -- made in February and March as April approaches.
Bret Saberhagen, Red Sox Ailment: Shoulder Out since: 1999. Had surgery on March 19, 2000 and had several rehab assignments in the minors last year. He is vying for a spot in Boston's starting rotation. Checking in: Having pushed himself too much too soon last spring, Saberhagen took a more deliberate approach this time around. He didn't pitch an inning at the major-league level last season, and won't be ready to open the season. But he's set to make his second spring start Thursday and if he continues to pitch the way he did in his debut last weekend -- with a fastball touching 91-92 and good command of his curve and change -- the Sox could soon have the elusive No. 2 starter they've sought since Saberhagen was last healthy in 1998. Prognosis: A return to the rotation in mid-April isn't out of the question -- barring any setbacks. John Smoltz, Braves Ailment: Elbow Out since: 1999. Had surgery on March 23, 2000. Checking in: When camp began, the Braves were delighted with the progress the former Cy Young Award winner made from Tommy John surgery last year. But that was before he backslid with a case of tendinitis that sidelined him for days and threw off his progress. Prognosis: He threw on the side earlier in the week and felt encouraged, and while he'll start the season on the DL, the belief is he'll only miss two turns before joining the rotation. Tom Gordon, Cubs Ailment: Elbow Out since: 1999. Had surgery on December 13, 1999. Checking in: Gordon underwent tendon transplant surgery on his right elbow. Like Smoltz, he seemed to be well ahead of any timetable early in camp, following up on the success he experienced last fall when his throwing sessions in Arizona produced a host of teams interested in signing him. But like Smoltz, Gordon has had some setbacks of late with the elbow, and the Cubs are a little concerned about his readiness for the early part of the season, particularly give the number of cold weather games the team must endure. Prognosis: Cubs will be very careful early on and won't hesitate to find a different closer if he struggles. David Cone, Red Sox Ailment: Terrible 2000 season Out since: Was healthy last year Checking in: Cone suffered a real setback early in camp when he had to leave the mound in his third start. He was diagnosed with inflammation of the shoulder and has done little except play catch and long toss since. But a cortisone shot helped the shoulder last week and Cone sees some sign of progress. "A week ago, I was pretty down," he said. "Obviously, I had high hopes coming in. But I feel a lot better this week than last week." The Red Sox have to make a decision on his contract by April 1, when his $1 million base and an additional $1 in deferred money become guaranteed. But the Red Sox have left little doubt that they'll stick with Cone, who will remain in extended spring training with his close friend Saberhagen. Prognosis: Cone won't start the season in the rotation but will be given an opportunity at some point. Billy Wagner, Astros Ailment: Elbow Out since: June 2000. Pitched just 27.2 innings last year, compiling a 6.18 ERA. He blew nine saves in 15 opportunities before calling it a season. Checking in: Wagner has been one of the great rehab stories of the spring. By all accounts, he's hitting the mid-90s with his fastball again, giving the Astros hope that this season won't begin like last -- with Wagner unable to convert save opportunities in the first couple of months and the team digging itself a crater-sized hole from which it can't dig out. Prognosis: Wagner will be the Astros' closer. Even if he's not as dominating as 1999 (1.57 ERA, 124 K's in 74.2 innings), he should still be pretty good. Matt Morris, Cardinals Ailment: Elbow Out since: Sat out the entire 1999 season and pitched in relief last year after undergoing surgery on April 13, 1999. Is back in the starting rotation to begin this year. Checking in: While much of the focus has been on Rick Ankiel's well-documented bout with wildness, the Cardinals couldn't be happier with the pitching of Morris, who's coming off elbow surgery. In each of his last two spring starts, he's pitched into the sixth inning, a sign he'll be able to handle the workload. All indications are that he'll be fully able to reclaim his spot in the St. Louis rotation, a big boost for the Cards. Prognosis: Before getting hurt in 1998, he looked like a future Cy Young candidate. The Cardinals will be happy if he can come within a run of the 2.86 ERA he posted in '97-'98. Orlando Hernandez, Yankees Ailment: Elbow Out since: Has thrown just four innings this spring. Checking in: El Duque's right elbow -- a problem at times last year -- continues to be a concern for the Yankees this spring. He hasn't pitched in a game since March 9, but a side session earlier this week, which featured 45 pitches, was encouraging. "I feel better," reported El Duque. Prognosis: The Yankees are leaving a spot open to start the fourth game of the season, but they'll likely have to monitor him for the first few months of the season. James Baldwin, White Sox Ailment: Shoulder Out since: Start of spring training Checking in: After surgery to clean up his rotator cuff last October, the White Sox have kept the reins on Baldwin this spring, bringing him along carefully. He had a 50-pitch simulated game and the plan is for him to join the White Sox rotation in the last week of April. Initially frustrated by the team's decision to bring him along slowly, Baldwin now understands their caution. "Anytime you have surgery, it's serious," he said. "I just didn't think it would take this long." Prognosis: Should be back in rotation by May after starting year on DL. Remember, after a strong first half (11-4, 4.28, 6.5 IP per start) he struggled in the second half (3-3, 5.27, 6 IP per start). Jose Rosado, Royals Ailment: Shoulder Out since: Was 2-2 with a 5.86 ERA when he had shoulder surgery last April. Checking in: He has been slow to rebound and that's disappointing to the Royals, who had hoped he would be able to front their rotation at the start of the season. He's had pain in the shoulder, and all that's known is that he's not ready to pitch yet. "It's tough to put a timetable on his return," said GM Allar Baird. Prognosis: Don't count on much for 2001. Jose Lima, Astros Ailment: Gopherballitis Out since: Last seen pitching well in 1999 Checking in: Lima appears to be following on the same path he did last year, where he finished with an abysmal 7-16 record and a 6.65 ERA. In 24 innings pitched this spring, Lima has allowed 23 hits, 15 runs and has a 4.50 ERA. Prognosis: .500 at best. Jaret Wright and Charles Nagy, Indians Ailment: Shoulder (Wright) and elbow (Nagy) Out since: Wright made just nine starts last year before his season came to an end. In his final two starts, he allowed a total of 11 runs in six innings of work. After nearly a four-month stint on the disabled list, Nagy returned to pitch in three games in September. In his final two starts, Nagy allowed a total of 12 runs. Checking in: Both open the season on the DL. Nagy has virtually no cartilage remaining in his elbow, but has managed to gut his way through some spring outings. The Indians naturally worry about his endurance and how long he'll be able to tolerate pain. Wright has been encouraged by his progress. In his first Grapefruit League 'A' game appearance last week, he threw extremely well, with a sharp breaking ball. Both will remain in Winter Haven, Fla., in the Tribe's extended spring training. "The feeling with both of them," said GM John Hart, "is that we need to put them through the rigors of what a starting pitcher goes through to determine what they can handle." Prognosis: Nagy hasn't been throwing more than 82-85 mph, but with his veteran savvy may be given a chance at sometime. Wright is still just 25. We'll see him at some point. Rick Ankiel, Cardinals Ailment: Head Out since: Game 1 of postseason Checking in: Hasn't been able to curb wildness this spring, with 13 walks and seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings. But Cardinals say he'll begin season as fifth starter. Prognosis: ??? Kris Benson, Francisco Cordova, Jason Schmidt, Pirates Ailment: Elbow, elbow, shoulder Out since: Cordova and Schmidt had surgery last year. Benson came down with a sore elbow in camp. Checking in: Without question, the Pirates have had the worst medical news of any team in either league. How else to characterize a month in which 60 percent of the planned rotation has been ruled out for at least the first few weeks of the season. Benson has a balky elbow which, accoring to GM Cam Bonifay, will delay his start of the season until late April or early May. Schmidt, who underwent shoulder surgery, needed a cortison shot earlier this month. Then, he suffered a pulled rib cage muscle, setting him back further. Unable to do much the last two weeks, he'll need time to build back strength in his shoulder. Finally, there's Cordova who had elbow surgery last summer and hasn't responded as quickly as anticipated. Prognosis: A long year in Pittsburgh. Pirates are searching for a trade. Sterling Hitchcock, Padres Ailment: Elbow Out since: Last May 26 Checking in: Hitchcock will need more time to recover from last season's Tommy John surgery, as evidenced by the Padres' decision to place him on the DL Tuesday. He'll likely begin a rehab assignment next month. The Padres would like him to get healthy enough to at least prove he can pitch again and re-establish his market value before the July trading deadline. Prognosis: Surgery in June and traded by the following July? Don't count on it. Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal writes a major-league notebook each week during the baseball season for ESPN.com. |
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