-tz
09-20-03, 06:47 PM
... and Guillen takes BP ... Sounds like hopeful news for the As!
09/20/2003 4:49 PM ET
Notes: Mulder throws, A's hopeful
Guillen encouraged by BP session
By Kent Schacht / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- It wasn't a big deal, Mark Mulder said of his 10-minute throwing session at Network Associates Coliseum before Saturday's game.
The six pairs of eyes focused on Mulder's every move indicated otherwise.
For the first time since suffering a stress fracture in his right femur in late August, the southpaw threw prior to Saturday's game against the Mariners. Team orthopedist Jerrald Goldman, A's trainer Larry Davis and pitching coach Rick Peterson seemed encouraged by the results -- even if Mulder wasn't.
"Basically, Mark is pain-free. Now it's time to evaluate his strength," Davis said. "He's able to throw without pain, but there's still weakness that we have to work on."
Mulder, who said he hadn't set a goal of trying to pitch again this season, confirmed that he was pain-free, but said he was far from 100 percent.
"It's not that it hurts, I just know it's not normal, that's all," Mulder said. "It's very weak."
A's general manager Billy Beane said earlier this week in Anaheim that he wasn't counting on Mulder returning to the mound this season for the A's, but Goldman and Davis said if the A's make it past the first round of the playoffs, Mulder's return isn't an impossible proposition -- as long as he's healthy.
First things first, Mulder said.
"I'm not really thinking about it, I'm just trying to stay in shape," he said. "It's a situation where I'm not trying to come back early if it's not ready. I'm just trying to see how it feels."
What is reassuring is that since his bone has healed completely, he doesn't run the risk of reinjuring the leg, Goldman said.
"The best indication for the healing factor is that the individual is pain-free. And Mark is pain-free," Goldman said.
But the A's will want to make sure he's up to full strength before he starts to make the path toward being game-ready.
"If he gets ready early and can pitch this year, then fine," Davis said, adding that that scenario only will happen if Mulder's ready to go. "We're not obviously going to put this guy out there with the chance to fail.
Davis said should Mulder be healthy, the decision of whether he should pitch will also have to come from Beane and A's manager Ken Macha.
In the meantime, Davis said, Mulder is not on a set schedule designed to get him ready for a particular date.
"Every day, what we do will determine what we do the next day," Davis said.
Hand's on: Jose Guillen took batting practice before Saturday's game for the first time since breaking the hamate bone in his left hand last Sunday in Texas. He was very encouaraged by the results
Guillen is trying to play through the painful injury, something not many players have done.
"I was hitting the ball to left field and right field, with power," Guillen said. "I really surprised myself with the way I've been swinging. I'm kind of shocked right now."
Guillen said he will see how the hand reacts to taking batting practice, but hopes to contribute as soon as possible.
"I feel like I could go play today," Guillen said, smiling.
Macha watched Guillen swing and was impressed.
"He's swinging a lot better than I thought," Macha said.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20030920&content_id=535849&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
09/20/2003 4:49 PM ET
Notes: Mulder throws, A's hopeful
Guillen encouraged by BP session
By Kent Schacht / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- It wasn't a big deal, Mark Mulder said of his 10-minute throwing session at Network Associates Coliseum before Saturday's game.
The six pairs of eyes focused on Mulder's every move indicated otherwise.
For the first time since suffering a stress fracture in his right femur in late August, the southpaw threw prior to Saturday's game against the Mariners. Team orthopedist Jerrald Goldman, A's trainer Larry Davis and pitching coach Rick Peterson seemed encouraged by the results -- even if Mulder wasn't.
"Basically, Mark is pain-free. Now it's time to evaluate his strength," Davis said. "He's able to throw without pain, but there's still weakness that we have to work on."
Mulder, who said he hadn't set a goal of trying to pitch again this season, confirmed that he was pain-free, but said he was far from 100 percent.
"It's not that it hurts, I just know it's not normal, that's all," Mulder said. "It's very weak."
A's general manager Billy Beane said earlier this week in Anaheim that he wasn't counting on Mulder returning to the mound this season for the A's, but Goldman and Davis said if the A's make it past the first round of the playoffs, Mulder's return isn't an impossible proposition -- as long as he's healthy.
First things first, Mulder said.
"I'm not really thinking about it, I'm just trying to stay in shape," he said. "It's a situation where I'm not trying to come back early if it's not ready. I'm just trying to see how it feels."
What is reassuring is that since his bone has healed completely, he doesn't run the risk of reinjuring the leg, Goldman said.
"The best indication for the healing factor is that the individual is pain-free. And Mark is pain-free," Goldman said.
But the A's will want to make sure he's up to full strength before he starts to make the path toward being game-ready.
"If he gets ready early and can pitch this year, then fine," Davis said, adding that that scenario only will happen if Mulder's ready to go. "We're not obviously going to put this guy out there with the chance to fail.
Davis said should Mulder be healthy, the decision of whether he should pitch will also have to come from Beane and A's manager Ken Macha.
In the meantime, Davis said, Mulder is not on a set schedule designed to get him ready for a particular date.
"Every day, what we do will determine what we do the next day," Davis said.
Hand's on: Jose Guillen took batting practice before Saturday's game for the first time since breaking the hamate bone in his left hand last Sunday in Texas. He was very encouaraged by the results
Guillen is trying to play through the painful injury, something not many players have done.
"I was hitting the ball to left field and right field, with power," Guillen said. "I really surprised myself with the way I've been swinging. I'm kind of shocked right now."
Guillen said he will see how the hand reacts to taking batting practice, but hopes to contribute as soon as possible.
"I feel like I could go play today," Guillen said, smiling.
Macha watched Guillen swing and was impressed.
"He's swinging a lot better than I thought," Macha said.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20030920&content_id=535849&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb