Strasburg ready to come back
August 6th 2010 15:23
from MLB.com
Stephen Strasburg declared himself ready to return to the Nationals' rotation on Thursday following his 43-pitch simulated game.
Strasburg, who will return from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday to start against the Marlins in Washington, twirled his entire repertoire on Chase Field's mound against reserves Willie Harris and Justin Maxwell.
"My mechanics were a little out of sync," he said, "but that's to be expected not having a batter stand in there for close to two weeks.
"It feels really, really good right now. I was a little anxious out there. I flew open a little bit on a couple, but there [were] a lot of good pitches in there."
Strasburg will throw in the bullpen before the Nationals play the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday, affording him one more opportunity to shake off the rust.
"I'm almost encouraged that he's frustrated with his mechanics," manager Jim Riggleman said, "because that means he knows he has to continue to work, that he's a work-in-progress."
Strasburg said the soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder subsided two days following his expected start on July 27, which was called off when he struggled to loosen up in the bullpen.
"I knew it was just a matter of time," he said. "I just needed a little blow, and I needed to get my strength back. It happens. I'm going into a new area in the season I have never pitched at before, so you got to be smart about it."
Strasburg, who has thrown 109 2/3 innings between the Minors and Majors this season, is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA through nine starts for the Nationals
Stephen Strasburg declared himself ready to return to the Nationals' rotation on Thursday following his 43-pitch simulated game.
Strasburg, who will return from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday to start against the Marlins in Washington, twirled his entire repertoire on Chase Field's mound against reserves Willie Harris and Justin Maxwell.
"My mechanics were a little out of sync," he said, "but that's to be expected not having a batter stand in there for close to two weeks.
"It feels really, really good right now. I was a little anxious out there. I flew open a little bit on a couple, but there [were] a lot of good pitches in there."
Strasburg will throw in the bullpen before the Nationals play the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday, affording him one more opportunity to shake off the rust.
"I'm almost encouraged that he's frustrated with his mechanics," manager Jim Riggleman said, "because that means he knows he has to continue to work, that he's a work-in-progress."
Strasburg said the soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder subsided two days following his expected start on July 27, which was called off when he struggled to loosen up in the bullpen.
"I knew it was just a matter of time," he said. "I just needed a little blow, and I needed to get my strength back. It happens. I'm going into a new area in the season I have never pitched at before, so you got to be smart about it."
Strasburg, who has thrown 109 2/3 innings between the Minors and Majors this season, is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA through nine starts for the Nationals
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