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Schmidt weeks away from returning
By Jeremy Harness April 4, 2004 |
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SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Giants ace hurler Jason Schmidt won’t make it back in time for Opening Day, but from what it sounds like, he’s well on his way back. Schmidt, who is expected to be put on the disabled list this weekend, had a 14-minute bullpen session Friday afternoon, during which he threw all of his pitches and tossed “six or seven pitches per minute,” according to trainer Stan Conte. The next plan is for Schmidt to throw 60 pitches on Monday. In order for him to be ready, Conte said that he will have to get to the 80-pitch mark in game, or at least simulated, action. The Giants want Schmidt to see action in Triple-A Fresno, but the problem is that the minor league season doesn’t start until April 13. Schmidt is scheduled to come off the disabled list on April 10, and the Giants’ targeted date for his return is four days later. However, Conte acknowledged that for him to return on the 14th, the rehab schedule would have to be accelerated. “It’s getting more and more to a 100 percent conditioning issue now,” he said. Meanwhile, reliever Scott Eyre is expected to start throwing next week. The Giants hope that Eyre, who is one of only two left-handed relievers on the roster, will return April 14. Eyre suffered a lower back strain March 26 and had an inflammation-reducing epidural injection last Sunday before being placed on the 15-day DL two days later. Durham hurting: Second baseman Ray Durham was held out of the lineup Friday night while he nurses a flexor in his left hip. He was replaced by Cody Ransom, who is vying for a roster spot as a backup infielder. Durham’s injury concerns the Giants not because of the extent - he was fine Thursday night but came in Friday afternoon “a little sore,” according to Conte - but because of the fact that he’s had chronic leg injuries, particularly last year with a severe ankle sprain as well as a strained right hamstring. Those two injuries kept him out for a combined five and a half weeks. “And a big part of his game is his legs,” Conte said. “But hopefully, it’s just a little bit of soreness.” Bonds shaky in the field: For the second night in a row, Barry Bonds made a defensive miscue that allowed a runner to get into scoring position. The star left fielder misplayed a low liner by Jermaine Dye in the sixth inning, sliding in a split second too late while the ball leaped past him and allowed Dye to sprint to second base. Eric Chavez scored on the play, which was generously scored as a double for Dye. On an almost identical play Thursday night, Mark Teixeira of the Texas Rangers hit a liner that got by Bonds and made it safely to second. That play was also ruled a double as Bonds did not make contact with the ball. At the plate, Bonds went 1-for-3 with a double in the fourth inning. Jensen accepts assignment: After clearing waivers, right-handed starter Ryan Jensen accepted his assignment outright to Triple-A Fresno. Before being sent down, Jensen was 3-1 but had a 9.39 earned-run average in 15 total innings pitched, walking five batters and striking out nine. |
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