Contreras on slower pace, but opening day possible
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Contreras on slower pace, but opening day possible
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The feedback on Jose Contreras' recovery from elbow surgery has been nothing but glowing. Pitching coach Rich Dubee watched Contreras throw another bullpen session Monday and said it went "real well."
But the Phillies are taking precautions to limit the 40-year-old's workload this spring. He's not far behind other pitchers; Contreras will throw his first live batting practice Thursday. But Contreras is not throwing every other day like the rest of the staff. He has an extra day of rest built into his schedule.
Still, Dubee believes Contreras can be ready for opening day.
"I don't think it's a stretch," Dubee said. "At the same time, we're not keeping him on the same pace as other guys. He's going to get extra time in between throwing sessions. If he progresses, opening day is not out of the question. But that will play itself out."
>>> Cliff Lee will throw his first batting practice session Tuesday. He's back to the same schedule as the rest of the pitchers in his group.
Coincidentally, Lee's group includes hulking righthander Phillippe Aumont, one of the three players traded for Lee in December 2010. Aumont had never met Lee before this spring and planned to introduce himself. So one day during early workouts, Aumont said hello.
"We got traded together once, didn't we?" Lee replied.
And a friendship was born.
>>> Dubee would not name starters for the Grapefruit League weekend home-and-home opening series with the New York Yankees. Here's guessing Cole Hamels throws Saturday in Clearwater and Roy Halladay goes Sunday in Tampa.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Rely on a 40-year old man coming off elbow surgery at your peril.— dasher
He is Cuban, so he is probably 45.— blaqjaq- Just what we need, ANOTHER old guy with a tendency to break down. Why didn't they just cut this guy loose???— ANGRY AL 2
- Hey blaqjaq, ease up on the stereotypical comments...but I guess that would be too much to ask from someone who got regularly beat up in grade school, lol. Contreras if you don't know was instrumental in the Whitesox's Championship year. He has the most post season experience in the Phils bullpen today not named Papelbon. I think we will need him more than any of the other relievers.— drantonio1
- I'll be content if Contreras is available when Ryan Howard returns. No sense is pushing the envelope, particularly if it means he's healthy for the remainder of the season.— PhightinPhil
Comment removed.- To the negative thinkers here: don't you remember what Jose is capable of? He has been dominant in every role he has been in. His experience alone is priceless. You've got mid-90's heat, a 90 mph sinker and a splitter that disappears. No one is going to ask him to throw 80 innings this year. I believe the Phillies' bullpen is going to be as good as anyone's this year.— dwp66
- when did we get Contreras? wasn't it 2 years ago? did Ruben actually give Contreras a 3 year deal?— high water
- How soon they forget! This guy is less than one year away from his dominating April and May of last year. He absolutely deserves a chance to show what he still has.— altoonaaslan
- Situations like Contreras are what happens when you give multiyear contracts to aging pitchers. You are stuck with them, no matter what. Sure, you can cut them loose and eat their salaries, but if the team thinks they may get some production out of them, they go through the rehab exercise and try to squeeze out whatever they can, since they have to pay them anyway.— SteveS11
- Contreras signed a 2 year deal last year. So he's under contract through this year. And, once again for those of you who don't seem to understand: baseball contracts are guaranteed. So there's not point "cutting him loose" since that's like flushing money down the toilet. He still gets paid. If he's on the DL he's not taking a roster spot so you stand a chance of getting something out of him while you're paying him. If you saw what the Big Truck did in 2010 you'd obviously keep him. The guy has good stuff when he's not hurt. I felt like they overused him last year and that's partly why he ended up on the DL. He can be valuable if used a little less given his age. If he's anywhere near 2010 as a set-up guy, then that adds to the back of the bullpen.— s
- @dwp66 - Don't forget that forkball. Not many guys throw that pitch.— s
- I just do not think a guy that age, Jose C. will be ready so that allows Jake, Phillipe, Joe S.— Koons
- Won't make it out of April. Just cut him now and give one of the youngsters that spot.— scootch
- Cutting him loose serves absolutely no purpose. Then again he is a guy coming off serious elbow surgery, has had injury issues each of the last several years, and is a geezer. Phils get even 40 IP out of him this with a decent ERA primarily as a setup guy and they should consider themselves lucky.— PhillyGuy77
