GaryMrMets
02-08-2006, 07:24 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/389470p-330440c.html
For Dotel, elbow
is big relief
BY ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
TAMPA - Octavio Dotel struck a perfect spring training pose yesterday, leaning back on a picnic table at the Yankees' minor-league complex and nearly matching the excitement of the autograph seekers outside.
With the start of camp only a week away, Dotel said his elbow is feeling better than he would have hoped just eight months removed from ligament replacement surgery.
"It's more than I expected, way more," Dotel said. "I didn't expect this so soon. When I had the surgery, there were a lot of comments about how long it would take, if I could come back. You don't want to hear it, but you start thinking about it. "I'm really surprised at what I have already."
The Yankees signed Dotel, 32, to a one-year, $2.25 million contract in December with the idea that he would rehab until he was ready and then provide another power setup arm in their bullpen, along with Kyle Farnsworth. Yesterday was the four-month anniversary of Dotel's return to throwing.
He started slowly, with a few throws from 45 feet with his physical therapist in Atlanta. Now he throws every other day, making 15-20 throws from 45 feet, 60 feet, 75 feet and 90 feet. He has not thrown off a mound yet, though he is working toward that in strengthening sessions with trainer Gene Monahan.
"I don't want to say I'm 100% now, but I'm feeling really good," Dotel said.
He hopes he can be ready by April, but he says he won't rush, either. "The Yankees are the people who decide," he said. "As far as I feel, I could be there in April, but I'll let them decide when I'll be in New York with the team."
The Yankees have had success in signing rehabbing pitchers - remember Jon Lieber? - and they say they won't rush Dotel. Dr. James Andrews, the famous orthopedist, performed Tommy John surgery on Dotel last June 7, using a ligament from Dotel's left knee to stabilize his right elbow. Generally, pitchers are ready to return to the mound 10 to 14 months after the surgery and GM Brian Cashman has said the Yanks will use Dotel only when he's fully healed.
Dotel, who debuted in the majors with the Mets in 1999, has closed for the Astros and A's, but he knows he'll likely be used in the seventh or eighth inning by Joe Torre. "I don't know exactly what it'll be - remember, we got a pretty good pitcher in Farnsworth, too," Dotel said. "It doesn't matter to me.
"All I know is that this is a big year for me, a really important year for me, because I'm coming back from the surgery. I have to come back strong, the way I was before. I just want to get healthy and after that I want to be with the team and do what they want me to do. If they want me to come in in the fifth inning, fine. I just want to help at some point."
Originally published on February 8, 2006
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/152-dotel.JPG
Octavio Dotel is thrilled about his elbow's progress and thinks he could be ready by April.
For Dotel, elbow
is big relief
BY ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
TAMPA - Octavio Dotel struck a perfect spring training pose yesterday, leaning back on a picnic table at the Yankees' minor-league complex and nearly matching the excitement of the autograph seekers outside.
With the start of camp only a week away, Dotel said his elbow is feeling better than he would have hoped just eight months removed from ligament replacement surgery.
"It's more than I expected, way more," Dotel said. "I didn't expect this so soon. When I had the surgery, there were a lot of comments about how long it would take, if I could come back. You don't want to hear it, but you start thinking about it. "I'm really surprised at what I have already."
The Yankees signed Dotel, 32, to a one-year, $2.25 million contract in December with the idea that he would rehab until he was ready and then provide another power setup arm in their bullpen, along with Kyle Farnsworth. Yesterday was the four-month anniversary of Dotel's return to throwing.
He started slowly, with a few throws from 45 feet with his physical therapist in Atlanta. Now he throws every other day, making 15-20 throws from 45 feet, 60 feet, 75 feet and 90 feet. He has not thrown off a mound yet, though he is working toward that in strengthening sessions with trainer Gene Monahan.
"I don't want to say I'm 100% now, but I'm feeling really good," Dotel said.
He hopes he can be ready by April, but he says he won't rush, either. "The Yankees are the people who decide," he said. "As far as I feel, I could be there in April, but I'll let them decide when I'll be in New York with the team."
The Yankees have had success in signing rehabbing pitchers - remember Jon Lieber? - and they say they won't rush Dotel. Dr. James Andrews, the famous orthopedist, performed Tommy John surgery on Dotel last June 7, using a ligament from Dotel's left knee to stabilize his right elbow. Generally, pitchers are ready to return to the mound 10 to 14 months after the surgery and GM Brian Cashman has said the Yanks will use Dotel only when he's fully healed.
Dotel, who debuted in the majors with the Mets in 1999, has closed for the Astros and A's, but he knows he'll likely be used in the seventh or eighth inning by Joe Torre. "I don't know exactly what it'll be - remember, we got a pretty good pitcher in Farnsworth, too," Dotel said. "It doesn't matter to me.
"All I know is that this is a big year for me, a really important year for me, because I'm coming back from the surgery. I have to come back strong, the way I was before. I just want to get healthy and after that I want to be with the team and do what they want me to do. If they want me to come in in the fifth inning, fine. I just want to help at some point."
Originally published on February 8, 2006
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/152-dotel.JPG
Octavio Dotel is thrilled about his elbow's progress and thinks he could be ready by April.