Not sure how I missed this nugget - though it could have something to do with the 80 hour work week I'm pulling - but this from the Globe's Bobby MacLeod:
Ricciardi also said that he believes that Scott Downs and Jason Frasor could wind up sharing the closer's duties next year and that pitcher Dustin McGowan, who has missed all season after shoulder surgery, is progressing well.
“He’s letting it fly," Ricciardi said of McGowan, who has been throwing on flat ground.
Ricciardi said McGowan is pain free and will start throwing off a mound next week and appears to be in tremendous physical condition.
I'm going to try containing my excitement regarding a McGowan comeback, because we know all too well what a bad shoulder means for a flamethrower like Dusty.....but, uh, holy shit. McGowan is a good guy to root for, having overcome a bum elbow, diabetes, and now the shoulder.
Think the Jays could use his arm next season?
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"letting it fly"..."tremendous physical condition"...when the hell did all this happen? But yea, I'm rooting for Dusty and hope he becomes our next Chris Carpenter, except on the Jays this time.
ReplyDeleteI believe in Dustin.
ReplyDeleteI think the knee injury was probably a good thing for him. There was no need for him to join this shitshow midseason. A few extra months of rest and healing for the tissue is all good.
ReplyDeleteYou actually believe that?
ReplyDeleteRicciardi's not the only one who said he looks good... everybody else who's seen him/talked to him this week has said the exact same thing. I don't see any reason not to believe it.
ReplyDeleteBest news of the season if it's true. Pencil him into the middle of the roto, he doesn't need the stress of being the Ace if Roy is gone.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who likes the idea of Dusty Lambchops as a closer?
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have him pitch 60 high leverage innings and stay healthy rather than trying to run him through 180 innings as a starter.
It'd be better for his arm to stay a starter because he'd pitch once a week vs 3-4 times a week. It's weird, but in a way it's less stressful to have him be a starter. Even though he pitches more innings, he's gonna get less stress starting.
ReplyDeleteRance mentioned that, but I'd be inclined to believe the stress on the arm is higher for a starter than a reliever.
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, he would be a closer we could get excited about.
ReplyDelete(No disrespect to Jason Frasor, who was good this year)
I'll believe it when I see it.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm rooting for him. Definitely rooting for him.
ReplyDeleteSo what other pitchers have had TJ surgery, rotator cuff surgery and a frayed labrum to boot? Anybody to compare his odds of success to??
ReplyDelete